Research Catalog

Title

Frederick D. Murphy papers, 1970-1992 (bulk 1970-1980).

Author

Murphy, Frederick D., 1940-1993.

Supplementary Content

Finding aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

7.4 linear feet.

Summary

• The Frederick D. Murphy papers consist principally of press kits and news clippings Murphy collected on hundreds of recording artists of popular music, primarily rhythm and blues, soul, disco, rock and roll, and other genres. He also gathered biographical information about singers and musicians as well as executives in the music industry. The years for most of the collection span the 1970's and 1980's.
• As a publicist for a number of recording artists, some of the material in his files concerns performers about whom he wrote in his columns and articles, or whom he actually represented. The bulk of the collection consists of files for individual recording artists and organizations that Murphy represented, primarily record companies and related music associations, including the Black Music Association.
• The Murphy Papers also contain drafts and printed copies of his columns "Jam Session" and "Discotrax," written for Variety, are included as well as feature articles and interviews he conducted with a number of artists. There are also drafts for Murphy's monthly column "Inside the Big Apple" that he wrote for Black Stars.

Subjects

• African American musicians
• African American sound recording executives and producers
• African American entertainers
• Musicians > United States
• African American women entertainers
• African American actors
• Black author
• African American models
• African Americans and mass media
• African Americans > Music
• African American women singers
• Murphy, Frederick D., 1940-1993
• African Americans in the performing arts
• African American actresses
• African Americans in popular culture
• African American singers
• Interviews
• Popular music
• Music publicity
• Black Music Association
• African Americans in mass media

Genre/Form

Interviews.

Note

• Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.
• Poster transferred to Art and Artifact Division.

Source (note)

• Sandra Murphy for the Murphy Family;

Biography (note)

• Frederick D. Murphy was an African American publicist for black recording artists and the leisure time industry in the 1970's and 1980's. As the sole proprietor of the Frederick D. Murphy Communications, Inc. in New York, he was the public relations consultant and writer for such clients as Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, Miles Davis, Roberta Flack, Patti LaBelle, Melba Moore, and actress/models Toukie Smith and Beverly Johnson.
• Murphy was a columnist for entertainment oriented newspapers and magazines. He was a music critic and feature writer for the weekly industry newspaper Variety, covering special music events and conferences. His columns "Jam Session" and "Discotrax" focused on activities in the black music market including recording artists, concerts and cabarets. His feature articles contain in-depth stories about the record industry. In this capacity he interviewed scores of actors, entertainers and behind-the-scenes personalities such as Roberta Flack, Melba Moore and Naomi Sims. Murphy also wrote the monthly column "Inside the Big Apple" for Black Stars, a black consumer oriented publication that deals principally with blacks in the entertainment industry. His column described the activities of personalities in the entertainment field as they passed through the metropolitan New York area.

Call Number

Sc MG 651

OCLC

80934084

Author

Murphy, Frederick D., 1940-1993.

Title

Frederick D. Murphy papers, 1970-1992 (bulk 1970-1980).

Biography

Frederick D. Murphy was an African American publicist for black recording artists and the leisure time industry in the 1970's and 1980's. As the sole proprietor of the Frederick D. Murphy Communications, Inc. in New York, he was the public relations consultant and writer for such clients as Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, Miles Davis, Roberta Flack, Patti LaBelle, Melba Moore, and actress/models Toukie Smith and Beverly Johnson.

Murphy was a columnist for entertainment oriented newspapers and magazines. He was a music critic and feature writer for the weekly industry newspaper Variety, covering special music events and conferences. His columns "Jam Session" and "Discotrax" focused on activities in the black music market including recording artists, concerts and cabarets. His feature articles contain in-depth stories about the record industry. In this capacity he interviewed scores of actors, entertainers and behind-the-scenes personalities such as Roberta Flack, Melba Moore and Naomi Sims. Murphy also wrote the monthly column "Inside the Big Apple" for Black Stars, a black consumer oriented publication that deals principally with blacks in the entertainment industry. His column described the activities of personalities in the entertainment field as they passed through the metropolitan New York area.

Connect to:

Finding aid

Local Subject

Black author.

Research Call Number

Sc MG 651