Murphy Dunne

Who is Murphy Dunne?

Murphy Dunne is an American actor and musician. He is best known for being the keyboardist/pianist for the Blues Brothers in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, a role he reprised in the sequel, Blues Brothers 2000.

Active in public service at an early age, Dunne was Precinct Captain of the 42nd Ward, known more widely as Rush Street, home to many music venues. It was in these clubs that he became aware that music was to be his life's pursuit. To hone his piano playing skills he could frequently be found practicing in a back room of Lake Shore Park. It was there he became involved with The Chicago Air and Water Show. Dunne was also one of the founders of a neighborhood bank on Rush Street which served many of the local clubs.

Paragon Studios was a state-of-the-art facility in the 42nd ward where Dunne spent many hours recording his first album with the Conception Corporation.

Dunne was given the role in The Blues Brothers after their original pianist, Paul Shaffer, could not accept the part due to contractual obligations with Saturday Night Live, as well as his choice to take part in Gilda Live instead, which turned out to be a flop. Dunne played himself in both of the two Blues Brothers films, with a fictional storyline: "Murph" Dunne was an original member of the Blues Brothers until "Joliet" Jake went to prison in the 1970s. He then started his own band called "Murph and the MagicTones" along with four other ex-Blues Brothers Band members. While performing a regular set at the Armada Room in a Chicago area Holiday Inn, Jake and Elwood Blues again approached the band to reform the Blues Brothers band. After a brief tour, Murph was sent to prison with the rest of the Blues Brothers Band. In real life, Dunne was the son of Cook County Board President George Dunne, whose connections helped get some of the Chicago clearances for movie shoot sites.