In Memorium
David Murray 1936 – 2016
David Murray, longtime Production Manager, Artist Liaison and Go-To-Guy for the Monterey Jazz Festival, passed away on May 16th at the age of 79 in Palo Alto, California, where he had been under hospice care for several weeks while battling the tail end of an almost two year fight of a rare lymphoma cancer.
A fighter to the very end, he was finally released from his struggle and passed away very peacefully with his two sons at his side.
David Murray was born on December 4, 1936, in Fort Collins, Colorado. He moved with his family shortly thereafter to Arizona, where they lived for the next six years.
David moved to San Francisco in 1949, where, after working in various occupations, Murray discovered jazz and jazz discovered the many talents of David Murray.
His love of jazz led David to a job at the legendary Black Hawk jazz club in San Francisco, where he volunteered and worked until the heard the siren call of the Monterey Jazz Festival, eclipsed only by the urgent call of the U. S. Army, interrupting David’s work life for military life in 1956.
He served for three years, aiding Japan in the country’s post-war recovery efforts, mainly by consuming copious amounts of Japanese food. How many of us can say we can eat rice with chopsticks without effort as David could?
Returning to San Francisco, Murray was called upon to work the front door at the Black Hawk, filling in for the regular doorman while he took off to work with Jimmy Lyons at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1959 and again in 1960.
After two years of temptation, Murray decided to join the party, volunteering at the festival in 1961 as a driver. Over the years, David filled in where needed, eventually working his way into the job of Production Manager, a position David Murray would define for the next 50 years.
In 2009, Murray semi-retired, but his love of jazz and the desire to continue to be a creative part of the job he not only defined but also took so much pride in, became paramount. So he settled on the title of Artist Liaison and continued to be an intricate part of Monterey Jazz Festival productions.
Murray was a fixture at the festival, the first person to arrive at the fairgrounds and the last person to leave. In fact, whether or not David ever left the grounds prior to, during, or after the festival, remains a question to this day.
Unquestionable, though, was the fact that David Murray was the first name spoken by artists when they arrived at the fairgrounds. Whether it was tickets, hotels or other accommodations, David Murray was the consummate artist of artist relations.
Monterey Jazz Festival Artistic Director Tim Jackson said of Murray, “David Murray encapsulated the spirit of the Monterey Jazz Festival since the very beginning. He worked tirelessly with every artist we’ve presented, and his reputation is synonymous with the festival. I was frequently asked by artists ‘How’s David?’ even before we got down to business. He was a real legend with everyone who passed through the gates of the fairgrounds.”
In addition to his work with the Monterey Jazz Festival, Murray was a longtime bartender at Hyatt Regency Monterey. For many years, he also worked behind the scenes at numerous global entertainment events, including the Oscars, the Emmys and the Grammys.
In addition to jazz, David enjoyed reading, lunch, following Sharks hockey, lunch, his beloved San Francisco Giants and lunch. But his children were his first and most important loves in his life up until the very end.
David Murray is survived by son Chris Murray and his wife, Jeniffer, and by grandchildren Alison, Ty and Megan; by son Collin Murray, a renowned floral artist for a major commercial event company; and by David’s cousin, Douglas Murray.
David Murray left this world in perfect grace and immense peace with his two sons standing vigil at his side. Shortly after his departure onto his next journey, his son Collin had this to say about their beloved Father:
“Tonight, as the sun slips down past the hills and the night comes up dark and strong, look high into the sky. There you will see a star shining brighter than the rest dancing in the heavens. My Father, David Murray, has taken his place among the Universe. A better Father there never was but a greater human being there never will be. His magic and his spirit will forever dance with every downbeat of every jazz song that ever plays and his love for my brother and myself will never be more strong. Be at peace sweet man.”
Memorial services are scheduled for Monday, May 23rd, 11:30 am, at the San Joaquin National Cemetery, Santa Nella Village, off Highway 152, near Gustine.
If you are inclined to make a contribution in David’s memory, a donation to the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Jazz Education Programs or the Palo Alto VA Hospital would be in keeping with David’s devotion and desires.