Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?

Subject: Tony Murphy - Orange & Green
From: hooktender
Date: 06 Jan 00 - 12:10 AM

Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name, either as the writer or the vocalist of the Irish tune, "The Orange and the Green?"

Subject: RE: Help: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this
From: bigJ
Date: 06 Jan 00 - 05:55 PM

Yep,
When I lived in Liverpool 20-plus years ago there was a bloke named Tony Murphy who wrote songs and performed them at local folk clubs. He began his career singing in the 'Wash House Club' in London Road which was organised by Pete McGovern (who wrote 'In My Liverpool Home') and Bill Moore. The song whose words you quote was, I think, called 'My Mother She Was Orange, And My Father He Was Green'. The last time I saw Tony was about ten years ago at the Carlisle Folk festival when he was there with his wife. I'll make enquiries as to his current situation. Regards.

Subject: RE: Help: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this
From: hooktender
Date: 06 Jan 00 - 11:48 PM

Was it Tony Murphy who recorded "The Orange and The Green" (same lyrics as you quoted) in the 1950's. It was played in the US on the radio then, quite often.

HT.

Subject: RE: Help: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this
From: bigJ
Date: 09 Jan 00 - 11:16 AM

Well, I've just come off the telephone to Tony Murphy in Huyton, Liverpool - having interrupted him watching a football match on TV; and I fogot to ask him if he'd recorded the song, but I seem to remember that the Liverpool group The Spinners did record it. Tony is well, now aged 65 and retired. He had a book of poems published a couple of years ago he tells me; he's still writing songs more for his own amusement than from a performance point of view. Regards.

Subject: RE: Help: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this
From: GUEST,Dave Dando
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 05:17 PM

After the washouse Pete McGovern and Bill Moore did Sunday nights for a few years at (I think) Walton Labour Club. Tony Murphy appeared there a few times. Pete was a Liverpool season ticket holder ('B' Block main stand he'd brag), whilst Tony was, and probably still is, one of those blues. Remember a few good folk on those Sundaty nights. Like Brian Jaques, who diversified successfully and his brother Tony. Tony Murphy's 'The Orange and the Green' was a parody of 'The Wearing of the Green', which featured a lot at Spinners concerts and I think on one or two of their recordings.
Would love a little jam sesion with any of these guys if they're still around

Subject: RE: Help: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this
From: GUEST,David Henderson - Swinging the Lead
Date: 14 Aug 12 - 09:19 AM

I used to visit the Wash House Club regularly in the early 60s. Tony Murphy was one of a bunch of well regarded stalwarts and Me Father he was Orange was one of his songs.

The Wash House was regarded very much as a singers club. It was held in the basement of Samson and Barlow's restaurant on a Saturday night. The Spinners used to hold their club there during the week but then they moved to Gregson's Well pub. The club itself was very small and crammed with bentwood kitchen chairs. The decor was brick walls painted dark red and black. I was startled when a tray of sandwiches was passed around, a buffet in a folk club, no less! Turned out it was to get around the licensing laws. Samson and Barlow's held a restaurant licence which meant that you could only have alcoholic drinks with a meal. Half a soggy cheese and tomato sandwich got round the problem.

Long live the happy memories!

Subject: RE: Help: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this
From: banjoman
Date: 14 Aug 12 - 10:31 AM

Ah such memories of the Washouse & Walton Trades & Labour Club and loads of other places where Pete McGovern &co held court. I dont think that Tony Murphy actually recorded The Orange and the Grenn but the Spinners did. His other well known song was about the henpecked husband.
Maggie & I ran the PUNCA folk & Poetry Club at The Old Fort in Precsott St and Tony Murphy , although not a regular, did turn up there occasionally as did Pete McGovern
PUNCA by the way stands for Puerile Uncouth Neurotic Childish Art which was a description given by a local school teacher of the poetry & music being practised.

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Oct 13 - 08:29 AM

Hello,
I'm looking for anybody who knew another tony,a mr.Tony Roosenbroek, he was a member of the folk community, way back
In the late 50's early 60's.
I know he knew Maggie bowers and Pete Mcgovern.
When he died in 1970, they held a tribute concert for him, alot of people gave their tributes, and just trying to see if anybody is stil out there.

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 04:12 PM

Tony Murphy was a friend of Pete McGovern (In my Liverpool Home) and sang at Pete's folk club The Washhouse, I believe in "Old Scotty Road".
I knew them both in the late '60's. In fact they both appeared at my Farewell to Liverpool midnight concert in 1968 at the Everyman Theatre.
The same night as the Spinners had their 10th anniversary concert at the Liverpool Phil!(a few hundred yards away!). I had called at the Phil earlier and in the Green Room invited Tony Davis+ Spinners to my late night charity concert!!They didn't come - neither did Christy Moore
whose first English folk club tour I had arranged, before he started singing with The Planxty band.
The Dubliners made "The Orange and the Green" a number 1 hit in the late '70's.
Tony was a very basic "down to earth scouser" - very friendly and loved writing his songs etc.
Bert Bignell, now in Maidstone, Kent.

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: GUEST,banjoman
Date: 11 Jan 16 - 06:02 AM

My wife (Maggie ) used to baby sit for Tony Rosenbrooke, who sadly died young. WE also knew his Father, Charlie, very well as he was a regular at the PUNCA club which we ran.

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: GUEST,Gealt
Date: 11 Jan 16 - 07:21 AM

I have Paddy Reilly's 1971 lp 'The Life of Paddy Reilly' (Dolphin Records). Reilly sings the The Orange and the Green which is credited to Anthony Murphy, Essex Music Ltd. Sleeve notes, by Michael Hand of The (defunct) Sunday Press, are biographical.

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 11 Jan 16 - 08:12 AM

Glad to hear Tony is still with us and thriving. I was going to chip in with my tenpence worth but the previous posts cover all my thoughts and memories. It's really heart-warming to conjure those from the pioneer days here in Liverpool.

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: GUEST,geoff speed (guest)
Date: 12 Jan 16 - 11:09 AM

good to hear that you are well Tony.Please give me a call.

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jun 17 - 06:19 PM

Tony Murphy sadly passed away on the 8th June 2017 after a short illness.

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: Liberty Boy
Date: 21 Jun 17 - 10:41 AM

So sorry to hear this sad news. A fellow 'Washhouse' performer in the mid 60's. I particularly liked his song about Sefton Harriers, of which he was a member, featuring the line 'We're harriers, we're harriers, we don't like people getting in our way'!

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: GUEST,Tom Brown
Date: 22 Jun 17 - 06:24 AM

Sorry to hear the sad news concerning Tony Murphy. A true scouser, always with a warm welcome and a big smile to meet friends and acquaintances. When I remember the old Liverpool folk scene, Tony is one of the first people who comes to mind, his gentle unassuming nature made him a very popular addition to any folk club. Long may his songs live on.

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: GUEST,Rod Davis
Date: 23 Jun 17 - 11:13 AM

I just heard with great regret about Tony Murphy. An old mate who used to cadge a lift home off me late at night, then we'd sit outside his house arguing politics for another half hour or more! In 1965 the BBC made a film called "The Singing City" and there were a few scenes filmed at the Walton Labour Club. Pete McGovern can be seen 1 min 30 secs into the film, then again at 2m 50, singing "In my Liverpool Home", accompanied by the Johnny Good Trio - we were a bluegrass group so it wasn't exactly our material. Johnny was on guitar, Dave Gould on banjo and myself on fiddle. At 35min 30 secs Tony Murphy is to be found singing the entire "Orange and Green" accompanied by Stan Ambrose on tin whistle and Johnny on guitar. Other faces just about recognisable in the background include   Dave Gould's wife Natalie, Pete McGovern's wife, "Nina and Frederick" aka Norman and ???   
This is on Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTDzhwhLD6s
Hope you all enjoy this and raise a glass to Tony in memory of a great character and a great song! - Rod

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: GUEST,Bart Edmondson
Date: 05 Jul 17 - 04:43 AM

I loved the Washhouse, and was upset when Rod Davis told me about the passing of Tony Murphy- a lovely, personasble bloke.
As well as his own songs, Tony loved to sing 'Bonny Mary of Argyll',often starting in sightly too high a key so he struggled when he got to the high notes near the end, so we used to call him 'Bonny Murphy of Argyll'
Farewell Tony
Bart

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: GUEST,Carol Dunn
Date: 07 Jul 17 - 04:53 AM

Hi everyone, it's lovely to read all these comments. Tony was my uncle and my introduction to the world of folk. He took me to Spinners' concerts when I was young, then when I was old enough to Loughborough Folk Festival (1977!) he also took me to my first Watersons concert- what an experience that was!

His funeral was quiet but nice, as these things can be. We came into 'Johnny Todd' (theme from Z Cars) which is better known to Blues fans as 'Up the Toffees'. Naturally 'The Orange and the Green' was played, much to the amusement of the priest.

I've enjoyed reading your memories of my Uncle Tony- thank you.

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: dayvaitch
Date: 05 Nov 20 - 03:34 PM

Carol,

Sorry to hear Tony has passed away. I have happy memories of him at the Wash House in the sixties and also Jim & Shirley Peden's club in the same venue. Sounds like we're about the same vintage.

A true "folk" singer and writer.

Subject: RE: Tony Murphy: does anyone recognize this name?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Apr 24 - 08:12 AM

sorry i dont seem to know TonyMurphy,but do remember the washhouse as i met my husband there through Johnny Good who was his friend.John was bestman at our wedding in 1963,Brenda.