Murray SCHAFF ¹

   Another name for Murray was Scott MURRAY.

  General Notes:

Besides the recordings listed here, Tapio Vaisanen also mentions other songs by, first, just the Aristocrats (some on their own label, Aristocrat), then later, Johnny Kay and the Aristocrats. The various relationships among these permutations are at present still murky. However, I do now know that the Johnny Kay of the Aristocrats was *not* the same person that played with Bill Haley's Comets, having just heard from the latter [May 28, 2007]. From listening to the music of Johnny Kay's Aristocrats, it is fairly apparent that this is a different group, their style being much smoother than normal rock n roll. Also, Kay's record labels were based in Chicago.

According to Joe Vaccarino, The Aristocrats began in 1950 with Murray on sax, Al Carmen on electric guitar, Frankie Mayo on electric bass, Bobby Boyd on Piano, and Dave Black on drums. Don Farrell later replaced Carmen. Murray left about 1960, but the band continued until 1964.

When "Tombstone Number 9" was recorded in 1956, the band consisted of John McLean on guitar, Lou Cavae on base, Jerry Kay on piano, Johnny Ogden on drums, and Murray on saxophone and vocals.

Murray appeared on the Steve Allen Show. ^{3 5 6}

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence, Apr 4, 1930, 2859 5th St., Philadelphia. ²

2. Education, 1941-1945, Philadelphia. ⁷ Murray attended Northeast High School.

3. Education, 1941, Philadelphia. ⁷ Murray played the clarinet and saxophone.

4. Performances: Philadelphia. ^{7 8} Murray played with the Sinner's Esquires, a big band style group. Nathaniel Schaff has Murray playing with the Treniers, whereas this group was actually a black R&B group that played on the same bill with Murray at Wildwood, New Jersey.

5. Education: 20th Century School of Music, Philadelphia. ⁷

6. Social Security Registration: Pennsylvania. ⁹ SS #199-16-0250

7. Formation of Musical Group, Bef 1949, Philadelphia. ⁷ Murray formed The Quartiers.

8. Formation of Musical Group, 1949, Philadelphia. ⁷ Murray formed a four-piece band, originally called The Aristocats, later changed to The Aristocrats.

9. Performances, From 1949, Henny's, Rendezvous, Sciolla's, Clock Show Bar, Philadelphia. ⁷

10. Recordings, 1951, Essex Records, Philadelphia. ⁷

11. Performances, 1951, Hosbrau, Bolero, Beachcomber, Riptide, Wildwood, NJ. ^{3 7 8} Murray played at the Cafe Bolero during the Summers of the 1950s and 1960s. He heard the Treniers in Wildwood in 1951, a black R&B group that had been influenced by Bill Haley.

12. Residence, 1951, Wildwood, NJ. ⁷

13. Performances, 1951, Surf Club, Eddie Leonard's Spa, Baltimore, Md. ⁷

14. Residence, 1951, Baltimore. ⁷

15. Discovery, Early 1950s, Washington, DC. ³ Murray brought Don Rickles on stage during a performance.

16. Performances, 1951-1952, Blue Mirror, Casino Royal, Washington, DC. ⁷

17. Performances, 1952-1953, Hilltop Restaurant, Prince Georges County, Md. ^{7 10} Murray was the first person to play rock and roll in Prince Georges County, Maryland, on March 7, 1952.

18. Performances, 1950s, Rustic Cabin Restaurant, 4400 Club, Senate Inn, Prince Georges County, Md. ⁷ The 4400 Club was owned by Herbert Hertz beginning in April, 1956. The Jodimars, with three former members of Haley's Comets, also played the 4400 Club that year.

19. Recording, 195_. ^{5 11 12} Murray Schaff with Franny Beecher on guitar: "Love You Pretty Baby/I'll Be Around" (Autumn 101). Franny played with Bill Haley's Comets until replaced there by Johnny Kay, no relation to the Johnny Kay of Johnny Kay and the Aristocrats.

Franny Beecher was playing with the Comets by 1954.

20. Recording, 195_. ⁵ Murray Schaff and His Aristocrats: "Love You Pretty Baby/I'll Be Around" (Jubilee).

21. Recording, 1954. ^{5 13} Murray Schaff and His Aristocrats: "Believe Me/I'm Waiting for Ships that Never Come" (Essex 366/Sound 101).

22. Recording, 1954, 2517 N. Charles St., Baltimore. ^{5 6} Murray Schaff: "Little Devil/Love Ya'" (Sunny [SND1/Sound?] 100).

23. Recording, 1956. ⁵ Murray Schaff and His Aristocrats: "The Unfinished Rock/Ooh How I Love Ya" (Josie 45-788).

24. Recording, 1956. ⁵ Murray Schaff and His Aristocrats: "Tombstone No. 9/How Many Miles" (King 45-4977).

The record label has the following:

The Aristocrats may well have the most uninhibited acts in show business. Their versatility knows no bounds. A rare combination of music, singing, dancing and jumping. No matter what you may choose to call it, they have an abundance of talent, comedy and class. Murray Schaff is the principle mugger and musical clown but everybody works with a fury—all with a swinging beat.

25. Recording, Unknown, Philadelphia. ¹⁴ Murray Schaff and His Aristocrats: Little Devil/Chatanooga Cha Cha (Reco Art).

26. Recording, Unknown, Philadelphia. ¹⁴ Murray Schaff and His Aristocrats: Little Devil/Making Woopee (Reco Art).

27. Recording, 1957. ^{5 13} Murray Schaff: "Big Flat Feet/Nightbeat" (Tiara [Tira?] 45-6100).

28. Formation of Musical Group, 1960, New York City. ⁷ Murray formed the Scott Murray Trio. There was also a group called the Scott Murray Orchestra playing at Asbury Park during the Summers of this period. It is not yet apparent whether this is the same "Scott Murray."

29. Performances, 1960, The Living End, New York City. ^{3 7} Nathaniel Schaff has this as the Living Room in the early 1970s.

30. Performances, 1960s, Open End, 78th St. and First Ave. (1471 First Ave.), New York City. ^{3 7 15} Murray owned the Open End nightclub. Nathaniel Schaff has this as 1973. The New York Jets frequented the club. In fact, this was the site of the famous dispute between Joe Namath and Charles Parmiter, the sports editor of Time Magazine.

31. Performance, Apr 10, 1965, Open End, 78th St. and First Ave. (1471 First Ave.), New York City. ¹⁶ Murray performed as Scott Murray with his trio and Donna Lee on vocals. Telephone: RE 4-9804.

32. Legal Encounter, Aug 28, 1967, Manhattan Supreme Court, New York City. ¹⁷ Attorney for Charles Parmiter submitted an application for a court order that would order "Murray Schaaf" and Joe Namath to reveal the names of two men who allegedly aided Namath in assaulting Parmiter.

33. Legal Encounter, Jul 21, 1968, Manhattan Supreme Court, New York City. ¹⁸ Charles Parmiter sued Murray "Schaaf" for $40,000 in connection with the supposed assault by Joe Namath. The case fades from the newspapers at this point and never crosses the public consciousness again. Parmiter died in Spain on March 4, 2007.

34. Residence, 1983, Philadelphia. ^{3 7} Mark Opsasnick has this as 1970.

35. Business, After 1983, 2910 N. 5th St., Philadelphia. ^{3 7} Murray owned Murray's Variety Store. This was a gift shop he took over from his father. Mark Opsasnick has this as 1970. Nathaniel Schaff owned a store next door.

36. Reissue, 1995, Belgium. ¹⁹ "Tombstone No. 9," by Murray Schaff, on "Monster Sounds and Boppin' Tracks, Vol. 2" (Marginal CD 005).

37. Residence, 1992-Oct 1996, 922 W. Duncannon Ave., Philadelphia 19141. ^{9 20}