Chris Murrell, American Jazz Singer dies at 60 - Pittsburgh Jazz Network2024-03-29T01:09:19Zhttp://jazzburgher.ning.com/forum/topics/chris-murrell-american-jazz-singer-dies-at-61?groupUrl=obituaries&commentId=1992552%3AComment%3A410204&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noGod rest his young soul.tag:jazzburgher.ning.com,2017-07-01:1992552:Comment:4102042017-07-01T12:41:33.969ZRoberta Windlehttp://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/RobertaJeanWindle
<p>God rest his young soul.</p>
<p>God rest his young soul.</p> Nelson,
I'm not sure how to p…tag:jazzburgher.ning.com,2017-07-01:1992552:Comment:4104262017-07-01T03:50:57.612ZDr. Nelson Harrisonhttp://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/NelsonHarrison
<div class="aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-size: large;">Nelson,</div>
<div class="aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-size: large;">I'm not sure how to post on your website, but here is what I would like to say about Chris.</div>
<div class="aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-size: large;">"Chris performed at Hunger Services Network's final Fall Jazz Classic in 2003 and he was spectacular! The crowd loved him. We also heard him With Roger Humphries on his 2015 Jazz on the River and he was…</div>
<div class="aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-size: large;">Nelson,</div>
<div class="aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-size: large;">I'm not sure how to post on your website, but here is what I would like to say about Chris.</div>
<div class="aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-size: large;">"Chris performed at Hunger Services Network's final Fall Jazz Classic in 2003 and he was spectacular! The crowd loved him. We also heard him With Roger Humphries on his 2015 Jazz on the River and he was still in good shape. He was a great vocalist and song stylist and will be missed."</div>
<div class="aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-size: large;">Thank you,</div>
<div class="aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-size: large;">Major and Ann Mason</div> Byron Christopher Murrell (De…tag:jazzburgher.ning.com,2017-07-01:1992552:Comment:4101952017-07-01T03:29:04.588ZDr. Nelson Harrisonhttp://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/NelsonHarrison
<p><b>Byron Christopher Murrell</b> (December 18, 1956 – June 18, 2017)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Murrell#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup> was an American jazz and gospel singer who has toured as the featured vocalist for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Basie_Orchestra" title="Count Basie Orchestra">Count Basie Orchestra</a> and has made appearances with the Roger Humphries Big Band.…</p>
<p><b>Byron Christopher Murrell</b> (December 18, 1956 – June 18, 2017)<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Murrell#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup> was an American jazz and gospel singer who has toured as the featured vocalist for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Basie_Orchestra" title="Count Basie Orchestra">Count Basie Orchestra</a> and has made appearances with the Roger Humphries Big Band.</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Biography">Biography</span></h2>
<p>Murrell began singing as a young child and continued to study voice and perform through his childhood, singing in church and school functions. As a teenager, he traveled and performed throughout the US with his own seven-piece gospel group, the Christian Disciples.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Murrell#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup></p>
<p>Murrell graduated from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_Forest_University" title="Wake Forest University">Wake Forest University</a> in 1979 with a degree in theater, and is a lifelong resident of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston-Salem,_North_Carolina" title="Winston-Salem, North Carolina">Winston-Salem, North Carolina</a>. In May 1986, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Foster_%28musician%29" title="Frank Foster (musician)">Frank Foster</a> was the guest soloist at a concert with the North Carolina School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Chris was invited to be a guest vocal soloist on the same concert, where Foster, who was shortly to take over as leader of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Basie_Orchestra" title="Count Basie Orchestra">Count Basie Orchestra</a>, heard Chris's rendition of "Lush Life"; when the opportunity presented itself, he hired Chris to be the featured vocalist with the Count Basie Orchestra.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Murrell#cite_note-3">[3]</a></sup> He toured worldwide with the Count Basie Orchestra until 2002.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (June 2017)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></p>
<p>In 2002, Murrell released a solo album, <i>Reprise</i>; in the liner notes, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Bennett" title="Tony Bennett">Tony Bennett</a> called him "one of my favorite singers".<sup id="cite_ref-Notice_4-0" class="reference"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Murrell#cite_note-Notice-4">[4]</a></sup> In 2004, his vocals were featured on the CD <i>These Foolish Things</i> by the Joe Aiello Trio.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Murrell#cite_note-5">[5]</a></sup></p>
<p>Murrell died on June 18, 2017 at the age of 61 in his native <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston-Salem,_North_Carolina" title="Winston-Salem, North Carolina">Winston-Salem, North Carolina</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Notice_4-1" class="reference"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Murrell#cite_note-Notice-4">[4]</a></sup></p>