Murray Phillips

American folk singer, balladeer, and guitarist, nicknamed "The Wanderer". Born Jan 8, 1910 New York City Died Jan 16, 1993 (83). He was best known for his renderings of authentic American ballads from the Revolutionary War era to the early 1900s and 4 albums of children's folk songs. He attended Columbia University for three years, where he studied voice, piano, music theory, chorale and conducting. He began his professional career in music in nightclubs, on concert stages and cruise ships and at folk festivals and colleges. Mr. Phillips taught music and folk songs in the New York public schools and colleges for over 30 years.He can speak nine languages, and he often performed an entire program in Italian, Hebrew or Spanish. Mr. Phillips also published a textbook, "Folk Guitar". At his shows, he was often accompanied by his two sons on banjo, guitar, bass and harmonica. His son Ted played banjo and bagpipes and Rick the piano; a daughter-in-law, Pat, the guitar and two grandsons, Simon and Brennan, the flute and saxophone. He appeared on radio and eastern U.S. TV (was audience warmer-upper on the NBC Jack Carson Show).