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I attended a memorial service for Ron Sat 1-25-2008. He actually passed away 1-12-2008 after a long illness. Ron's company, National Sound, was right by my house in Westland, MI. He will always be remembered for his encyclopedic knowledge of all Detroit records, particularly Motown. He was only one who remembered all of the versions of the Contour's "Whole Lotta Woman", and Berry's efforts at recalling them. He pointed out all of the errors in the Vol.1 of The Complete Motown Singles, and even sent us cd's of the correct versions! When customers asked him why these errors occurred, instead of getting into the political machinations in Motown Select, Harry Weinger's personality, et all, he simply answered "they didn't ask me". This a real loss for the Motown fans as much knowledge is lost with him. A total expert, and someone who was very much against the trend towards compression for loudness. I am so saddened and I will miss my friend.
From the Detroit Free Press:
Record master dies at 59
Murphy's service is set for Saturday
January 25, 2008
By TAMARA WARREN
FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER
Ron Murphy was a craftsman whose rare vinyl-record-cutting skills were instrumental in the spread of Detroit electronic music around the world.
His dogged dedication to sonically pure music made him a favorite with the biggest names in Detroit techno music, artists whose work became staples on dance floors around the globe in the late '80s and early '90s.
Murphy, whose handiwork was responsible for the pressings of dozens of classic techno recordings, died of cardiac arrest last week at the age of 59.
At his Westland company Sound Enterprises, he used analog U.S. equipment to transfer the musicians' sounds into a physical product -- vinyl records stamped with the prominent black-and-white NSC logo, which stood for National Sound Corporation, the original name of his company.
Detroit producers who became worldwide stars, such as Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Jeff Mills, clamored to have their vinyl mastered under Murphy's steady hand in the early days of techno. He continued to work with the fabled Underground Resistance collective in recent years.
And while the Westland resident was best known for his activity with techno, he also worked in the world of Detroit R&B and soul. He was also known as Motown Murphy because of his extensive knowledge of recording techniques used by the Motown label and his huge collection of Motown vinyl.
"He was part of that machine," his cousin Larry Shooshanian said, referring to Murphy's feel with recording equipment.
"He felt everything in there. There was an emotional connection between Ronnie and that cutter."
Murphy grew up in southwest Detroit. A fevered record collector from a young age, he began studying recording techniques, sometimes by hanging out at labels like Motown and Fortune. He bought recording equipment and eventually opened his own shop. A chance meeting with Atkins and May led to his role mastering techno recordings.
Under Murphy's stern and meticulous care, hundreds of Detroit records were mastered over the past few decades.
"He was harsh in a way that was really needed. He was trying to make sure you got your stuff right," said Underground Resistance member Cornelius Harris. "He was really proud of all the guys doing techno. This was something he was a part of and he wanted to see everyone have success. ... He was a real hard-core Detroiter with a good heart."
Murphy pioneered record-cutting technology including 12-inches that had two songs on a single track, called the double groove. He also designed records to play from the inside out.
"He was the engineer and the designer in the production of the actual vinyl," Harris said. "These records wouldn't have come out if it wasn't for him."
A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday at Santieu Funeral Home, 1139 Inkster Rd., Garden City.
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"Pay no attention to what the critics say... Remember, a statue has never been set up in honor of a critic!" - Jean Sibelius in 1937
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