Crombie Murdoch


From a Southland farm to the Auckland Town Hall stage with Nat King Cole, Dave Brubeck and others, pianist Crombie Murdoch – aka “the quiet man of jazz” – made his mark in music without fuss or bother. His 1950s ditty about the Hokianga Harbour dolphin, ‘Opo the Crazy Dolphin’, was an overnight success, but its omnipresence embarrassed him, as jazz was his great love and primary focus.

Murdoch eased into the Auckland music scene as a young man in the 1940s, and quickly became an admired and in-demand fixture as bandleader, arranger, and studio pianist. He was the accompanist of choice for leading vocalists Mavis Rivers, Pat McMinn, Esme Stephens, and Coral Cummins, in live performance as well as the recording studio.

Crombie Murdoch at the Hi-Diddle Griddle on K Road, Auckland, late 1950s. 
‘Opo the Crazy Dolphin’, recorded by Pat McMinn with the Stardusters, was written by jazz pianist Crombie Murdoch and released on Tanza in 1956. 
Crombie Murdoch at the piano for a 1946 session with, from left, Frank Gurr, Jim Warren and Doug Kelly.
Photo credit: Photo by Peter Lishman/Jim Warren collection
A letter of appreciation to Crombie Murdoch from Bob Kerridge Jr, son of the impresario Sir Robert Kerridge. 
Merv Thomas, far right, in the Eliza Keil band. Beside him is trombonist Dale Alderton; Crombie Murdoch is seated, alongside trumpeter Murray Tanner. 
Photo credit: Merv Thomas Collection
Pat McMinn with the Crombie Murdoch Trio - 'I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas'
Crombie Murdoch at the piano, with Thomson Yandall on bass and guitarist Ray Gunter.
Crombie Murdoch at the piano, with Colin Martin taking a saxophone solo, in Whangamata a few days after the Tangiwai tragedy, 1953. Pat McMinn at left. 
Photo credit: Pat McMinn Collection
Crombie Murdoch Trio - Waltz For Debby
Auckland's new song hit ... "Taniwha blues", recorded by Pat McMinn, "The Stardusters" and the Crombie Murdoch Trio (popular TANZA recording artists). Taniwha Blue - it blues as it washes [1956]
Mavis Rivers with Crombie Murdoch at the 1ZB Radio Theatre, Durham Lane West, Auckland. The band includes Frank Gibson Sr. on drums
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Crombie Murdoch's 1988 album on Ode Records, with Bob Ewing on bass and Frank Gibson Jr on drums.
Dale Alderton, Crombie Murdoch, Julian Lee.
Photo credit: Stebbing archive
Ted Croad’s band at the Orange Coronation Hall, Auckland, late 1940s. From left: Crombie Murdoch, piano; Pat McMinn, vocals; Eddie Croad, drums; Ted Croad; George Campbell, bass; Tommy Simpson, tenor; unknown trumpet; Jim Watters, tenor; Lou Campbell, trumpet; Jim Warren, trumpet; Gordon Lanigan, alto; unknown trombone and tenor.
Photo credit: Jim Warren collection
“The Kentuckian Song”: Dorothy Brannigan & Buster Keane with Crombie Murdoch and His Rhythm (Tanza)
Crombie Murdoch, 1952.
Photo credit: Clifton Firth, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries 34-321.
Crombie Murdoch acetate - 'Laura'
Crombie Murdoch with US singer June Christy, who visited Auckland in 1955 with Nat King Cole.
Merv Thomas having a blow; on the far right is pianist Crombie Murdoch. 
Photo credit: Merv Thomas Collection
Under the Red Moon of the Pampas: Crombie Murdoch – His Piano and His Orchestra (Stebbing).
Julian Lee on saxophone at the Auckland Swing Club, late 1940s, with drummer Neil Dunningham, bassist Thomson Yandall, and pianist Crombie Murdoch.
Photo credit: Dennis Huggard collection
The sheet music for 'Fijian Holiday', a 1951 hit on the Tanza label for Mavis
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Mavis Rivers with the Crombie Murdoch Trio during a television show in the NZBC studios in Shortland Street, Auckland, 1963. From left: Lester Still, Mavis Rivers, Crombie Murdoch, and Don Branch. Photo taken by Alton Francis.
Photo credit: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Footprints 02523
Crombie Murdoch conducting his own band, with George Campbell on bass and Don Branch on drums. 
The programme for the Dave Brubeck Quartet's concerts in Auckland and Wellington in March 1960, showing the items played by the support act: the Crombie Murdoch Octet.
Photo credit: Chris Bourke collection
Pat McMinn and Bill Langford with The Stardusters - Opo, the Crazy Dolphin, written by Crombie Murdoch (Tanza)
Pat McMinn with Crombie Murdoch and His Rhythm - Bimbo (Tanza)
Crombie Murdoch in the 1ZB Radio Theatre, Auckland, late 1970s.
Crombie Murdoch performs in the 1ZB Radio Theatre, Auckland, late 1970s
Fijian Holiday”: Bill Wolfgramm’s Hawaiians with vocalist Daphne Walker, written by Crombie Murdoch (Tanza).
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