Obituary: Crombie Murdoch

Jazz pianist, composer. Died aged 77.

Crombie Murdoch wrote the words and music of the 50s hit Opo, The Crazy Dolphin, which he recorded with Pat McMinn, Bill Langford and the Stardusters.

The song was played incessantly in the summer of 1955-1956 when the dolphin was becoming famous as it played with holidaymakers at Opononi on the Hokianga Harbour.

But Murdoch will also be remembered as one of the best New Zealand jazz pianists.

His clean style and extensive technique made him a favourite within the music industry: he could do pop, swing and jazz, and as an accompanist or front-liner was first-rate.

For 40 years, until back and neck pain forced him into semi-retirement in the late 1980s, he continued to be a highly regarded jazz and big-band pianist in Auckland.

The Crombie Murdoch Trio, with Bob Ewing (bass) and Frank Gibson or Don Branch (drums), was one of Auckland's hot properties.

Murdoch and his trio were the support act when Dave Brubeck first toured here, and his touring work included accompanying or opening concerts by other American stars.

Murdoch was born in 1926, the only son of farmers from Oreti Plains, near Invercargill, and received his early instruction at Invercargill's O'Byrne School of Music and then at Timaru Boys High School, where he learned the trombone as well as the piano.

After a year as a probationary teacher at Titirangi Primary School, he quit and took up the musician's life, joining the Bert Peterson Band at the old Cafe Metropole in about 1946, the first of many successful bands he played in.

He became a fixture on the Auckland music scene.



The man who later became a trailblazer in synthesised music was not flamboyant and preferred his own company. Music, fans and the bandstand sufficed for companionship. He was briefly married in the 50s.

He battled alcoholism, and died in Auckland from complications arising from diabetes.

- NZPA