Don Murray (drummer)

For other persons named Don Murray, see Don Murray.

Don Murray (November 8, 1945 – March 22, 1996) was an American drummer, best known for his work with The Turtles.

Murray became popular playing high school dances with the band The Crossfires.

A year later the Crossfires became the Turtles, but the band had troubles playing at most Southern California venues like the Whiskey A Go Go, the Troubadour, etc., because all members of the band were under 21.

Don married his high school sweetheart Kathy Koontz as the band hit the big time, and soon they had a daughter, Jenny.

The band opened for larger "British Invasion" bands at first, like Herman's Hermits, Peter & Gordon, etc., before finally getting into "around the country[USA]" touring that summer.

Murray once said of Peter & Gordon, "they thought London was the bloody capital of the world".

While in New York City, the band starred at the Phone Booth and met Bob Dylan, whose song "It Ain't Me, Babe" was their first big hit.

Murray was always cheered loudest by the fans^{[citation needed]} and a few of the members, mainly Kaylen and Volman thought "Don thinks this is still his high school band". At a meeting in their NYC hotel room, Murray quit.

Murray grew up in Inglewood, California and started playing drums at the age of 15. He was a founding member of "The Crossfires", which eventually became The Turtles. He left the band in 1967, at least partly because of their heavy touring schedule.

He was admitted to a hospital in January 1996 for ulcer surgery, and died three months later from post-operative complications.

External links

• Don Murray memorial at Surfrider.org

Persondata
Name	Murray, Don
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Date of birth	November 8, 1945
Place of birth
Date of death	March 22, 1996
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