www.BlueMerlot.com

When Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience won the first Best Zydeco or Cajun Album Grammy award, there were others from Louisiana who won as well. One was engineer/producer Joshua “Bubba” Murrell, a New Iberia native.

In spite of his long history of audio engineering work, Murrell, who is also an accomplished musician, composer, and arranger, laughingly describes himself as a “thirty year overnight success.”

Murrell has a local reputation for being a computer wizard, “fix-it” guy, and keyboard player for the band Blue Merlot. But his past credits include engineering work with Grammy winning Gospel artist Phil Driscoll, and sound and lighting tech / road manager with various Gospel artists under the Sparrow, Benson, Zondervan and Word record labels. Murrell also has experience in instrument manufacturing, having worked with Composite Acoustics Guitars of Lafayette, La.

“I grew up learning to tune pipe organs,” says Joshua. His father, Joffre Murrell, was band director at New Iberia Senior High School for decades. The senior Murrell, often assisted by his son, also built and tuned pipe organs. Joshua’s career was put “on hold” when his father fell ill with cancer. Rather than return to work with Driscoll, he stayed close to home as his mother adjusted to widowhood.

Joshua studied Music Theory and Composition at USL, and completed manufacturer’s technical schools with Moog, Peavey, Korg, Roland, and Marshall. He also is a member of the Recording Academy’s (Grammy) prestigious Producers and Engineers wing. He is self-taught in advanced synthesizer programming and audio recording.

When the new Best Zydeco or Cajun Album Grammy category was announced in the summer of 2007 by the Recording Academy, Murrell immediately started discussing a recording project with Simien and his keyboard player, Danny Williams. Williams says “I have known Bubba for a very long time; so when Terrance and I were looking for someone to mix and master our CD in the studio and someone we can trust we thought of Joshua Murrell (Bubba). He did a great job. Thanks again, Bubba, for a job well done!” Simien agrees. “I think Bubba did a great job mixing and co_producing this CD. We really appreciate all of his hard work.”

“Terrance and Cynthia (Simien’s wife and manage) made this category happen” says Murrell. “It was just right that Terrance and the guys should have an entry this year.” Simien had long since been considering a live album, and the time was right. The Simiens, Williams, and Murrell put together a plan that focused on live recordings on an upcoming tour. Recording engineer and sound technician Richard Trahan and Murrell consulted about recording before the band departed. Trahan has worked with Simien and his band for years, and captured the raw live tracks.

The first Best Zydeco or Cajun Album Grammy comes home to Louisiana, and it’s great news for all Louisiana musicians. It’s also great news for all those involved in the album, most of whom are Louisianians as well.

. "South Louisiana has the biggest collection of talent I have seen anywhere. We have the best that there is.” Murrell has many irons in the fire already: He continues to play with Blue Merlot, and B & B on the Rock - a Gospel duo he shares with Brenda Lowry. He also plays keyboards and bass with Ronnie Vice’s South Louisiana Blues Revue. He’s working with Terry Dupuy’s recently restored Teche Theatre (performance venue and recording studio) in St. Martinville and Mark Miller’s Master Tracks studio in Crowley.

In summarizing his career (and juggling family matters with it), Murrell says, “It’s taken a while, but I’m back on track. I know I’m one of many, many Louisiana musicians and engineers when I say how much I appreciate the hard work Terrance and Cynthia and others, like Gerald Breaux (of the Lafayette Convention & Visitor’s Bureau), have put into making this category happen. It’s opened up doors for all of us.”

Find out more about Terrance's music here.