Bobby Murray, Longtime Etta James Guitarist, Dies at 72
Blues guitarist Bobby Murray, who spent nearly a quarter-century playing with Etta James and forged a solo career of his own, died April 30 at 72.
Murray’s high-school friend Robert Cary was among those who shared the news.
“I’m going to miss you, Bobby Murray,” Cray wrote on social media. “As kids, we dreamed of playing this kind of music and we were able to do so. We lived out our dreams … thank you, Bobby.”
Murray joined James’ band in 1988 and remained for the next 23 years. He also played with Albert King, Albert Collins, Taj Mahal, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King and others.
He recoded five solo albums; his most recent, Love Letters from Detroit, arrived in 2021.
“Bobby was a one-of-a-kind type of guy,” Tower of Power’s Emilio Castillo said in a statement. “Very soulful, excellent blues artist … and his work with Etta James for years on the road was phenomenal.”
5/2/26
