Todd Murray
Guest Artist
During an era when there is a shortage of male baritone jazz and cabaret singers, Todd Murray has emerged as a notable interpreter of standards, newer material, and his own originals. Blessed with a deep baritone voice, Todd is an intimate performer who excels on romantic ballads, swings at every tempo, and does justice to the lyrics that he sings.
Born in a small farming community in Pennsylvania, he learned many older standards from his aunt who played stride piano. He moved to New York City not long after college and soon was performing as the lead singer for Royal Viking Cruise Line, many roles at the famous Paper Mill Playhouse, and the lead in New York Gilbert and Sullivan Player’s off-Broadway production of The Gondoliers. He was in the first Broadway touring company of The Secret Garden.
“I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a business venture and as it happened I was cast in a production of Much Ado about Nothing at South Coast Repertory that was set in the 1920s. They wanted me to sing in a Bing Crosby style and I began to realize my joy in singing American Standards.” Todd was soon presenting his first cabaret show, Let’s Face the Music directed by Art Manke at Hollywood’s famed Cinegrill, then in New York and nationally.
His debut solo CD, titled When I Sing Low, features Murray’s baritone accompanied by a full orchestra – a rarity these days, and was named “Best Vocal Recording” by TheaterMania.com. The sublime vocalist, Sue Raney, joined Todd on “Just in Time.” The catchy “Could ‘Ja,” is one of his favorite numbers on the recording. He is only the third vocalist to perform this obscure song, joining the esteemed company of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. Another highlight is Todd’s original composition, “When I Sing Low.” “Since I have a bass-baritone voice and the tenor became king in most new Broadway shows, there were not a lot of new roles for me. This predicament led me to write ‘When I Sing Low,’ which in a witty way sums up the virtues of baritone singers.”
The release of the CD, When I Sing Low, led to a higher profile on the national cabaret circuit. He performed many times at the acclaimed New York Cabaret Convention at Town Hall, NYC, Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Annenberg in Palm Springs, LA’s Catalina Jazz Club as well as artist series and notable cabaret venues throughout the nation. Todd’s second CD, Stardust & Swing, also uses a big band and like When I Sing Low, was recorded at the legendary Capitol Records Studios.
“The criteria for the CD Stardust and Swing was to include songs that elicit a sense of well-being and happiness and sweet memories: ‘Stardust,’ ‘Dream A Little Dream of Me,’ ‘Moonlight Becomes You,’ “I Wanna Be Around,’ ‘Teach Me Tonight’ (with legendary singer Marilyn Maye), and the not-so-well-known ‘If I Ruled the World’ (with Broadway’s Douglas Sills). In addition, Todd contributed two of his own new songs, “Patricia,” penned for famed food writer Patricia Wells, and “The Girl from Waco” that could easily be mistaken for 1930s standards.
Rex Reed, in the New York Observer called Todd “A cabaret prince headed for the big cabaret throne if I’ve ever spotted one…I felt privileged to listen.” And Stephen Holden, the esteemed New York Times music critic, recently wrote ”This suave, handsome baritone is such a confident singer that his performance is the real deal. His unadorned interpretations of standards like ‘The Nearness of You,’ ‘You’ll Never Know,’ and ‘How Deep Is the Ocean?’ were impeccable.” As the finishing touch to these many recent successes, Todd was voted Broadwayworld.com’s 2015 “Best Male Vocalist” and “Best Cabaret Show.” A third CD is now available called Croon…when a whisper became a song which has garnered much praise including a nomination by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs (MAC) for best original song “And I’m Leaving Today,” written with notable NYC pianist Alex Rybeck. He is currently touring his critically-acclaimed show by the same name around the world. He can often be heard guest starring with Johnny Holiday and the Johnny Holiday Big Band at the famed Cicada Club in downtown Los Angeles. www.toddmurray.com #toddEmurray