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CHUCK MURPHY PAYING IT FORWARD

For Chuck Murphy, the success with his song “Free to be Free,” with Big Coyote means wanting to give back. After the song hit No. 1 on both the Country and Adult Contemporary charts of National Radio Hits, at New Music Weekly, & both the Country and Adult Contemporary charts on the Independent Music Network, the Palmdale resident created a non-profit called Music and Kids so students ages 12-18 can learn music. “I established Music and Kids to bridge the growing gap between government-funded educational programs in music and private funding,” Murphy explains. First on the drawing board this year to propel Music and Kids is on March 10th and 11th with the inaugural Music and Kids Jr. Star Search at the Almond Blossom Festival. The event at George Lane Park in Quartz Hill is a karaoke-style singing competition where 50 vocalists will compete for 10 scholarships. Sponsored by the Quartz Hill Chamber of Commerce, the competition will include celebrity judge Carnie Wilson of the multi-platinum award-winning group Wilson Phillips. For every $2,500 raised, one child will receive 48 one-on-one weekly music lessons over the course of one year. Murphy also plans to visit schools where he can connect with students aching to have the opportunity he is offering. “We will be looking for the flowers in the field — the students that are already standing out with their natural musical ability that may or may not be getting the ongoing education to develop their talent,” Murphy says. “We will help guide the students and parents with information and assist with scholarship funding when funds are available. ”Students must meet requirements –they must maintain certain grades and attend the lessons on time to continue participating in the program. Murphy’s goal is to raise enough money to help at least 1,000 students obtain a musical education in Los Angeles. As the program expands, he hopes to visit schools all over the United States to raise awareness of the number of opportunities there are for performers as players of musical instruments or singers; or the support team as songwriters, recording engineers, and producers. New Music Weekly has nominated Chuck Murphy & Big Coyote for Country New Artist of the Year and AC New Group/Duo of the Year. Chuck Murphy is nominated in the category of Country Breakthrough Artist of the Year. It’s recognition such as this that inspires Murphy to want to pay it forward with Music and Kids. “We will join with the communities we are visiting to develop ongoing programs and events to continue the awareness for the need for music, music education, and the love a community can build through music,” Murphy says.