Dave McMurray (born 1958) is an American jazz musician. His primary instrument is saxophone.

Early life and career

McMurray was born in

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

, and grew up on the eastside of the city. The son of a working-class family, he received a scholarship through Horizons Upward Bound to attend high school at Cranbrook Schools in

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Bloomfield Hills is a city in Oakland County, Michigan, Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northern Metro Detroit, suburb of Detroit on the Woodward Corridor, Bloomfield Hills is located roughly northwest of downtown Detroit, and is ...

. After graduating from

Wayne State University Wayne State University (WSU) is a public university, public research university in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1868, Wayne State consists of 13 schools and colleges offering approximately 375 programs. It is Michigan's third-l ...

with a degree in Urban Studies and Psychology, McMurray began working as a mental health professional.

Professional career

McMurray’s first real road gig was with Blues Master

Albert King Albert King ( Nelson; April 25, 1923 – December 21, 1992), was an American guitarist and singer who is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential blues guitarists of all time. He is perhaps best known for his popular and ...

. Upon returning he started his own group ‘Midnight Sky’ and also was a member of the avant-garde jazz ensemble,

Griot Galaxy Griot Galaxy was an avant-garde jazz band led by Detroit saxophonist and poet Faruq Z. Bey. The band was founded in 1972 with drummer Tariq Samad, bassist Jaribu Shahid, and saxophonists Bey, Anthony Holland (saxophonist), Anthony Holland and Dav ...

. McMurray joined the pop rock group

Was (Not Was) Was (Not Was) is an American band founded in 1979 in Detroit, Michigan, by David Weiss and Don Fagenson, who adopted the stage names David Was and Don Was. Their song catalog features an eclectic mix of pop and rock styles, often featuring g ...

at its inception, and subsequently contributed to all of their albums. McMurray has had an extensive career as a session musician. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he played on albums for many classic rock and blues acts, ranging from

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...

. His first solo album, ''The Secret Life'', was released on Timeless Records in 1989. He then was signed to

Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (known as Warner Bros. Records Inc. until 2019) is an American record label. A subsidiary of Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division ...

for his follow up album, 1996’s ''The David McMurray Show''. In 2018, McMurray released ''Music Is Life'', his

Blue Note Records Blue Note Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group and operated under Capitol Music Group. Established in 1939 by History of the Jews in Germany, German-Jewish emigrants Alfred Lion and Max Margulis, it deriv ...

debut, a collection of original compositions and recognizable covers. From 2008-2016 McMurray was the saxophonist in

Kid Rock Robert James Ritchie (born January 17, 1971), known professionally as Kid Rock, is an American musician, singer, rapper, and songwriter. After establishing himself in the Music of Detroit#Hip-hop, Detroit hip-hop scene, he broke through into m ...

's Twisted Brown Trucker Band. In 2019, McMurray performed with

Bob Weir Robert Hall Weir ( ; né Parber, born October 16, 1947) is an American musician and songwriter best known as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the group disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with the Other Ones, later known as the Dead ...

at the

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, the first time he was exposed to the music of the

Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock music, rock band formed in Palo Alto, California, in 1965. Known for their eclectic style that fused elements of rock, blues, jazz, Folk music, folk, country music, country, bluegrass music, bluegrass, roc ...

. He then recorded ''Grateful Deadication'', an album of jazz interpretations of the band’s songbook. It features appearances by Bob Weir, Bettye Lavette, and Herschel Boone. McMurray is backed on the album by bassist Ibrahim Jones, drummer Jeff Canady, guitarist Wayne Gerard, and keyboardist Maurice O’Neal. Blue Note released ''Grateful Deadication'' in July 2021. McMurray released ''Grateful Deadication 2'', "the follow-up to his 2021 tribute album," on May 19, 2023. The album features his own Detroit-based band and special guests

Jamey Johnson Jamey Johnson (born July 14, 1975) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to BNA Records in 2005, Johnson made his debut with his single "The Dollar (song), The Dollar", the title track to his 2006 album ''The Dollar (album ...

Oteil Burbridge Oteil Burbridge (born August 24, 1964) is an American multi-instrumentalist, specializing on the bass guitar, trained in playing jazz and classical music from an early age. He has achieved fame primarily on bass guitar during the resurgence of t ...

, Bob James, and

Don Was Don Edward Fagenson (born September 13, 1952), known professionally as Don Was (), is an American musician, record producer, music director, film composer, documentary filmmaker and radio host. Since 2011, he has also served as president of the ...

Personal life

McMurray lives in Detroit with his wife, Garzelle. They have one daughter.

Discography

As leader

* ''The Secret Life'' (Timeless, 1989) * ''The Dave McMurray Show'' (Warner Bros., 1996) * ''Peace of Mind'' (Hip Bop, 1999) * ''Soul Searching'' (Hip Bop, 2001) * ''Nu Life Stories'' (Hip Bop, 2003) * ''Music Is Life'' (Blue Note, 2018) * ''Grateful Deadication'' (Blue Note, 2021) * ''Grateful Deadication 2'' (Blue Note, 2023) With

* ''Kins'' (Black & White, 1982) * ''Live at the D.I.A.'' (Entropy, 2003) With

* ''Was (Not Was)'' (Island/ZE, 1981) * ''Born to Laugh at Tornadoes'' (Geffen, 1983) * ''What Up, Dog?'' (Fontana, 1988) * ''Are You Okay?'' (Chrysalis, 1990) * '' Hello Dad... I'm in Jail'' (Fontana, 1992) * ''Boo!'' (Rykodisc, 2008)

As sideman

With Bob James * ''Joy Ride'' (Warner Bros., 1999) * ''Morning, Noon & Night'' (Warner Bros., 2002) * ''Urban Flamingo'' (Koch, 2006) With Kem * ''Kemistry'' (Motown, 2003) * ''Album II'' (Motown, 2005) * ''Intimacy Universal'' (Motown, 2010) * ''What Christmas Means'' (Motown, 2013) With

* ''

'' (Atlantic/Lava/Top Dog, 2003) * ''

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'' (Atlantic/Top Dog, 2007) * '' Rebel Soul'' (Atlantic/Top Dog, 2012) * '' First Kiss'' (Warner Bros., 2015) With

Millie Scott Millie Scott is an American R&B singer who had moderate success in the US ''Billboard'' R&B chart during the 1980s. Biography Scott was born in Savannah on the coast of Georgia. She first sang gospel, before becoming a jazz singer. After mo ...

* ''Ev'ry Little Bit'' (4th & Broadway, 1987) * ''Love Me Right'' (4th & Broadway, 1987) * ''I Can Make It Good for You'' (4th & Broadway, 1988) With others *

Geri Allen Geri Antoinette Allen (June 12, 1957 – June 27, 2017) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and educator. She taught at the University of Michigan and the University of Pittsburgh. Early life and education Allen was born in Pontiac, Michigan ...

, ''Open On All Sides in the Middle'' (Minor Music, 1987) * Geri Allen, ''Grand River Crossings'' (Motema, 2013) *

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, ''1st Class Only'' (Street Life/Scotti Bros. 1994) *

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, ''Don't Walk Away'' (Island/ZE, 1982) *

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, ''

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'' (Reprise, 1992) *

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, ''Two Hearts One Beat'' (Atco, 1986) *

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, ''Mack Avenue Skullgame'' (Sub Pop, 1993) * Big Chief, ''One Born Every Minute'' (Sub Pop, 1993) * Tim Bowman, ''Paradise'' (Insync Music, 1998) * Tim Bowman, ''Smile'' (Trippin 'n' Rhythm, 2008) *

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, ''Come to Me'' (Bushka, 1994) *

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, ''Dreams in Motion'' (MCA, 1994) *

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, ''

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'' (Warner Bros., 1980) * Commissioned, ''Will You Be Ready?'' (Light, 1988) *

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, ''

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'' (Warner Bros., 1992) *

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, ''Sleep It Off'' (P-Vine, 2004) *

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, ''Shout Out'' (Sub Pop, 1994) *

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, ''Party in Me'' (Capitol, 1981) * Gene Dunlap, ''It's Just the Way I Feel'' (Capitol, 2011) *

, ''

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'' (Columbia, 1990) * Floy Joy, ''Into the Hot'' (Virgin, 1984) * Floy Joy, ''Weak in the Presence of Beauty'' (Virgin, 1986) *

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, ''Here'' (Elektra, 1981) *

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, Robert Irving III, Adam Holzman, ''ESP 2: A Tribute to Miles'' (TDK, 2001) *

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, ''Kirya'' (EastWest, 1992) *

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, ''I'm On Your Side'' (Arista, 1991) *

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, ''

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'' (Virgin, 1990) * Jose James, ''Lean On Me'' (Blue Note, 2018) *

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, ''

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'' (MCA, 1992) *

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, ''Good Woman'' (MCA, 1991) *

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, ''Dangerous Madness'' (Epitaph, 1996) *

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, ''Raindance'' (EMI, 1984) *

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, ''Ambition'' (Virgin, 1990) *

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, ''Tina Moore Attic'' (SBD, 1995) * Darrell Nulisch, ''Bluesoul'' (Higher Plane, 1996) *

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, ''The R.E.B.I.R.T.H.'' (Subterraneous, 2007) * Orquestra Was, '' Forever's a Long, Long Time'' (Verve Forecast, 1997) *

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, ''Introducing...'' (Geffen, 1989) * David Peaston, ''Mixed Emotions'' (MCA, 1991) *

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, ''

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'' (Virgin, 1994) *

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, ''Like a Rolling Stone'' (Personal, 1985) * John Sinclair, ''Mobile Homeland'' (Amazon.com, 2017) *

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, ''From the Heart'' (FIXIT, 1990) *

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, ''Awesome'' (Motown, 2001) *

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, ''Blue Notes'' (Virgin, 1986) *

, ''Backbeat'' (Virgin, 1994) * Thomas Whitfield, ''Alive and Satisfied'' (Benson Music, 1992) *

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, ''I Just Wasn't Made for These Times'' (MCA, 1995) * Nancy Wilson, ''

If I Had My Way If I Had My Way may refer to: *If I Had My Way, song from 1914 written by James Kendis and Lou Klein, performed by Ethel Green * Samson and Delilah (traditional song) "Samson and Delilah" is a traditional song based on the Biblical tale of Samson ...

'' (Columbia, 1997) *

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, ''All Out'' (Qwest/Warner Bros., 1993)

References

External links

Blue Note Records

Freedom Ain't Free
{{DEFAULTSORT:McMurray, Dave 1958 births Living people 20th-century American jazz composers 21st-century American jazz composers African-American jazz composers American jazz bandleaders Blue Note Records artists American male jazz composers Post-bop jazz musicians 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians 20th-century African-American musicians 21st-century African-American musicians American jazz tenor saxophonists Griot Galaxy members Twisted Brown Trucker members