Mark Murphy

Mark Murphy has been around so long, performing in so many different settings, that it's hard to believe that his singing continues to be somewhat of an acquired taste. And especially so when he is not particularly on his form, as was the case Tuesday at the Jazz Bakery in the opening set of a six-night run.

Mark Murphy, a former editor of the Hartford Courant who had an influential career at the Los Angeles Times, has died. He was 69. Murphy, who served as metro editor of the Los Angeles Times through much of the 1970s, died Tuesday at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, after a long battle against cancer. A gregarious, often jovial, presence in the newsroom, Murphy started his 40-year career in journalism as a copy editor at the Salt Lake City Tribune in 1957.

Mark Murphy, a former editor of the Hartford Courant who had an influential career at the Los Angeles Times, has died. He was 69. Murphy, who served as metro editor of the Los Angeles Times through much of the 1970s, died Tuesday at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, after a long battle against cancer. A gregarious, often jovial, presence in the newsroom, Murphy started his 40-year career in journalism as a copy editor at the Salt Lake City Tribune in 1957.

Mark Murphy, the recently appointed executive director of REDCAT, the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater, looks too refined to be wearing a hardhat. Slim, with delicate features and wearing an Oxford shirt, he's standing in the REDCAT construction space inside Walt Disney Concert Hall; workers hoist Sheetrock, and circular saws roar through metal behind him. "Frank Gehry has described Disney Hall as a living room for Los Angeles," Murphy says.

Mark Murphy has a way with words; also, as soon as he dips into his scat bag, a way without words. An unabashed jazz singer who has devoted a long career (much of it in England) to the propagation of the sophisticated material he believes in, he opened Thursday at the Catalina Bar & Grill, backed by a fittingly hip trio under the direction of pianist Tom Garvin.

Mark Murphy has devoted a long career to singing the hippest music with the best musicians, and the economic consequences be damned. Consider the company he has kept on records: in the 1960s, Clark Terry, Dick Hyman, Roger Kellaway; in the '70s, David Sanborn and the Brecker Brothers; in the '80s, Frank Morgan, Richie Cole and the Azymuth Trio.

Mark Murphy, the recently appointed executive director of REDCAT, the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater, looks too refined to be wearing a hardhat. Slim, with delicate features and wearing an Oxford shirt, he's standing in the REDCAT construction space inside Walt Disney Concert Hall; workers hoist Sheetrock, and circular saws roar through metal behind him. "Frank Gehry has described Disney Hall as a living room for Los Angeles," Murphy says.

Darren Yates defeated Mark Murphy in No. 2 singles to lead the UC Irvine men's tennis team to a Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. victory over San Jose St. at San Jose Monday, 8-1. Yates defeated Murphy, the defending PCAA champion, at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 7-5, to help the Anteaters (4-1 in PCAA, 16-9 overall).

The City Council appointed Planning Commissioner Mark Murphy Tuesday to fill the council seat vacated earlier this month when William G. Steiner was named to the County Board of Supervisors. The council voted 3 to 1 to appoint Murphy, 35, a lifelong Orange resident who has served on the Planning Commission since 1990. "I think Mark Murphy will bring a new generation of leadership to the City Council," said Councilman Mike Spurgeon. "He'll bring a fresh perspective."

Writing a review of a Mark Murphy performance inevitably raises the question of why this extraordinary vocal artist has never really crossed over to the wider music audience.

The players in the Orange-Villa Park Girls' Softball League don't even blink anymore when a stray ball from one field rolls into the middle of another team's game. Likewise, girls in the Central Orange Bobby Sox softball organization know to watch out for gaping holes in the grass and the hard, packed field dirt that stings when they slide into home plate.

Pacific 59, Cal State Fullerton 54--The Titans (8-10, 3-4 in the Big West) cut a nine-point deficit with four minutes to two with 18 seconds but could get no closer to the Tigers (9-10, 4-3) in having their home winning streak end at six. Fullerton pulled within 56-54 on Brandon Campbell's dunk with 18 seconds left and got possession three seconds later after Pacific's Nathan Davis made one of two free throws.

Even Mark Murphy will admit that his jump shot looks unusual. Instead of a launching it from above his head, he lets it go with a quick move off his right shoulder. "When I saw it on tape for the first time, I thought it looked sort of weird too," Murphy said. "But that's the way it's always felt more comfortable to me. I used to shoot a set shot almost the the same way." It may be unorthodox, but it has worked for him. A year ago, Murphy shot 51% from three-point range at Glendale (Ariz.

Mark Murphy has been around so long, performing in so many different settings, that it's hard to believe that his singing continues to be somewhat of an acquired taste. And especially so when he is not particularly on his form, as was the case Tuesday at the Jazz Bakery in the opening set of a six-night run.

There was supposed to be a press conference Friday to introduce Gene Murphy as the football coach at Fullerton College. But because news of the selection leaked three weeks ago, the gathering served more as a chance for everyone to smile and talk about how happy they are that the announcement is finally a matter of public record. Murphy, who retired from Cal State Fullerton last fall after 13 years, will get back to his true love: coaching.

Writing a review of a Mark Murphy performance inevitably raises the question of why this extraordinary vocal artist has never really crossed over to the wider music audience.

Mark Murphy, who opened Wednesday at the Vine St. Bar & Grill, is a member of what seems to have become an almost obsolescent breed, the male jazz singer. His specialties are vocalese and scat singing. He has written some of his own lyrics for the former, and obviously requires none for the latter.

The City Council appointed Planning Commissioner Mark Murphy Tuesday to fill the council seat vacated earlier this month when William G. Steiner was named to the County Board of Supervisors. The council voted 3 to 1 to appoint Murphy, 35, a lifelong Orange resident who has served on the Planning Commission since 1990. "I think Mark Murphy will bring a new generation of leadership to the City Council," said Councilman Mike Spurgeon. "He'll bring a fresh perspective."

Mark Murphy, who opened Wednesday at the Vine St. Bar & Grill, is a member of what seems to have become an almost obsolescent breed, the male jazz singer. His specialties are vocalese and scat singing. He has written some of his own lyrics for the former, and obviously requires none for the latter.