Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Murray.
Hi Daniel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in a musically rich house hold. My Father David is a percussionist by trade – playing in The President’s Own Marine Band for 26 years – he was a big Jazz head. His parents were musicians as well, his father RJ was an Opera Professor, Director and singer. His mother, Cynthia was a master pianist. They met at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. My Father also received his masters from Eastman.
Ever since I can remember, all throughout my day, I hear music playing in my head. I wake up in the morning and the song I went to sleep humming just played on. I have always lived singing and music. I felt the music at my Dad’s Marine Band concerts so heavily: in the very fiber of my being. Yet, I never chased music in any consistent way until I turned 18 when I expressed a want to play the bass guitar. I received a custom made bass guitar as a gift from one of my Dad’s best friend’s, forewarning that if I ever stop playing it, to return it to him. So I began teaching myself by ear (I still can’t read music to this day).
Fast forward to Thanksgiving time of 2022 and I sing Fly Me To The Moon at Rock It Grill in Old Town Alexandria and the whole place goes nuts. Teresa, my Fiance, and her family love karaoke and were shocked to see that I could sing “well”.
Fast Forward to the summer of 2023 and Teresa’s cousin is getting married. Since her family knew I could sing, Teresa’s Aunt asked me if I could a few songs as a surprise for her Son and new daughter-in-law, two days before the wedding. I obliged and scrambled to get some backing tracks to use. I performed 3 songs successfully, despite the nerves and they all loved it. The photographer approached me afterwards and asked if I wanted to do more weddings. I lit up, “you mean I’m good enough to make money from this?”.
The next day Teresa’s brother Gerald told me I should buy a speaker and sing on the streets of Old Town. I thought this was a great idea, what did iI have to lose? Nothing! So that’s exactly what I did. After scrambling equipment together and practicing, I made my busking debut in Old Town on October 1st, 2023. I started busking every weekend after. Teresa would take videos and I would post them on Tiktok and Instagram. The TikTok videos began to take off and soon I was getting inquiries for weddings, private events and restaurants.
I got a Jazz coach and Vocal technician to begin chasing my dream of becoming a world class Jazz musician. I knew I had it in me, I felt every beat and every note, I just needed time and practice to hone it. That will take the rest of my life and that is all I could ever want.
Since then I have performed in various venues including The Kennedy Center, DC Jazz Festival, Mr. Henry’s and countless other great venues. I’ve been interviewed, featured, and performed on Fox5DC, ABC7 Good Morning Washington, Living Local DMV, and WTOP News. I started my own Jazz Jam in the spring of 2025, it is held monthly at The Cooper Mill in Old Town on select Sunday’s. I perform regularly on Friday and Saturday nights with my band at Carbonara in Gainesville, Virginia.
I have released multiple EP’s, including a Christmas EP “A Murray Little Christmas”. I recently released my debut full length album, Relajaté. It is a duo album with Alejandro Villareal on guitar.
I just finished producing my first original single “A Very Pretty Spring” that I aim to release in the spring of 2027.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There will always be obstacles, and they will always be overcome.
For example: I started my Jazz Jam in the parks of Old Town. I would pick a park that had no buskers and we would set up and play. After a couple months of fun outdoor jams that the people loved, the city banned PA speakers in the parks. I was in the middle of hosting one of the jams when an enforcement officer shut us down. With a crowd of 50 plus people sitting in the grass enjoying the music.
Thankfully, a floating dock bar – The Pier Bar – was just 100 feet away. The owner recognized how much of a crowd we had, and had seen me on social media. He offered to have us host the jam at the bar. It was a massive success!
The inherit struggle of singing is that you are at the mercy of nature. Air temperature, humidity, your diet and general physical health affect your voice. Until very recently, say past 8 months, my voice has finally become more consistent. Before then everyday was different.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a professional Singer. I have been doing it for 3 years and I specialize in Jazz and traditional pop.
I made name for myself busking on the streets of Old Town Alexandria and then with my band in live venues.
I have a unique, classic youthful sound and energy. I also wear custom suits designed to pay homage to the Jazz era.
I perform for private events, weddings, restaurants, live music venues, festivals.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love Old Town, Alexandria, it is one of the most beautiful, energetic and historic cities in our country. It’s vibrant, youthful and forever charming.
I could say the same for Washington, DC. Growing up I never appreciated the incredible architecture and design of the city. It is special.
I appreciate the opportunities that this area creates. It is a very fruitful (but expensive) place to live.
Dislike would be: the traffic, haha!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://danmurraymusic.com/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan_man472/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnD6M0VYAaM&list=RDDnD6M0VYAaM&start_radio=1&t=831s
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@danielbmurray?_r=1&_t=ZP-9AuJ7wwHkQ3
