Lukas Murphy Bluegrass Music Collection

This collection is comprised of bluegrass music performance recordings from the Cincinnati / Dayton, Ohio area, Kentucky, and Virginia, 1973-1980. The recordings were donated to Berea by Lukas Murphy. They were made by his father, Ron Murphy who provided the sound for the events. Venues include bluegrass music festivals, college campus concerts, and bars. These recordings help document the thriving bluegrass music scene that had developed in the industrial region of Cincinnati, Dayton, Middletown, and Springfield, Ohio between 1947 and 1989.

Ron Murphy also performed as a member of the Muddy River Band. Other Southwestern Ohio based performers / bands documented include Ron Thomason / Dry Branch Fire Squad, Dave Evans / The River Bend, Larry Sparks / the Lonesome Ramblers, Hot Mud Family, Hagan Brothers, Boys From Indiana, and the Katie Laur Band. Nationally known performers include the Osborne Brothers, Seldom Scene, J.D. Crowe and the New South, 2nd Generation, Country Gentlemen, Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys.