Ken "Nardo" Murray: Manager of American Drum Shop, has built an amazing career as a professional drummer and a highly respected musician. Born in Tyler, Texas October 6, 1950, Nardo started playing drums at the age of 11.
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Ken "Nardo" Murray: Manager of American Drum Shop, has built an amazing career as a professional drummer and a highly respected musician. Born in Tyler, Texas October 6, 1950, Nardo started playing drums at the age of 11.
At the age of 14, he was the original drummer
for the legendary "Mouse &the
Traps." Nardo played on all 15
singles and two albums, Rio Grande,
on RCA; & A Public Execution, on
Eva Records. Three of the singles were
released on Rhino Records in the 80ís,
and a new album on ACE Records, with
several unreleased cuts, was released
in the late 90ís.
From
1970 to 1978 he was on the road with
acts : Salt & Pepper, The Drifters,
Coasters, and Chuck Berry, and recording
commercials for Dairy Queen, Phillips
66, Zebco, Haggar, Churchís,
and Lone Star Beer. His busy schedule
also included records by Ike & Tina
Turner, Joe Stampley, Lonnie Mack,
Bruce Channel, Leon Rausch, Johnny
Paycheck, and many others.
1978 saw Nardo move to Las Vegas and direct
the 18 piece Nardo Lee Orchestra at
the Silverbird Hotel for the Johnny
Harra Show and perform on the Merv
Griffin Show, 20/20 News Magazine,
Jerry Lewis Telethon and a BBC special.
In 1981 he returned to Texas and was voted
into the prestigious Texas Musician's
Hall of Fame, Buddy Magazine's Texas
Tornadoes.
Nardo's
attention turned to Tennessee in 1988
and he helped form The Lone Star Ramblers
and invented the focal point of the
group, the "Rambling Machine Mark
V"...drums on wheels...with horns,
bells, bubbles, fireworks, battery
operated P.A., an electronic drum machine
and sound effects. A modern day Spike
Jones. The Ramblers performed for 9
years at Dolly Parton's theme park,
Dollywood, and were one of the most
popular groups at the park. While at
Dollywood they performed in many commercials,
the video "The Race is On" for
Sawyer Brown, and a special on TNN...The
Sunset Music Festival. They also performed
at the largest state fair in the world,
the State Fair of Texas, 24 days, every
October for 8 years. The Ramblers have
brought out the comedic personality
of Nardo and have shown his quick wit
and improvisational mind.
Coming back to Texas in 1997, Nardo has
embarked on a new chapter in his career,
teaching young kids all about drums,
drumming, music, and the life of a
professional musician. To sum it up,
a total entertainer & musician.
One Of A Kind....."NARDO"