Grammy winning guitarist Bobby Murray dies
He was not on the list.
(April 30, 2026) The Detroit Blues Society posted the bad news this evening of the passing of legendary guitarist Bobby Murray, a past Lifetime Achievement Award winner from the society, and a revered musical force in the city. He was 72. Murray developed his style first in the Bay Area clubs, becoming a popular player. Marriage brought him to Detroit, where he became a local staple on stages and an artist who helped shape generations of Motor City musicians.
He is best known for his work with Etta James, serving as her guitarist during her later-career resurgence. His contributions to her Grammy-winning albums Let’s Roll and Blues to the Bone were described as a “study in discipline” — sharp, expressive lines that never crowd the vocal but deepen its emotional pull.
Murray’s résumé also includes collaborations with blues and soul greats such as Albert King and Albert Collins. In each setting, he brought a clean, authoritative tone and a deep understanding of the tradition, making him a first-call player for artists who valued substance over showmanship.
Just as important was his role on the local Detroit scene, where Murray remained a steady presence, mentoring younger musicians and helping sustain the city’s blues lineage. He was also absolutely revered by fellow musicians in the city.
Concert company 2 Stones Events posted: In the nearly 25 years we’ve been booking musicians, probably in the thousands by now, we’ve never met a musician as humble, sweet, caring, kind, and talented as Bobby Murray. As classy as it gets. The late Etta James could’ve chose ANY guitarist, but she had Bobby by her side on the road for 23 years.
In addition to his music, Murray was an advocate for citizens through his two decades as part of the Better Business Bureau. May he rest in peace.
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