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Donald Ray Murray (November 8, 1945 – March 22, 1996) was an American drummer and Hanna-Barbera animator, best known for his work with the Turtles. After leaving the group, Murray played with Paul Williams's psychedelic folk group the Holy Mackerel. In the 1980s he went on to perform with the newly formed Surfaris.

Early life

Murray grew up in Inglewood, California and started playing drums at the age of 15. He became popular playing high school dances with the band the Crossfires.

Career

The Turtles

The Crossfires released one album, Out Of Control, in 1963. By 1965, the Crossfires became the Turtles, but the band had troubles playing at most Southern California venues such as the Whisky a Go Go and the Troubadour, because all members of the band were under 21.

As the band went from high school band "Don Murray And The Crossfires" to "The Turtles", they signed to White Whale Records in 1965. As a member of the Turtles, he played on their debut and second album; It Ain't Me Babe (1965) and You Baby (1966). After appearances on Shindig!, Where the Action Is, and Hullabaloo, as well as a cameo in the 1966 film Out of Sight, Turtles frontman Howard Kaylan and the other band members tossed Murray out of The Turtles after their first gig in New York City, saying "Don thought it was still his high school band".

Murray was interviewed along with former Turtle members Howard Kaylan, Mark Volman, Jim Tucker, Chuck Portz, Jim Pons, and Johnny Barbata in the 1991 documentary “The Turtles: Happy Together”.

The Holy Mackerel

In 1968, Paul Williams, who was still a struggling musician trying to make it big in the music industry, recruited Murray to join his Psychedelic folk group The Holy Mackerel. In March 1968, the Holy Mackerel began work on their self-titled album at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles.

During process on the album, Murray left to continue performing independently, and was replaced by Dewey Martin, previously of Buffalo Springfield.

The Sufaris

In 1981, Murray was a member of the reformed version of the surf rock group The Surfaris. His only credit with the band is a 1983 live album.

Later life

In the 1970s Murray was an art director for Skateboarder magazine, and also for Hot Rod magazine. By the 1980s, he was working as an animator for Hanna-Barbera.

Death

Murray was admitted to a hospital in January 1996 for ulcer surgery, and died two months later in Santa Monica, California on March 22 from complications of the surgery aged 50.

Discography

The Turtles

Studio albums

Singles

The Holy Mackerel

Albums

The Surfaris

Albums

References

1. Bronson, Harold (1991-01-15), The Turtles: Happy Together (Documentary, Music), Sunset Post, retrieved 2023-02-19
2. "Holy Mackerel! Early Paul Williams Expanded and Remastered by Now Sounds - The Second Disc". theseconddisc.com/. 2010-08-24. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
3. ^ "Don Murray (5)". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-02-19.

External links

• Don Murray memorial at Surfrider.org

v t e The Turtles
Howard Kaylan Mark Volman Al Nichol Jim Tucker Don Murray Chuck Portz Chip Douglas Joel Larson John Barbata Jim Pons John Seiter
Studio albums	It Ain't Me Babe You Baby Happy Together The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands Turtle Soup
Compilations	Golden Hits More Golden Hits Wooden Head
Singles	"It Ain't Me Babe" "Let Me Be" "You Baby" "Happy Together" "She'd Rather Be with Me" "You Know What I Mean" "She's My Girl" "Elenore" "You Showed Me" "Grim Reaper of Love" "Eve of Destruction"
Related articles	Discography Flo & Eddie My Dinner with Jimi "Christmas Is My Time of Year"
Category

• 1945 births
• 1996 deaths
• The Turtles members
• 20th-century American drummers
• American male drummers
• 20th-century American male musicians
• Hanna-Barbera people