Red Murrell

For the American basketball player of the same name, see Red Murrell (basketball).
Red Murrell
Birth nameJoyce Wayne Murrell
Born(1921-06-27)June 27, 1921
Willow Springs, Missouri, U.S.
DiedFebruary 10, 2001(2001-02-10) (aged 79)
GenresWestern swing
Occupation(s)Musician, Songwriter, Bandleader, Disc jockey
Instrument(s)Vocals, Guitar
Years active1940s-1960s
LabelsCapitol - Signature

Joyce Wayne "Red" Murrell (June 27, 1921 – February 10, 2001)[1] was a Western swing performer from Missouri. He led one of the more notable Western swing bands in California, Red Murrell and his Ozark Playboys.[2] He was a popular session guitar player for many other artists as well.[3] Early in his career, he played with Billy Hughes's band, The Pals of the Pecos. In 1954 he went to work as a disc jockey for KEEN radio (1370 AM) in San Jose.[4]

  1. ^ "Joyce W. Murrell Advertising agent, musician". Recordnet. February 14, 2001.
  2. ^ Malone, Country Music, USA, p. 202: "Many country entertainers appeared on the program [Dinner Bell Roundup, KXLA, Pasadena], one of the most notable being the swing fiddler and bandleader Red Murrell, who had one of the most popular bands in California."
  3. ^ La Chapelle, Proud to Be an Okie, p. 95: "Porky Freeman and Red Murrell, the session musicians on Jack Guthrie's 'Oakie Boogie,' even recorded a guitar instrumental, 'Porky's Boogie Woogie on Strings' which many enthusiast argued invoked Memphis barrelhouse music and anticipated rock and roll. Cut during the war, the independent release proved so popular that Freeman and Murrell released it, putting it on both side of the disc to keep jukebox listeners from wearing out the groove."
  4. ^ Komorowski, Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys, p. 14.