Bio: Considered one of the finest vocalists in modern reggae and revered by his peers, including the likes of Beres Hammond Etana and Luciano for his powerful yet silk signature sound, LYMIE MURRAY is a class act! Take one listen and you'll return for seconds! His is a captivating rich soulful sound, warm and welcoming to the eardrums. Known as a crooner of deeply romantic lover's ballads, MURRAY's first three albums - ‘Happy Days', ‘Only Conversation' and ‘Start All Over' - as well as a plethora of singles are classic odes to reggae's lover's rock genre. Sample his awesome collection of love ballads - ‘Every Time I Touch You', ‘If I Could', ‘Pool of Love', ‘Slow and Easy', ‘ABC', ‘This Love' and newly -released singles ‘Just Like This' and ‘Only You and I Know' and you'll discover a unique mix of artistic genius, power, style and class.
Yet Murray is not to be typecast. With the release of some power roots reggae hits such as the patriotic ‘Good Morning Jamaica', ‘If You Never Tried', ‘Break Free', ‘Rolling Thunder', ‘Troubles I See' and ‘Fire Burnin', and a fourth album aptly called ‘DEEPER ROOTS', Lymie Murray is nowadays making conscious reggae roots a centrepiece in his inspiring collection. Deeper Roots features songs such as ‘Earth Cry', ‘Captive', ‘Brother's Keeper' and ‘Marcus'. Deeper Roots carries a commanding, authoritative energy; the lyrics forceful and consequential. Deeper Roots is available on iTunes and is worth a listen.
Born Paul Hugh Murray on October 24 in Royal Flats, Manchester, Jamaica, LYMIE has blazed a magnificent trail in the reggae music industry. After years of touring extensively across the United States, Europe, South America and Asia as the enchanting front man for the once popular Skool Band (led then by former Chalice member, Desi Jones), and as opening act/backing vocalist for Freddie McGregor, the remarkable singer dropped his first album ‘HAPPY DAYS' in 1998. Featuring hits such as ‘Every Time I Touch You', ‘Blessed' and ‘Let's Stay Together', the collection is an exhilarating ensemble reflecting Murray's optimism about his future and his life.
‘HAPPY DAYS' helped the gifted singer/songwriter to carve his own name and niche in the local reggae scene. Attracting the attention of Freddie McGregor and Big Ship Records, Murray was touring with McGregor, performing as opening act/backing vocalist. Since "Happy Days" Murray has been prolific, blowing out the boundaries he previously set. A collaboration with Barry Clarke (BRC International), Dalton Browne (Busy Bee Records, UK-based Stingray Records and the Big Ship label resulted in Murray's second album, "START ALL OVER", released by Jet Star UK in 2001. Start All Over features songs such as the title track ‘Start All Over', ‘All Night Long' and ‘If I Could'. His third album "Only Conversations" released in 2002 on the Big Ship/VP Records label is dazzling. Murray's vocals are mellow and mature and the lyrics even more meaningful. Only Conversation includes the popular title track (and Murray's biggest hit to date), ‘Only Conversation', as well as ‘Jah Fire', ‘Love Overdue' and ‘La La Means (I Love You)'.
Determined to carve his own niche in reggae, the superb singer continues to mesmerize audiences everywhere. Murray gave outstanding performances on the UB 40's 21st Anniversary concert and the London Philharmonic series headlined by John Holt and Ken Boothe in 2001. Murray also updated his sound. In 2003, he shared the stage with Johnny Gill and the Isley Brothers in the "To Mom With Love" concert in Jamaica. Since then, Lymie has been dynamic. In 2008, Lymie was a shining star at the Uppsala Reggae Festival in Sweden, and at home, impressed at local shows - Rebel Salute, ‘A St. Mary Me Come From', ‘Summer Hype', ‘International Reggae Day' and ‘Western Consciousness'. In 2010, Lymie Murray impressed at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival and delivered a scintillating performance on International Night at Reggae Sumfest.
Murray has an extraordinary ability to provide faultless harmonizing finish to songs. Want proof? Check out Wasp's provocative single ‘Cry Fi Dem', ‘Etana's ‘Wrong Address' and Jah Cure's ‘Sticky (Out Deh)'. It is his versatility, exceptional creative range and superb talent that is sought after and admired by his peers in the reggae industry, and which will thrust this remarkable singer into reggae glory. ____________________________________________________________________________
Press Release: While classic Reggae lyrics often focus on poverty and political oppression, Lymie Murray's debut album HAPPY DAYS has made its way into the light.
Click here to sample the album: http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/1781647
When most people outside Jamaica think of Reggae music, they think of Bob Marley. But Reggae music has come a long way since then and is now a melting pot of message and merriment. As the title track of Lymie Murray's HAPPY DAYS, hints, expect your fill of lyrics about pretty girls, longing, and good times.
Murray's velvet voice hugs around that rich horn and tinkling pianos that emerge through the guitars, bass and drums that ground the sound. Murray has stayed true to his roots by keeping the Reggae signature sound of focussing on the offbeat.
However, he has also decided to push the genre's boundaries. "I'll take care of you", for instance, has a cool R n'B vibe, a slick beat that moves in a circular motion that would fit perfectly into any low lit luxury bar.
Released in 1998 for Shangul Records, HAPPY DAYS is a smooth album that passes through romantic tides as Murray yearns for the company of his current flame. This is not a painful; "I would do anything for love" kind of longing. However, Murray is clearly too laid back for such Meat Loaf-ian acts of drama. Instead Murray comes from a more organic place, working from an internal paradise as optimistic phrases spills out through the speakers, leaking into your ears. "Happy days are here to stay" he sings, from his state of cemented euphoria.
Each track flows effortlessly into the next, helping creating a chilled ‘ain't got no problems' atmosphere. This is no cheesy Tiki shirt wearing, pina colada sipping album. Positive vibes and moving beats are presents, but it isn't contrived, Murray is operating from an authentic front.
While most artistes use the struggle of pre-recording days to fuel the fire of their debut album, Murray instead offers the refreshing attitude of gratitude. Acknowledging his fortunate life, Murray sings "Got my wife, got my family, peace and love was bestowed upon me."
While "Happy Days" is largely upbeat, "Love we had" gives diversity to the album by allowing a darker shade to come in. Murray sings of a lost love he cannot let go of, "love we had stays on my mind." Regret seeps in as it dawns on Murray that he has let go of a good thing singing "you meant more than I realised." "Love we had" is cleverly followed by the album's title track "Happy Days" bringing back good vibrations.
"Everytime I touch you" features a melodic hook that gets you straight away. Murray's heartache is expressed through his flawless vocals that remain smooth but feature a thronging intensity. It is pretty much impossible to listen to this without at least doing a head bop.
Murray fleetingly shows off his falsetto (done with ease) on this and others tracks. HAPPY DAYS is a soulful ensemble that would easily thread any event together, weaving amongst its listeners and looping them together in contentment.
____________________________ CD Review by Tara Gething, Australian freelance writer.
