Based in Culver City, California, the Murphy Family band began performing in mid-2003, first at their neighborhood block party, where they dazzled their friends and neighbors with their renditions of Boil Them Cabbage Down and Cripple Creek.  Encouraged by that response, they expanded their repertoire to includes various classic bluegrass instrumentals and vocals, ranging from material from Bill Monroe, to the Stanley Brothers, and Flatt and Scruggs.  Of course, being the creative sort, they also have penned their own compositions and added them to their performances at parties, local school functions, and coffeehouses.

Kyle Murphy: Kyle, born in 1993 (and 14 years old at the time of this posting) first took up the mandolin, but at age 7 found it a mite easier to press down the strings on a violin, so he began taking classical violin lessons.  Well, what with his father's background in Bluegrass and Old Time music, it wasn't long before Kyle began ripping off fiddle tunes, with his Dad backing him up on guitar.  Of course, one thing led to another, as it usually does, and before long (at the age of 10) Kyle started expanding and honing his ability on the fiddle by taking lessons from Richard Greene, renowned Old Time and Bluegrass fiddler extraordinaire (need we say more?)  The result?  Kyel won 1st place in beginning and intermediate fiddle at the Topanga Fiddle and Banjo Contest (2004 and 2006 respectively).  Then, in 2003, at the age of 10, with strengthened hands, Kyle returned to the mandolin, an easy transition, of course, since the violin and mandolin are tuned the same.  And, as with the violin, Kyle proceeded to expand and hone his mandolin playing with lessons at the age of 11 from local mandolin great, Bob Applebaum, with the easily expected excellent results.  But just so you know, Kyle is a well-rounded young man with a real passion for sports that has led him to being active in organized soccer and baseball since he was 6. 

Sara Murphy: Not wanting to be left out of the family's musical endeavors, Sara, born in 1997, took up the fiddle when she was 6, so she would have something to do while everyone around her was playing music.  Progressing rapidly since then, and following in her older brother's footsteps, Sara began taking lessons from Richard Green shortly after turning 10.  Her vocal abilities have been enhanced by her participation in the school chorus.  And not wanting to be musically limited, Sara is becoming an accomplished 5-string banjo player.  Like her brother, Sara maintains a well-rounded approach to life with participation in Girl Scouts, sports (soccer and softball), and dolls, especially the American Girl dolls.

Jim Murphy: Kyle and Sara came by both their musical interest and aptitudes quite naturally, given their father's long time involvement with Bluegrass and Old Time Music, which extends all the way back to his undergraduate days in college in Binghamton, New York, and which, of course, resulted in playing in more than one string band over the years, including the Highstrung String Band (Binghamton, New York), the Fenway Mountain Boys (where else but Boston, Massachusetts), the Badger Mountain Dry Band (Richland, Washington), and currently The Spike Drivers out of Los Angeles.  Jim has always loved science, as well, and he is a chemistry professor at Santa Monica College.

The Murphy Family Band with Doug Davis on banjo and Ron Vance on bass at Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest 2008

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