{{Short description|American record label owner, producer, singer-songwriter (1923–2005)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = solo_singer | name = Juggy Murray | image = | caption = | birth_name = Henry Murray Jones Jr. | birth_date = November 24, 1923 | birth_place = Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2005|2|8|1923|11|24}} | death_place = The Bronx, New York, U.S. | occupation = Record-label owner, producer, singer-songwriter | label = Sue, Symbol, Crackerjack, Eastern, Juggy, Jupiter }}
'''Juggy Murray''' (November 24, 1923 – February 8, 2005) was an American record label owner, producer and singer-songwriter.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/juggy-murray-495423.html|title=Juggy Murray|date=April 20, 2005|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref> He co-founded Sue Records which launched the career of Ike & Tina Turner. Subsidiary labels under the Sue were Symbol, Broadway, Eastern and Crackerjack.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=December 21, 1963|title=English Issue For Sue On Island|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SgsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=crackerjack+sue+records&pg=PA18|magazine=Billboard|pages=18}}</ref> Murray recorded artists Don Covay, Jimmy McGriff, Inez Foxx, and Baby Washington, as well as releasing solo records.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DykffzkFALoC&dq=juggy+murray+obituary&pg=PA454|title=Knocking on heaven's door : rock obituaries|last=Talevski|first=Nick|publisher=Omnibus|year=2010|isbn=978-0-85712-117-2|location=London|pages=454|oclc=804890832}}</ref>
== Life and career == Murray was born in Charleston, South Carolina and raised in Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan. His nickname, "Juggy", derived from his near-blind grandfather, who would ask Murray to bring his favorite jug and fill it up with liquor.<ref name=":0" />
Murray worked in real estate in Harlem before he and producer Bobby Robinson co-founded Sue Records in 1957. Initially, they intended to sell R&B music to the African American community in New York, but in 1958 with "Itchy Twitchy Feeling" by Bobby Hendricks was a Top 40 hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name=":0" />
In 1960, Murray signed Ike & Tina Turner to Sue Records. He offered a $25,000 advance for a four-year contract after hearing their demo.<ref name=":0" /> Their debut single, "A Fool in Love", peaked at No. 2 on the R&B chart and crossed over into Hot 100.<ref name=":0" /> Their success continued with a string of hits, including "I Idolize You," "It's Gonna Work Out Fine," and "Poor Fool." Murray even managed them for a period. In 1962, Ike & Tina Turner along with Placid Music Corporation sued Murray, Sue Records and Sue's publishing affiliate Saturn Music for breach of contract and royalties.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=November 24, 1962|title=Sue Gets Sued In 330G Suit|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1962/Billboard%201962-11-24.pdf|magazine=Billboard|pages=6}}</ref>
In 1962, Murray signed Barbara George to the label. He paid $25,000 for her contract from A.F.O. Records.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=April 21, 1962|title=Music As Written|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1962/Billboard%201962-04-21.pdf|magazine=Billboard|pages=14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nE1nDwAAQBAJ&dq=afo+records+sue&pg=PT135|title=Carolina Beach Music Encyclopedia|last=Simmons, Rick|year=2018|isbn=978-1-4766-6767-6|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|pages=127|oclc=1000050650}}</ref> A.F.O. Records were distributed by Sue.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=December 18, 1961|title=Artist Biographies: Barbara George|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1961/Billboard%201961-12-18.pdf|magazine=Billboard|pages=21}}</ref> As the Sixties progressed, Sue's sub labels produced hits such as "Mockingbird" by brother-and-sister duo Inez & Charlie Foxx and "She Blew a Good Thing" by The Poets on Symbol Records. In July 1965, Murray signed guitarist Jimi Hendrix to an exclusive two-year contract to Sue Records, but no recordings were released.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/PR%20Newswire/5c47b20dce2113d894d29671695777ee|title=Jimi Hendrix's Landmark Final Album, 'Band Of Gypsys,' Celebrated With Remastered 50th Anniversary Vinyl Editions|date=February 6, 2020|website=AP NEWS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Lawrence|first=Sharon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tu7NZKL-2nQC&dq=sue+records+jimi+hendrix+july+1965&pg=PA33|title=Jimi Hendrix: The Man, the Magic, the Truth|publisher=Harper Collins|year=2005|isbn=978-0-06-056299-1|pages=33|language=en}}</ref>
Sue was originally licensed by Decca Records and issued on London Records until 1963. When Murray reached an agreement with Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=December 21, 1963|title=English Issue For Sue On Island|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1963/Billboard%201963-12-21.pdf|magazine=Billboard|pages=18}}</ref> to issue Sue US recordings under a new Sue Records imprint in the UK. Some time after a breach of contract involving Sue Records UK issuing recordings that were not affiliated with Sue Records (US), Murray terminated their agreement and returned to Decca in 1966.<ref name=":0" /> In 1968, Murray took a $100,000 loan from United Artists that was secured by Sue assets. After failing to pay off the debt, United Artists assumed ownership of Sue Records masters and Saturn Music publishing. He also lost the "Sue building" which consisted of offices and Juggy Sound Studio in Manhattan.
Murray moved to California and recorded a few singles. In the 1970s, he launched Juggernaught and Jupiter Records. He released his debut album ''Inside America'' on his Jupiter label in 1976, which was popular on the UK dancefloors. The title track made the Top Forty in Britain.<ref name=":0" /> That album was followed by ''Rhythm and Blues'' in 1977. He continued to work into the new millennium, producing and promoting up and coming artists. Speaking of Baby Washington, Murray once said, "I would rather record her than eat."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/ladiesofsoul0000free|url-access=registration|quote=I would rather record her than eat murray.|title=Ladies of soul|last=Freeland|first=Davis|date=2001|publisher=University Press of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-60473-727-1|location=Jackson|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ladiesofsoul0000free/page/194 194]|oclc=434080574}}</ref>
== Death == Murray died on February 8, 2005, at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York. Though Murray was 81 and suffering from Parkinson's disease, he and Baby Washington had been working on recording comeback material.
== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* 1976: ''Inside America'' (Jupiter 1101) * 1977: ''Rhythm And Blues'' (Jupiter 1402)
=== Singles ===
* 1966: "Soul At Sunrise" / "Just A Minute" (Sue 45-140/142) * 1969: "Oily" / "The Spoiler" (SUE 9) * 1970: "Buttered Popcorn" / "Thock It To Me Honi" (SUE 14) * 1972: "Built For Speed (Part 1 And 2)" / "Built For Speed (Part 1)" (Pony 1A / 1B) * 1976: "Inside America — Pt. I" / "Inside America — Pt. II" (Jupiter JUP-902) * 1976: "Disco Extraordinaire (Part I)" / "Disco Extraordinaire (Part II)" (Jupiter JUP-903)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Respect.html Respect: Soulwalking] *[http://www.spectropop.com/remembers/JMobit.htm Juggy Murray biography] via Spectropop.com
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Juggy}} Category:1923 births Category:2005 deaths Category:Businesspeople from Charleston, South Carolina Category:Record producers from South Carolina Category:Sue Records artists Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:Businesspeople from New York City