Editor's Note: Sponsored by Bridgeport Arts Council, "A Magical Night with Landau Eugene Murphy Jr." will be held Aug. 26 at Bridgeport Conference Center. Tickets, ranging between $70 and $100, remain for the concert which will be held in an intimate dinner theater setting and include a gourmet meal prepared by the Bridgeport Conference Center culinary staff. Obtain tickets by calling Bridgeport Parks and Recreation, 304-842-8240. All proceeds benefit Bridgeport Arts Council and the organization's concerts and other events which are provided to residents free of charge. 

 

It’s been five years since Logan, West Virginia native Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. – tagged “Doonie” by his friends back home – won the sixth season of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” He’s still singing the crooner tunes that made him famous, but these days the entertainer sings a wide range of repertoire.

 

“I do all genres and I did before ‘America’s Got Talent.’ I thought I would sing some Frank Sinatra first, then when I got to the Hollywood Round, I’d do some Motown or something, but they loved the Frank Sinatra so much that they told me just to stick to that,” he said. “Now I’ve gotten to the point that I’m on my own and I can sing whatever I want. I do everything from Prince to Bruce Hornsby, as well as lot of original songs I’ve written myself and collaborated with friends to write.”

 

Murphy takes his act across the U.S. – from New York to Los Angeles – and throughout the world. He has been featured in more than 100 sold-out concerts across three continents; many times traveling with a an 18-piece big band.

 

“I’m still very busy touring. I just went to 11 states in eight days,” he said. “I actually did the reunion thing for Coconut Grove live in LA that will be a PBS TV special. I also did the Miss Black USA Pageant in DC and they’ve already invited me back for next year.”

And he’s still loving every minute of it.

 

“I think that’s because I stay grounded. I still live in my hometown and know everybody around here,” he said. “So every time I’m on the road it turns into a vacation and it’s not like I’m actually working because I’m doing exactly what I love to do. I go to exotic places and get to enjoy every moment of it and then come back home and share it with family and friends. I chose that route so I wouldn’t become jaded and get tired of doing it.”

 

When he’s in between gigs and hanging out in his hometown, he takes it easy and keeps a low profile.

 

“When I come home, I just try to relax. There’s a park in my hometown and I play some basketball and sit in my house – making music in my studio and watching Netflix,” he said.

 

Murphy’s last recording project was one near and dear to his heart – and it became the catalyst through which he could reach out a hand to his fellow West Virginians.

 

“I worked with Alex Frank, bass player and a fantastic arranger with the David Damiani of the No Vacancy Orchestra out of LA to record a song, ‘Home to West Virginia, which was released on West Virginia Day,” he said. “Three days later, the tragic flood hit here in West Virginia and we decided to give all of July’s proceeds from the record to flood victims around the state.”

 

In a month, the CD single landed on the jazz charts in the No. 2 spot, behind a Nat King Cole tune. It also generated a quarter million dollars and that amount is climbing as the project was extended through August.

 

“’Come Home to West Virginia’ highlights the beauty in my state and invites people to come out and enjoy the beauty we have here,” Murphy said. “A lot of people are benefiting from the song – and our state’s beauty.”

 

Murphy went on to work with fellow West Virginians Brad Paisley and Jennifer Gardner and several other entertainers to host a flood relief telethon titled Rebuild West Virginia.

 

“We did it live on the air at WVVA-TV in Bluefield. The whole thing was set up like a Jerry Lewis Telethon. People were calling in to speak to us,” he said.

 

The recent flooding was devastating to those who live and work in southern West Virginia, but Murphy said he’s never seen people pull together and be so selfless and generous.

 

“People lost their homes so The Greenbrier opened up to flood victims. Rental car businesses gave away rental cars to people who had lost their cars,” he said. “A whole lot of wonderful people came together.”

 

Murphy said he loves performing in big arenas, but he just might like smaller intimate settings – like next weekend’s show at Bridgeport Conference Center – best.

 

“Those are the best shows because you can actually see the expressions on people’s faces. When I’m playing a big arena, I’m so far from the audience that it’s harder to connect with them,” he said. “When tables are up close to the stage, I can sing directly to people, sometimes walking off the stage to shake some hands and if I see someone singing along, I might pull them up and bring them on stage. It depends on the mood. The people pay to see me so it’s up to them. They get to live in that moment and they’re never going to forget it. It might be the first time they actually got to do it and I get to go home with a smile on my face. That’s the beauty of it.”

 

In addition to singing, Murphy has implemented a little stand-up comedy into his performances.

 

“Now that I’ve been doing this for a few years, I have a lot of funny stories to tell,” he said. “I’ve been told that if I ever quit singing, I’d still have a job – maybe on ‘Saturday Night Live.’”

 

On a more serious note, Murphy travels to schools, providing motivation.

 

“It’s fantastic. I get to talk to kids, inspiring them to follow their dreams,” he said.

 

Murphy’s kids are now 21, 20, 16 and 14. He also has an 18-year-old stepdaughter. All of the kids and his are a huge part of his life and at times they go with him to engagements, but most times they are involved in their own activities and education. They are involved with everything from basketball and motocross and, of course, music.

 

“Everything is great with my kids. They are doing fantastic and enjoying the beauty of my success by following their own dreams,” he said.

 

He is still married to the former Jennifer Carter, who he met while working at a restaurant. Prior to “America’s Got Talent,” Murphy worked washing cars.

 

He has released two CDs, including a Christmas album. His debut project, “That’s Life,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz chart and was produced by Grammy award-winning producer Steve Tyrell, who produced Rod Stewart’s Great American Songbook album.

 

Murphy remains very humble about his success and the opportunities which have resulted. He said he always takes time to meet and visit with fans.

 

“Without them, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “I wouldn’t be anywhere.”

 

See a YouTube video featuring a performance of Murphy's "Come Home to West Virginia" below.