BIOGRAPHY
MATT MURPHY
Matt Murphy has spent the past thirty-plus years of his life perfecting his craft as a drummer and percussionist. While attending Western Illinois University, Matt had the opportunity to perform with the Grammy Nominated Western Illinois University’s Jazz Studio Orchestra. After graduating college, Matt traveled the country with Caribbean/Pop sensations, The Steel Bandits. During his tenure with this group, Matt was seen playing to sold out venues, arenas and auditoriums from the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, to tours through Europe and practically everywhere in between.
Beginning in 1997, Matt assumed the responsibility of Musical Director for Norwegian Cruise Line, performing as an artist as well as departmental manager on several of Norwegian’s vessels within the fleet of nine ships. Immediately following that successful tour, Matt was asked to back up the soulful singing sensation Stan Sykes, as part of Stan Sykes and Company. It was during 2001 and 2002 that Stan and the gang, spent time touring the Caribbean, North America, Europe and the Hawaiian Islands.
In 2002, Hollywood has called for Matt’s knowledge of music in television. Working both in front and behind the camera’s lens, Matt can be seen on several television programs starting in 2002, as a sideline musician. Matt is also keeping very busy, working as Music Consultant for the new Partridge Family series for MTV Networks, as well as the internationally famous prime time hit from Warner Brothers, the Gilmore Girls.
Moving to Las Vegas in the fall of 2005 proved to be one of Matt's smartest moves. Within weeks of coming to town, Matt was asked to take the drum seat for "The Rat Pack Tribute". 'This show brings back the good ol’ days when Vegas was Vegas. Musically, it's one of my favorite shows and pays homage to some of the finest entertainers the world has ever seen- Frank, Sammy and Dean,' Murphy was quoted saying in an interview after a show. From 2009-2011, Matt held down the drum seat for International Superstar Charo, as she traveled the world.
In Las Vegas, Matt also leads his own groups and is hired as a sideman, performing in such mega-resorts as: Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Mandalay Bay, Monte Carlo, MGM Grand, Venetian, Encore and the Bellagio. Through the years, Matt has played drums for such award-winning theater productions as: Smokey Joe’s Café, TOMMY, Hair, In the Heights and Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical, RENT.
2020 marked the completion of Matt’s highly anticipated tutor, A Drummer’s Guide to Afro-Caribbean & South American Grooves. This text has been given numerous accolades from the percussion industry’s greatest, authors, performers and educators. As an adjunct professor, Matt taught private drum set lessons as well as the History of the Steel Band to students within the percussion program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As one could imagine this is quite an honor and Matt takes this opportunity very seriously.
Matt Murphy is indeed an all-American percussionist who's grooves permeate all musical styles. Matt is a proud endorser for: Drum Workshop drums and hardware, SABIAN cymbals, Vic Firth sticks and brushes, Remo drumheads and percussion, 64 Audio In Ear Monitors, Audix Microphones, Humes and Berg bags and cases, Gruv Gear, Prologix Percussion & Big Fat Snare Drum, Matt is also a international clinician and educator for Drum Workshop, SABIAN and Vic Firth's education team roster.
Theater Productions
In The Heights
RENT
Tommy
HAIR
Pirates of Penzance
Smokey Joe's Cafe
Rocky Horror Picture Show
West Side Story
Guys and Dolls
Jersey Boys
Vegas! The Show
HMS Penafore
Musical Ensembles
A State of Mind- featuring Serena Henry
Francesca Camus
Ryan Ahern
CHARO
Rick Whitfield
Lennon Scott
Wayne Foster Entertainment
Otis Williams
Jennifer Nettles
Elvy Rose Alvarez
Sam Cooke
Johnny Thunder
Cat Rian and Friends
Vanessa Chamberlin
Stan Sykes and Company
Mangu
The Trio
The Definitives
Brothers Ali
Caribe
Chris Patterson
Stephen Kummer Trio
