Murray McLauchlan is one of Canada's best songwriting performers.
To experience him perform is to enjoy creative storytelling,
social commentary and wit with a man who clearly enjoys sharing
his music and experiences with an audience.
In his last teens, soon after developing the art of songwriting, Murray found himself playing at major music festivals such as The Philadelphia Folk Festival and Mariposa, where he appeared alongside Jim Croce and John Prine. He then continued to attract attention on the club circuit, playing such well known rooms as The Riverboat in Toronto, The Bitter End in New York, The Main Point in Philadelphia, and the famous Earl of Old Town in Chicago. Before Murray had actually recorded an album of his own, his "Child’s Song" was already well known after being recorded by American folk star Tom Rush.
Now, thirty odd years later, Murray has nineteen albums to his credit on both True North Records and Capitol Records. Murray has won eleven JUNO awards, as well as RPM "Big Country" awards and Toronto music awards. His songs have been covered by many other artists as well as being featured in high school text books.
Murray has been both a radio and television host as well as the author of a book and in 1993 was appointed to the order of Canada. His side project with Ian Thomas, Cindy Church and Marc Jordan, Lunch at Allen's has taken on a life of its own with a live DVD and CD released in 2004 on Capitol/EMI and a new studio recording coming soon. As well, Murray composed a stage musical, Eddie. In the fall of 2006, EMI Music released the album, The Songbook... New Arivals, featuring songs from the musical.
Read about Murray's new CD and hear excerpts.
Awards and Presentations
- 1973 RPM GOLD LEAF--COMPOSER OF THE YEAR
- 1973 RPM GOLD LEAF--COUNTRY SINGLE
- 1973 RPM GOLD LEAF--FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR
- 1975 JUNO--COUNTRY MALE VOCALIST
- 1976 JUNO--COUNTRY MALE VOCALIST
- 1978 JUNO--FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR
- 1979 JUNO--COUNTRY MALE VOCALIST
- 1983/4 JUNO--COUNTRY MALE VOCALIST
- 1984/85 JUNO--COUNTRY MALE VOCALIST
- 1985 RPM BIG COUNTRY--MALE VOCALIST
- 1985/6 JUNO--COUNTRY MALE VOCALIST
- 1986 RPM BIG COUNTRY--MALE VOCALIST
- 1988 JUNO--COUNTRY MALE VOCALIST
Discography - True North Records/CBS/Sony
- SONG FROM THE STREET
- MURRAY MCLAUCHLAN
- SWEEPING THE SPOTLIGHT AWAY
- DAY TO DAY DUST
- ON THE BOULEVARD
- ONLY THE SILENCE REMAINS
- HARD ROCK TOWN
- WHISPERING RAIN
- GREATEST HITS
- INTO A MYSTERY
- STORM WARNING
- WINDOWS
- TIMBERLINE
- HEROES
- GULLIVER’S TAXI
Capitol Records
- SWINGING ON A STAR
- THE MODERN AGE
- THE SONGBOOK...NEW ARRIVALS
Guest Artist (Record)
- 1994 KUMBAYA-AIDS HOSPICE BENIFIT SHOW-SONY
- 1996 BARE NAKED LADIES
- 1995/1996 JOHN MCDERMOTT
- 1997 CBC RED RIVER RALLY CD
Television and Film Credits - Highlights
- 1974 LORNE MICHAELS, HART POMERANTZ HOUR
- 1970's NASHVILLE NORTH (IAN AND SYLVIA) NUMEROUS APPEARANCES
- 1970's/80's TOMMY HUNTER SHOW - NUMEROUS APPEARANCES
- PLAYED THE FIRST EVER CHUM CITY SIMULCAST FROM THE EL MOCAMBO IN TORONTO
- RALPH EMERY SHOW, TNN - SEVERAL APPEARANCES
- 1989 IAN AND SYLVIA REUNION, CBC
- 1989 COUNTRY GOLD, CBC
- 1991 MARIPOSA SPECIAL, CTV (HOSTED)
- 1994 BLAME IT ON THE BLUES-BRIAN ORSER SPECIAL, CBC
- 1994 RITA AND FRIENDS, CBC
Specials
- CAMERA AND SONG - BBC
- 1976 TV MURRAY MCLAUCHLAN/ ON THE BOULEVARD - CBC
- 1986 FLOATING OVER CANADA - CBC
Acting
- PARTNERS--MOVIE-DIRECTOR, DON OWEN (CAMEO)
- STREET LEGAL--CBC TV--SUPPORTING PART
- NEON RIDER--CTV "RUNNING MAN" VIRTUR/ RICKERT (FEATURE ROLE)
Childrens
- SESAME STREET
- THE ELEPHANT SHOW
Movie Scoring
- PARTNERS - DIRECTOR DON OWEN (STARRED DENHOLM ELLIOT, HOLLIS MCLAREN)
- ALLIGATOR SHOES - DIRECTOR CLAY BORRIS MELANIE (STARRING DON JOHNSON)
Facts About Murray
- BORN IN PAISLEY SCOTLAND IN 1948
- HAS WON 11 JUNO AWARDS
- IS A MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF CANADA
- IS A LICENCED PILOT WITH A COMMERCIAL LICENCE FOR MULTI-ENGINED AIRCRAFT, LAND AND SEA, AND A GROUP 1 INSTRUMENT RATING
- IS A BOARD MEMBER WITH SOCAN, THE SOCAN FOUNDATION, THE CANADIAN SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME, AND MUSIC WORKS
- ENJOYS KARATE, GOLF, TENNIS, BICYCLING, WIND SURFING, SKATING, SWIMMING, WIND SURFING, PAINTING, AND PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING THAT'S FUN
- FAVOURITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME "THE MASTER MARINER" BY NICHOLAS MONTSERRAT, " AT PLAY IN THE FIELDS OF THE LORD" BY PETER MATHIESON, "TRACY AND HEPBURN" BY GARSON KANIN, "THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA" HEMINGWAY
