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Shirley Murdock

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the singer. For the eponymous album from the singer, see Shirley Murdock!

Shirley Murdock
Birth nameShirley Murdock
Born (1957-05-22) May 22, 1957 (age 67)
Toledo, Ohio, U.S.[1]
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active1986–present
LabelsElektra Records
Dexterity Sounds/EMI Gospel
Tyscot Records

Shirley Murdock (born May 22, 1957)[1] is an American R&B singer-songwriter, who is best known for her 1986 R&B hit single "As We Lay" and for her vocals on Zapp and Roger's hit single "Computer Love".[2] Her lead vocal special guest appearance with Smooth Jazz artist Ben Tankard, climbed to #1 Gospel and #20 on Billboard Top 200 on WOW Gospel 2006 and is certified Gold. Their collaboration of the Lionel Richie song "Jesus Is Love" is one of the most played songs on Sirius XM Radio gospel channel for eight years since its initial release.

Career

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Murdock started out singing gospel music in her native Toledo.[2] Singer/musician Roger Troutman hired Murdock as a backing vocalist for his family's band Zapp, which had several hits on Warner Bros. (and its Reprise Records imprint).[2] Based on this success, Troutman began recording tracks with Murdock and lead singer Sugarfoot of the Ohio Players, among others, at his Dayton-based recording studio, Troutman Sound Labs.[2] Murdock and Troutman's first charted single was a Warner Bros. single issued as Roger (featuring Shirley Murdock), "Girl, Cut It Out", which charted at number 79 R&B in early 1985.[3]

Murdock signed with Elektra Records and released "No More", written by Shirley Murdock and Gregory Jackson (Cincinnati, Ohio funk keyboardist and member of Zapp), which made it to number 24 R&B in early 1986.[4] Then came her signature hit, "As We Lay", written by Zapp's Larry Troutman and keyboardist Billy Beck (of the Ohio Players). The tender, melancholy ballad made it to the R&B Top Ten in 1986 and peaked at number 23 pop and number 21 on the adult contemporary chart in early 1987.[4] Her debut album was certified gold, also helped along by the follow-up hits "Go on Without You" and "Be Free." She also released albums in 1988 (A Woman's Point of View) and 1991 (Let There Be Love!). In early 2000, Murdock toured in the inspirational/gospel play Be Careful What You Pray For with Cuba Gooding, Sr. and David Peaston.[1]

Murdock released Home, her gospel-music debut album, in 2002 on T.D. Jakes' Dexterity Sounds record label. She made her acting debut in the movie Sweating in the Spirit. Most recently, Murdock has signed with Tyscot Records and released her most recent album in March 2007.[5]

In 2009, Murdock collaborated with Teena Marie on the song "Soldier", from Marie's album Congo Square.[6] She also appeared in the 2009 stage play A Mother's Prayer, with Johnny Gill, Robin Givens, and Jermaine Crawford. She also appeared in "A Mother's Love" a stage play produced by Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker in 2014.

Discography

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Studio albums

[edit]
Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[7] 		US R&B
 US
Gos
1986 Shirley Murdock!
  • First studio album
  • Release date: February 18, 1986
  • Label: Elektra
 44 9 —
1988 A Woman's Point of View
  • Second studio album
  • Release date: May 31, 1988
  • Label: Elektra
 137 19 —
1991 Let There Be Love!
  • Third studio album
  • Release date: June 17, 1991
  • Label: Elektra
 — 22 —
2002 Home
  • Fourth studio album
  • Release date: February 26, 2002
  • Label: Chordant
 — — 9
2007 Soulfood
  • Fifth studio album
  • Release date: March 20, 2007
  • Label: Tyscot
 — 71 7
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

[edit]
Year Album details Peak
US Gos
2011 Live: The Journey
  • First live album
  • Release date: October 18, 2011
  • Label: Tyscot
 24

Compilation albums

[edit]
Year Album details
2001 The Very Best of Shirley Murdock

Singles

[edit]
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US
[4] 		US
R&B
[4] 		US
A/C
[4] 		US
Dan
[4] 		US
Gos
 UK
[9]
1986 "No More" — 24 — 27 — — Shirley Murdock!
"Truth or Dare" — — — — — 60
"As We Lay" 23 5 21 — — —
1987 "Go on Without You" — 5 — — — —
"Be Free" — 86 — — — —
1988 "Husband" — 5 — — — — A Woman's Point of View
"Oh What a Feeling" — — — — — —
"Found My Way" — — — — — —
1991 "In Your Eyes" — 7 — — — — Let There Be Love!
"Stay with Me Tonight" — 34 — — — —
1992 "Let There Be Love!" — 89 — 47 — —
2007 "I Love Me Better Than That" — — — — 22 — Soulfood
2011 "Dream" — — — — 22 — Live: The Journey
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Shirley Murdock Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Hogan, Ed. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  3. ^ "Roger Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Shirley Murdock Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  5. ^ "GospelFlava News". December 14, 2006. Archived from the original on December 16, 2006.
  6. ^ "Congo Square : Teena Marie". Concord Entertainment Company. December 16, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  7. ^ "Artist / Shirley Murdock". Billboard Database. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  8. ^ "US Certifications > Shirley Murdock". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  9. ^ "UK Charts > Shirley Murdock". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
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