Albert Murray
Albert Murray: A Life of Literature, Jazz, and Social Commentary
Full Name and Common Aliases
Albert Murray was born on May 12, 1916, in Mobile, Alabama. He is often referred to by his friends and family as "Bert."
Birth and Death Dates
May 12, 1916 - August 18, 2013
Nationality and Profession(s)
Murray was an American novelist, poet, jazz critic, essayist, and social commentator. His work traversed multiple genres, reflecting his diverse interests and experiences.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a middle-class African American family in Mobile, Murray developed a deep appreciation for literature, music, and the arts. His father, William Benjamin Murray, was a lawyer who later became a judge; his mother, Edna Johnson Murray, was a teacher. Albert's early life was marked by an intense interest in reading and writing, which he nurtured through extensive self-study.
During World War II, Murray served in the United States Army Air Forces, stationed in England. This experience had a profound impact on him, influencing his future work and perspective as a writer. After the war, he attended New York University (NYU) on the GI Bill, where he earned a degree in journalism.
Major Accomplishments
Murray's literary career spanned over seven decades, during which he published numerous novels, essays, and poems. Some of his most notable works include:
The Omni-Americans (1970), a collection of essays that examined the experiences of African Americans in post-Civil War America.
Train Whistle Guitar (1965), a novel that celebrated the cultural heritage of the American South.
The Seven Moons of Neil Meredithian (1981), a science fiction epic that showcased Murray's versatility as a writer.
In addition to his literary achievements, Murray was an influential jazz critic and commentator. He wrote extensively on the subject, praising the music for its ability to transcend racial and cultural boundaries.
Notable Works or Actions
Murray's writing often explored themes of identity, community, and social justice. His work was characterized by a rich blend of African American history, culture, and literary traditions. Some notable works and actions include:
The Jazz Tradition (1959), a collection of essays that celebrated the music and its role in shaping American culture.
* Stomping the Blues (1976), a novel that explored the intersection of jazz and African American identity.
Impact and Legacy
Albert Murray's impact on American literature and culture is immeasurable. His work continues to be widely read and studied, offering insights into the complexities of race, identity, and community. As a writer, critic, and social commentator, he played a vital role in shaping public discourse around these issues.
Murray's legacy extends beyond his literary achievements. He was a dedicated teacher and mentor, inspiring generations of writers and artists through his work at NYU and other institutions.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Albert Murray is widely quoted and remembered for his insightful commentary on the human experience. His writing captured the essence of African American culture, history, and identity, offering a nuanced understanding of these topics that continues to resonate with readers today.
As a writer, critic, and social commentator, Murray's work has had a lasting impact on American literature and culture. His legacy serves as a reminder of the power of language and art to shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Quotes by Albert Murray
The juke joint, the honky tonk, and the ballroom also represent one more thing, anthropologically speaking: a ceremonial context for the male-with-female-duet dance flirtation and embrace, upon which the zoological survival of the human species has always been predicated.
If it is properly done, the 'as told to' autobiography represents how the subject wants his story told.
The blues is not the creation of a crushed-spirited people. It is the product of a forward-looking, upward-striving people.
A jazz tune, melody, or composition is usually based on either a traditional twelve-bar, eight-bar, or four-bar blues chorus or on the thirty-two-bar chorus of the American popular song.
When the Negro musician or dancer swings the blues, he is fulfilling the same fundamental existential requirement that determines the mission of the poet, the priest and the medicine man.
The United States is not a nation of black and white people. Any fool can see that white people are not really white, and that black people are not black.
The improvisational nature of jazz musicianship is such that a truly competent performer must be prepared to function as an on-the-spot composer who is expected to contribute to the orchestration in progress, not simply to execute the score as it is written and rehearsed.
Effective stream-of-consciousness narration is the product of verbal precision, not just of literal documentation. It is decidedly not a matter of unedited free-association.
As any competent student of literary composition knows, the more natural and casual a voice sounds in print, the more likely it is to have been edited time and again.