Chris Murray is a unique force on today's music scene. As leader of influential Canadian ska group King Apparatus, Chris earned a strong reputation as a dynamic performer and gifted songwriter. Upon the band's breakup, he relocated to Los Angeles, emerging as a solo artist with his debut album The 4-Track Adventures Of Venice Shoreline Chris. This charmingly lo-fi collection of home recordings won high praise for its finely crafted tunes and the raw sincerity of its vintage production.
In addition to his busy schedule of live appearances throughout North America, Japan, Europe and South America, Chris finds time for a remarkable array of collaborative efforts. Chris has co-written with and produced albums for Montreal's Planet Smashers and eclectic NYC supergroup Da Whole Thing. His writing credits have also appeared on releases by Hepcat, The Slackers, Westbound Train, and Neville Staple of The Specials. Most recently, his classic song We Do The Ska was covered by highly popular UK group The King Blues.
Life has led Chris down a musical path to the very roots of reggae music. From trading songs on acoustic guitar with boogie-ska pioneer Laurel Aitken and singing with Caribbean bandleader Carlos Malcolm & His Afro-Jamaican Rhythms, to jamming with The Specials in a basement club and recording with Jamaica's original drums and bass masters, Lloyd Knibb and Lloyd Brevett, Chris has served his apprenticeship with the finest musicians connected with the genre. Chris backed Prince Buster on harmonica for a rare US live appearance at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in 2003.
Chris has hosted Bluebeat Lounge at Hollywood's Knitting Factory for the past seven years. The weekly concert series, focusing on reggae and ska, has showcased a diverse range of top quality music and served as home base for the thriving Los Angeles scene.
Chris Murray Combo - Shades of the Same Color Video by Mobley Street Productions
Thanks for supporting our music. We are here because MySpace have decided that nobody should be able to find or hear SKA on MySpace.
Many other genres disappeared along with ska - we welcome from and will in turn support any musician of any genre that has been abused by MySpace.
Please help if you can by posting on our comment to you to 10 of your friends, and ask them to add us too. Please, if you can find room, add us to your top friends.
Please spread the word - we believe that only musicians can infuence MySpace to reverse these changes and once again make MySpace about MUSIC not profit for a few corporations. We also belive this to be in MySpace best interests.
Wether you are a musician or a music fan, remember:
UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL
Please show your support in our comments section, but please - do not advertise in the cmments section.
Hey Chris, Great show at the Underworld last night!! I had an awesome time and I'm pretty sure you all did :) Gettin' Josh up for 'I Need Water' was wicked, and ending on 'Home' was perfect! Good luck with the rest of the tour, cya when you're back. Cheers, All the best, Josh
Hi Chris! Megan and I have been listening to your CD 'Yard Sale' non stop since we got it. It is Incredible. I especially like the tracks with Cedric Brooks, also "Shades of The Same Color" and "Boogie". You have got an unbelievable talent for guitar soloing. Later, Reggie.
"The Universe is defined as everything that physically exists: the entirety of space and time, all forms of matter, energy and momentum, and the physical laws and constants that govern them." It doesn't get much more all-encompassing than that...
heya, thanks for getting back to me with the friend request, as you can see cueball8 are no more im afraid but i am continuing playing music! gona have a lot of new tunes up very soon. hope alls good with you. much love johnnie :)
COME LISTEN TO SOME SKA, ROCKSTEADY, & REGGAE @ The Riddim Box Selectors Night with Dj's 2ToneTed, DukeDuel, Soulfool, Zapadru +MTBA$5, 21+ doors Open @ 9:30pm$2 Drink Specials ALL NIGHT ($2 Domestic Beers, $2.50 Imports, $4 Well Drinks)
Hey FC Fan, just stopping by to say Happy New Year...I know it's a bit early, but we'll be on the isle of Catalina whoopin' it up. Hope for our safe return and hope to see you at a show in 2010. Safe Journeys-Your Boys-FC
