Subject: Obit: Bruce Murdoch (Peace, etc) 2026
From:
Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jun 26 - 12:25 PM
Long-time Mudcatter and organizer of folk information Bruce Murdoch has passed away. This is copied from a post shared by Dorothy Parshall and written by Mike Rainstripe, all on Facebook:
My friend Bruce Murdoch passed away today
He was 78 years old
RIP Bruce ??
[The following seems to be a recent review pasted into a post by Eric Bernard. It gives a good overview of Bruce's work.]
**BRUCE MURDOCH**
*Sometimes I Wonder Why the World*
Bruce Murdoch
Bruce Murdoch returned to Montreal around 1969 or 1970 after making his mark on the American folk world for about five years. At only 21 or 22 years old, he already possessed a remarkable path.
In 1965, at 17 years old (as Janis Ian would say), Bruce was one of four then-unknown artists — Richard Fariña, Patrick Sky and David Cohen (who would later become David Blue) being the other three — to debut on the album *The Singer-Songwriter Project*. He then recorded a full-length album produced by Richie Havens and performed at major clubs, concert halls and folk festivals.
Bruce quickly captivated Montreal audiences at venues such as the Back Door, Yellow Door and the Montreal Folk Workshop. In the following years, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the local folk scene.
In the late 1970s, after recording one final self-titled album, *Bruce Murdoch*, he stepped away from the music scene. Needing a fresh start, he went to live in Western Canada, resumed his education, and became a secondary teacher in a small Alberta town. His Martin D-28 was left unused in its case for 25 years.
Over the years, several had hoped to return to music. Little by little, the guitar came out of its case and the songs started to come again. This return to creation finally came to fruition in the mid-2000s.
Bruce's new songs were different from those he wrote in the 1960s and 1970s. Generally more personal and less openly political, they remained just as captivating. In 2008, he released the excellent album *Matters of the Heart*, marking his return to the stage and studio after a long absence.
A few years ago, Bruce moved back to Quebec. He now lives and writes in Ormstown, a small town about forty-five minutes south of Montreal, whose folk scene is surprisingly rich for a community of its size. This is where he wrote the songs from his new album, *Sometimes I Wonder Why the World*, directed by Eric Bernard.
The songs from this new album are intimate and intense, and reveal themselves more with each listen. Listened to a single stroke, they seem to blend into each other like the thirteen movements in a sequence. Mature love and human courage are the dominant themes.
If it were possible to emphasize the qualities of almost every piece on the album, some stand out particularly for their evocative strength and depth.
In addition to Bruce's vocals and rhythm guitar, the album features excellent contributions from many musicians, including guitarists Bill Garrett, Eric Bernard, Ron Bankley, Luc Larocque, David Valentine Taylor and David Whyte, violinist Chris Crilly, as well as Eric Bernard to directing and producing.
Mike Regenstreif
(Since first posting this Mike has offered the link to his original essay.)
Bruce used several names and symbols over the years, and a lot of his posts were as guest, so tracking them all down might be a challenge.
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