Francis Murphy was born in Albany in 1902. He was classically trained and was considered a child prodigy on violin. At the age of 5, he gave a violin concert in Harmanus Bleecker Hall.

He attended Albany Academy, where he went on to teach in his later years.

He formed his Orchestra in 1933. They toured the northeast and the midwest, playing Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Kansas City and Tulsa.

In the Swing Era, his Orchestra played the top venues in the Capital District - the Kenmore's Rainbo Room, the Ten Eyck Hotel, the DeWitt Clinton Hotel, Riley's Lake House in Saratoga. He played in various nightclubs - notably Stuarts, near the corner of Sheridan and Pearl. His Orchestra could be heard regularly on the local radio station WOKO.

He also played a number of events for various conventions and meetings of the New York State Government. He played country clubs and many other venues.

Arguably, his was the pre-eminent local orchestra in the Capital District.

He died in Albany in November, 1982.

1939 - Ten Eyck Hotel Roof Garden

The photo on the left was taken at the Ten Eyck Hotel's Roof Garden, summer of 1939.

Partial chronology of appearances, 1938 - 1942:

1938

May - Washington Avenue Armory

1939

April - Kenmore Hotel - Rainbo Room

June - Sept- Ten Eyck Hotel - Roof Garden

1940

Spring - Thursday night Swing Contests on Stage -

Harmanus Bleecker Hall

Summer - Riley's Lake House

Oct - ? - Stuarts - Sheridan Avenue, Albany

Winter - Palm Lounge - Ten Eyck Hotel

1941

Jan - ? - Palm Lounge - Ten Eyck (TU states they played all winter)

Jul-Aug - Stuarts Summer Garden - Albany-Saratoga Road

at Crescent

Dec - Odd Fellows Hall, Beaver Street

1942

Feb - ? - Capital Music Hall, 55 Chapel Street, Albany

Murphy is on the left. Date and place unknown.

Murphy's obituary recorded his age at the time of death as 80. He lived on Lindberg Avenue, and died in Albany Medical Center Hospital.

The piece offers a quick biography - He was a child prodigy on the violin, who gave a concert at Harmanus Bleecker Hall at the age of five. He began playing violin in the orchestra at the Strand Theater, eventually becoming the conductor.

He formed his Orchestra in the 1930s and toured to cities such as Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Kansas City and others. The obituary notes that he played in several Albany venue, including the Band Box at the Ten Eyck Hotel, the DeWitt Clinton Hotel, the Palace Theater and Riley's Lake House in Saratoga.

It mentions that his arrangements were featured by the Jimmy Dorsey and Artie Shaw bands.

He was a graduate of Albany Academy and the former Walter Pamrosch Conservatory of Music in New York City.