Biography

Detroit-raised, Georgia-based pastor, music director, and singer William Murphy specializes in stirring praise & worship hymns that fuse old-school gospel with urban CCM. He initially gained wide acclaim providing the soaring lead vocal on the modern gospel standard "Praise Is What I Do," off his 2005 debut All Day. Along with his work as a pastor, Murphy has earned two Grammy nominations and several Top Ten Gospel album chart hits, including for his 2016 live album Demonstrate, 2019's Settle Here, and 2022's Worship & Justice. Born William Henry Murphy, III in Detroit in 1973, Murphy grew up in a religious household the son of Bishop William H. Murphy, Jr. and the grandson of pastor Dr. William H. Murphy, Sr. Raised in the church, he developed a love of singing and by his senior year of high school knew he wanted to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At age 23, he was ordained an elder in his father's ministry, and served in a variety of functions including Minister of Music and Executive Pastor. In 2001, he and his wife, Pastor Danielle Murphy, relocated to Atlanta, Georgia where he began serving as worship minister at New Birth Missionary Church. As a singer and worship leader, Murphy issued his debut album, All Day, in 2005. The album peaked at number 22 on the Gospel albums chart, and spawned the modern-day standard "Praise Is What I Do." He followed it in 2007 with the equally well-received The Sound. Recorded live, Murphy's major-label debut, God Chaser, arrived in 2013, and debuted at the number three spot on the Billboard gospel chart. It also earned the singer his first Grammy Award-nomination for Best Gospel Album. Demonstrate, on which Murphy was joined by Tasha Cobbs, Nicole Binion, and Bishop James Morton, followed in 2016, and earned the singer his second Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Album. Murphy returned in 2019 with his sixth full-length album, Settle Here, which debuted at number one on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart. Working with longtime collaborator David Outing, Murphy issued the powerful, social justice-themed Worship & Justice, in 2022. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi