'Murph's Gift Of Music' Fundraiser Planned At 115 Bourbon Street

MERRIONETTE PARK, IL — The "Murph's Gift of Music" fundraiser that comes to 115 Bourbon Street every other year will return for its sixth running on Saturday, Nov. 23. The fundraiser benefits the Michael J. Murphy Music Scholarship Fund, which has been providing private music lessons and instruments to students from families who struggle financially since 2009.

Organizers have said this year's fundraiser will be the final one at 115 Bourbon Street, but the scholarship fund will continue and other ways of fundraising will be in the works. The event will include live entertainment, basket raffles, a silent auction and raffle tickets.

Every year, 30 or so students are given awards from the scholarship, with more than 300 now having been awarded since the fund started.

The fund was created in honor of Michael Murphy, a Merrionette Park native who died at age 31 in 2008 when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver in Mount Greenwood.

Murphy was a talented guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and guitar teacher who played in four bands — including the Larkin and Moran Brothers — and appeared at a variety of venues, pubs and festivals throughout the Chicago area and beyond.