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Difference between revisions of "Bleeding Gums Murphy"

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{{Icons|FA}}
 
{{Character
 
{{Character
 
|name = "Bleeding Gums" Murphy
 
|name = "Bleeding Gums" Murphy
−
|image = [[File:Bleeding Gums Murphy.png|250px]]
+
|image = [[File:Bleeding Gums Murphy.png|200px]]
 +
|caption = Artwork of Bleeding Gums Murphy from ''[[The Simpsons: Tapped Out]]''
 
|gender = {{Male}}
 
|gender = {{Male}}
 
|hair = Brown
 
|hair = Brown
 
|age = 49 (at death)
 
|age = 49 (at death)
 
|status = Deceased
 
|status = Deceased
−
|born = 1946
 
−
|died = April 20, 1995 (aged 49)
 
 
|job = Musician
 
|job = Musician
 +
|relatives = '''Son:''' [[Monk Murphy]]<br>'''Brothers:''' [[Julius Hibbert]] and [[Julius Hibbert's brother|One unnamed]]<br>'''Ex-Wife:''' [[Vela Murphy]]<br>'''Nephew:''' [[Bleeding Gums Murphy's nephew|Unnamed]]
 
|appearance = "[[Moaning Lisa]]"
 
|appearance = "[[Moaning Lisa]]"
−
|voiced by = [[Ron Taylor]]<br>[[Daryl L. Coley]]
+
|voiced by = [[Ron Taylor]]<br>[[Daryl L. Coley]]<br>[[Kevin Michael Richardson]]
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
'''"Bleeding Gums" Murphy''' is a jazz musician, and an idol of [[Lisa Simpson]].
+
'''Oscar "Bleeding Gums" Murphy''' was a jazz musician, and an idol of [[Lisa Simpson]].
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
−
Bleeding Gums learned his musical skills "at the feet of [[Blind Willie Witherspoon]]". Willie wanted to give Bleeding Gums his saxophone, only to be finally told that it wasn't a saxophone and actually an umbrella, meaning that Willie had actually been playing an umbrella for some thirty years. Bleeding Gums explained to Willie that no one informed him of the mistake because "we all thought it was funny".
+
Bleeding Gums learned his musical skills "at the feet of [[Blind Willie Witherspoon]]". Willie wanted to give Bleeding Gums his saxophone, only to be finally told that it wasn't a saxophone and actually an umbrella, meaning that Willie had actually been playing an umbrella for some thirty years. Bleeding Gums explained to Willie that no one informed him of the mistake because "we all thought it was funny".<ref name="Round Springfield">"[['Round Springfield]]"</ref>
  
−
Murphy recorded only one album, titled ''[[Sax on the Beach]]'', which was extremely lucrative for him. However, he soon went broke after spending too much of his money on several Fabergé eggs a day. In "'Round Springfield" he revealed that he had once made a guest appearance on ''The Cosby Show'' in 1986 as the Huxtable children's grandfather, as well as appearing on Steve Allen's ''Tonight Show''.
+
At one point, Murphy was married to a woman named [[Vela Murphy|Vela]], who was also a singer. At some point, they got divorced, but Vela still used her ex-husband's last name in a professional capacity.<ref>''{{ap|Springfield Shopper|comic}}''</ref>
−
[[File:Cosbysimpson.jpg‎|200px|right|thumb|nail|Bleeding Gums on the Cosby Show.]]
 
−
Murphy makes his first appearance playing his saxophone on a bridge in the middle of the night. This is a reference to Sonny Rollins, the great saxophonist, who famously retired from public and was not seen for three years, until a journalist discovered him playing the saxophone alone on the Williamsburg Bridge.
 
  
−
Bleeding Gums was a mentor to [[Lisa Simpson]] until his early death. He played and vocalized a song written by Lisa. It pleased Lisa to see the performance of her own jazz song in the bar "[[The Jazz Hole]]", but not everyone in the family was happy with lyrics, as they criticized several of them.<ref>"[[Moaning Lisa]]"</ref>
+
Murphy had one child, [[Monk Murphy]]. When Monk was born, Bleeding Gums wrote "[[Monk's New Tune]]". Monk was born deaf, which saddened his father because it meant Monk could never hear his music. Bleeding Gums tried to raise the money to pay for cochlear implants for his son, but only made $16. He then wrote the song "Sixteen Bucks Just Ain't Enough".<ref name="The Sound of Bleeding Gums">"[[The Sound of Bleeding Gums]]"</ref>
  
−
Bleeding Gums once sang a twenty six minute version of the American National anthem "The Star Spangled Banner" at the Springfield Isotopes game.<ref>"[[Dancin' Homer]]"</ref>
+
Murphy recorded only one album, titled ''[[Sax on the Beach]]'', which was extremely lucrative for him. However, he soon went broke after spending his money on his Fabergé egg addiction. He revealed that he had once made a guest appearance on ''[[The Cosby Show]]'' in 1986 as the Huxtable children's grandfather, as well as appearing on ''[[The Tonight Show]]'' when {{Ch|Steve Allen}} was the host.<ref name="Round Springfield"/>
 +
[[File:The Cosby Show.png‎|200px|right|thumb|nail|Bleeding Gums on ''[[The Cosby Show]]''.]]
  
−
He serves as one of the three judges for a talent show once, giving Bart a 10 for his impersonation of Principal Skinner <ref>[[Lisa's Pony]]</ref> and also appears in "[[Radio Bart]]", where he joins in with the song "Sending Our Love Down the Well" after Bart pretends that he fell into a well.<ref>"[[Radio Bart]]"</ref>
+
Bleeding Gums was a mentor to [[Lisa Simpson]] until his early death. He played and sang a [[Moanin' Lisa Blues|blues song written by Lisa]]. It pleased Lisa to see the performance of her own song in the club "[[The Jazz Hole]]", but not everyone in the family was happy with the lyrics, as they were sharply critical of [[Homer]] and [[Bart]], and mildly critical of [[Marge]].<ref>"[[Moaning Lisa]]"</ref>
  
−
[[Allison Taylor]] has a photo of Bleeding Gums on the wall. It may be possible that Bleeding Gums was also Allison's one idol.<ref>[[Lisa's Rival]]</ref> Lisa also has a picture of Bleeding Gums on her wall.
+
Bleeding Gums once sang a twenty-six minute version of the American national anthem "{{ap|The Star-Spangled Banner|Dancin' Homer}}" at a [[Springfield Isotopes]] game.<ref>"[[Dancin' Homer]]"</ref>
  
−
Sometime before he died, he invited [[Dr. Hibbert]], [[Carl Carlson]], and [[Drederick Tatum]] to a party at his house.
+
He served as one of the three judges for a talent show once, giving Bart a 10 for his impersonation of Principal Skinner.<ref>"[[Lisa's Pony]]"</ref> Murphy also joined with a group of local celebrities in singing the song "[[We're Sending Our Love Down the Well]]" as a benefit for [[Timmy O'Toole]].<ref>"[[Radio Bart]]"</ref>
  
−
It is hinted that [[Dr. Hibbert]] and Bleeding Gums are long lost brothers.<ref>"[['Round Springfield]]"</ref>
+
When [[Springfield]] was hit by a freak snowstorm and [[Mayor Quimby]] declared a snow day for the whole town, Murphy and Lisa were seen playing their saxes in the crowd of townspeople enjoying the snow.<ref>"[[Bart Gets an "F"]]"</ref>  
  
−
== Death ==
+
[[Allison Taylor]] has a photo of Bleeding Gums on her wall. It may be possible that Bleeding Gums was also Allison's one idol.<ref>"[[Lisa's Rival]]"</ref> Lisa also has a picture of Bleeding Gums on her wall.
−
[[File:Bleeding Gums Murphy Cloud.jpg|200px|thumb|nail|Bleeding Gums (left) appearing to Lisa Simpson in a cloud, after his death in 'Round Springfield.']]
 
−
[[File:Tombg.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Bleeding Gums' Tombstone]]
 
−
He makes his final appearance in "[['Round Springfield]]". When [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] ends up in the hospital after eating a jagged metal [[Krusty-O]], Lisa finds Bleeding Gums in a hospital bed in a nearby ward. They play Carole King's "Jazzman" together entertaining the hospital. He explains about his life, family and work to her as well as giving her advice for her upcoming school performance, lending her his saxophone. When Lisa returns she finds out that Bleeding Gums has died from circumstances that are never revealed.<ref>[['Round Springfield]]</ref>
 
  
−
No one, except for Lisa, Marge, and Homer, attend Murphy's funeral. [[Reverend Lovejoy]] gets his name wrong, calling him "Blood and Guts Murphy" and "Bloody Gums Murphy",&nbsp;as well as saying that he was "quite the sousaphone player". This prompts Lisa to buy his album, as the jazz station didn't have it, although she cannot afford it. Bart uses the $500 he got from his court case against "Krusty O's" to buy it for her. She gives it to the jazz station who play it on the radio. The signal isn't strong enough, but a lightning strike boosts the signal so that all of [[Springfield]] does hear it.
+
It is hinted that Dr. Hibbert and Bleeding Gums are long-lost brothers.<ref name="Round Springfield"/>
  
−
Murphy's face appeared from the clouds, thanking Lisa for her final tribute and performing "Jazzman" one last time with her (this is a parody of a scene in the Lion King. To further the parody, other famous characters voiced by [[James Earl Jones]] appear as well; Mufasa from The Lion King, Darth Vader from Star Wars and Jones' own CNN narration).
+
He has been featured on ''[[Before They Were Famous]]''.<ref>"[[Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious]]"</ref>
  
−
==Behind the Laughter==
+
At some point before his death, Bleeding Gums Murphy told [[Bleeding Gums Murphy's nephew|his nephew]] that Lisa was the most promising young musician he had ever met.<ref>"[[Lisa Gets the Blues]]"</ref>
−
The appearance of Bleeding Gums Murphy is loosely based on LeRoi Moore, the late saxophone player for the Dave Matthews Band. It may also be an homage to Sonny Rollins, a great saxophone player who left his life as a jazz musician to play by himself on a bridge.
+
 
 +
At some point before his death, he had a relationship with [[Mrs. Muntz]].<ref>"[[Better Off Ned]]"</ref>
 +
 
 +
In [[Bart]]'s coma dream, Bleeding Gums Murphy was one of the ghosts who came to Bart to get help to move on to the afterlife.<ref>"[[Flanders' Ladder]]"</ref>
 +
 
 +
== Death and legacy ==
 +
[[File:Round Springfield.png|200px|thumb|Bleeding Gums (left) appearing to Lisa Simpson in a cloud, after his death.]]
 +
[[File:Bleeding Gums tombstone.png|thumb|left|200px|Bleeding Gums' tombstone]]
 +
When [[Bart]] went to the hospital after eating a jagged metal [[Krusty-O]], Lisa found Bleeding Gums in a hospital bed in a nearby ward. They played {{W|Carole King}}'s "{{W|Jazzman}}" together, entertaining everyone in the hospital. Bleeding Gums told Lisa about his life, family and career, including his only album, ''[[Sax on the Beach]]''. He also gave her advice for her upcoming school recital and lent her his saxophone. At the recital, only a few of the school band members were present and their performance of "{{W|The Stars and Stripes Forever}}" was about to fall flat, but Lisa saved the day with an inspired impromptu jam on Murphy's sax. Lisa returned from the recital to share her triumph with Bleeding Gums, only to find that he had died. (The cause was never revealed, nor was the reason Murphy was in the hospital in the first place.)
 +
 
 +
No one, except for Lisa, Marge and Homer, attended Murphy's funeral. [[Reverend Lovejoy]] officiated and got Murphy's name wrong, calling him "Blood and Guts Murphy" and "Bloody Gums Murphy", as well as saying that he was "quite the sousaphone player". Lovejoy's blundering outraged Lisa and moved her to find Murphy's album and have it played on the radio so people would know who he was. However, even the [[KJAZZ|local jazz station]] didn't have the album, and when she found it in [[Comic Book Guy]]'s [[The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop|shop]], it was priced at $500, which she couldn't afford. However, Bart had sued [[KrustyCo Inc.]] over the jagged metal Krusty-O incident and received $500 in a settlement. When he saw how disappointed Lisa was at not being able to buy Murphy's album, Bart bought the album and gave it to her. Lisa then took it to KJAZZ and the DJ played it on the radio. The station's signal was very weak, but a freak lightning strike hit the antenna and boosted the signal so that all of [[Springfield]] heard ''Sax on the Beach'' playing.
 +
 
 +
Murphy's face appeared from the clouds, thanking Lisa and telling him that he had made her happy. They were interrupted by other famous characters appearing: [[Mufasa]] from ''[[The Lion King]]'', [[Darth Vader]] from ''[[Star Wars]]'' and {{Ch|James Earl Jones}} reciting his "This is [[CNN]]" narration. Murphy asked them to leave, and he and Lisa jammed out to "Jazzman" one last time. Lisa wanted to do it again ("One more time!"), but Murphy protested that he had a date with {{Ch|Billie Holiday}}.<ref name="Round Springfield"/>
 +
 
 +
A hologram image of him was used by She-Done-Left-Me Records to advertise various products. This caused Lisa to protest against them for using dead celebrities to advertise various commercial products.<ref>"[[Whiskey Business]]"</ref>
 +
 
 +
After Bleeding Gums' death, the rights to his music were sold off by [[Treasured Artists Publishing]] to various other companies. This led to a song of his, "[[Can't Face Tomorrow]]", being turned into "[[Scratch That Itch]]" and used to advertise the [[Springfield Lottery]]. A giant hologram of him was also going on tour around Europe.<ref name="The Sound of Bleeding Gums"/>
 +
 
 +
== Non-canon ==
 +
{{Noncanon}}
 +
Bleeding Gums Murphy has a biography called ''[[Floss, I Hardly Knew Ye]]''.<ref>''[[Lisa Simpson's Book Club]]''</ref>
 +
=== The Simpsons: Tapped Out ===
 +
{{TranscludeSection|The Simpsons: Tapped Out characters/C-List Celebrities|Murphy}}
 +
 
 +
== Behind the Laughter ==
 +
The appearance of Bleeding Gums Murphy is loosely based on LeRoi Moore, the late saxophone player for the Dave Matthews Band. It may also be an homage to Sonny Rollins, a great saxophone player who famously retired from public performance and was not seen for three years, until a journalist discovered him playing the saxophone alone on the Williamsburg Bridge. Murphy's introductory appearance, where Lisa sees him playing his sax on a bridge in the middle of the night, is a direct reference to Rollins.
  
 
Bleeding Gums gave the origin of his nickname in "Moaning Lisa" as thus: "Well let me put it this way... you ever been to the dentist? Not me. I suppose I should go to one, but I got enough pain in my life as it is."
 
Bleeding Gums gave the origin of his nickname in "Moaning Lisa" as thus: "Well let me put it this way... you ever been to the dentist? Not me. I suppose I should go to one, but I got enough pain in my life as it is."
  
 
The voice of Bleeding Gums Murphy was provided by [[Ron Taylor]], while his saxophone playing is provided by [[Dan Higgins]]. In the episode "[[Dancin' Homer]]" he was voiced by [[Daryl L. Coley]].
 
The voice of Bleeding Gums Murphy was provided by [[Ron Taylor]], while his saxophone playing is provided by [[Dan Higgins]]. In the episode "[[Dancin' Homer]]" he was voiced by [[Daryl L. Coley]].
 +
 +
Mufasa, Darth Vader, and (of course) the James Earl Jones CNN narration were voice roles originally portrayed by [[James Earl Jones]], but were performed by [[Harry Shearer]] for their scene in "[['Round Springfield]]".
  
 
Murphy has been a fixture of ''The Simpsons''' opening sequence from Season Two on, even after his death. He even appeared in the live-action format,<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49IDp76kjPw Real Life Simpsons Intro] (He appears after 35 seconds) ''YouTube''. URL accessed on December 14, 2006</ref> in The Simpsons Sky One commercial, that was also used for the episode "[[Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife]]". In 2009, the opening sequence had to be updated since the series was now broadcast in hi-def widescreen format. The new, updated sequence removed Murphy completely apart from a picture of him that can be seen in the Music Room when Lisa plays her Sax.
 
Murphy has been a fixture of ''The Simpsons''' opening sequence from Season Two on, even after his death. He even appeared in the live-action format,<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49IDp76kjPw Real Life Simpsons Intro] (He appears after 35 seconds) ''YouTube''. URL accessed on December 14, 2006</ref> in The Simpsons Sky One commercial, that was also used for the episode "[[Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife]]". In 2009, the opening sequence had to be updated since the series was now broadcast in hi-def widescreen format. The new, updated sequence removed Murphy completely apart from a picture of him that can be seen in the Music Room when Lisa plays her Sax.
−
 
−
[[File:Sax.jpg|thumb|right|Bleeding Gums Murphy with his Sax.]]
 
−
 
  
 
In addition to his onscreen appearances, Murphy also appeared on ''[[The Simpsons Sing the Blues]]'', an album of rock, and jazz music with vocals performed by characters from the show. On the track "God Bless the Child" (a cover of the Billie Holiday song), performed by Lisa Simpson (Yeardley Smith), Murphy speaks up after the final chorus to praise Lisa for her vocals, after which he and Lisa perform a saxophone duet for the remainder of the song. Murphy was again voiced by Ron Taylor for the song, and his alto saxophone part was performed by Kim Richmond.
 
In addition to his onscreen appearances, Murphy also appeared on ''[[The Simpsons Sing the Blues]]'', an album of rock, and jazz music with vocals performed by characters from the show. On the track "God Bless the Child" (a cover of the Billie Holiday song), performed by Lisa Simpson (Yeardley Smith), Murphy speaks up after the final chorus to praise Lisa for her vocals, after which he and Lisa perform a saxophone duet for the remainder of the song. Murphy was again voiced by Ron Taylor for the song, and his alto saxophone part was performed by Kim Richmond.
 +
Everytime Lisa's room is seen after "[[Moaning Lisa]]" a picture of Bleeding Gums Murphy is seen.
  
−
In the [[Die Simpsons|German dub]] Murphy was voiced by [[Fred Klaus]], however, like usual, original singing voices are still used with German subtitles.
+
=== Foreign Dubs ===
 +
{{Dub voices
 +
|deVoice=[[german:Fred Klaus|Fred Klaus]] (until [[2005]])
 +
|itVoice={{W|Pino Ammendola}}
 +
}}
  
 
== Appearances ==
 
== Appearances ==
−
{{scroll|
+
{{Scroll|
−
*{{Ep|Moaning Lisa}}
+
{{TO}}
−
*{{Ep|The Crepes of Wrath}}
+
*[[Opening sequence]]
−
*{{Ep|Bart Gets an F}}
+
'''Episodes:'''
−
*{{Ep|Dancin' Homer}}
+
{{Season1A
−
*{{Ep|Bart the Daredevil}}
+
|E6=yes
−
*{{Ep|Bart's Dog Gets an F}}
+
|E11=yes
−
*{{Ep|Old Money}}
+
}}
−
*{{Ep|When Flanders Failed}}
+
{{Season2A
−
*{{Ep|Lisa's Pony}}
+
|E1=yes
−
*{{Ep|Radio Bart}}
+
|E5=yes
−
*{{Ep|Marge on the Lam|(picture)}}
+
|E8=yes
−
*{{Ep|'Round Springfield}}
+
|E11=yes
−
*{{Ep|The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular}}
+
|E11n=picture
−
*{{Ep|Alone Again, Natura-Diddily}}
+
|E14=yes
−
*{{Ep|Little Orphan Millie|(picture)}}
+
|E14n=picture
−
*{{Ep|The Man in the Blue Flannel Pants|(picture)}}
+
|E16=yes
−
*{{Ep|Politically Inept, with Homer Simpson|(picture)}}
+
|E16n=picture
−
*{{Game|The Simpsons Game}}
+
|E17=yes
−
*{{Game|The Simpsons Arcade Game}}
+
}}
−
*{{Bon|Be-bop-a-Lisa}}
+
{{Season3A
−
*{{Bon|Krusty, Agent of K.L.O.W.N.|(picture)}}
+
|E1=yes
−
*{{Bk|The Simpsons Uncensored Family Album}}
+
|E1n=picture
−
*{{Bk|Simpsons World The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1-20}}
+
|E3=yes
 +
|E6=yes
 +
|E6n=picture
 +
|E8=yes
 +
|E10=yes
 +
|E10n=picture
 +
|E13=yes
 +
|E14=yes
 +
|E14n=picture
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|E20=yes
 +
|E20n=picture
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}}
 +
{{Season4A
 +
|E4=yes
 +
|E4n=picture
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|E11=yes
 +
|E11n=picture
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|E12=yes
 +
|E14=yes
 +
|E14n=picture
 +
|E16=yes
 +
|E16n=picture
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|E18=yes
 +
|E18n=archive footage, picture
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|E19=yes
 +
|E19n=picture
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}}
 +
{{Season5A
 +
|E1=yes
 +
|E1n=picture
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|E6=yes
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|E6n=picture
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}}
 +
{{Season6A
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|E2=yes
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|E2n=picture
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|E8=yes
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|E8n=picture
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|E22=yes
 +
}}
 +
{{Season7A
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|E10=yes
 +
|E10n=picture
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}}
 +
{{Season8A
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|E5cg=yes
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|E13=yes
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|E13n=picture
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|E14cg=yes
 +
}}
 +
{{Season9A
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|E3=yes
 +
}}
 +
{{Season11A
 +
|E14=yes
 +
|E14n=grave
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}}
 +
{{Season13A
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|E8=yes
 +
|E8n=picture
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}}
 +
{{Season15A
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|E13=yes
 +
|E13n=picture
 +
}}
 +
{{Season20A
 +
|E10=yes
 +
|E10n=picture
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|E13=yes
 +
}}
 +
{{Season21A
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|E3=yes
 +
|E3n=mentioned
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}}
 +
{{Season22A
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|E5=yes
 +
|E5n=picture
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}}
 +
{{Season23A
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|E7=yes
 +
|E7n=picture
 +
|E22=yes
 +
|E22n=picture
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}}
 +
{{Season24A
 +
|E2=yes
 +
|E2n=UNnormal Activity, picture
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|E4=yes
 +
|E4n=picture
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|E19=yes
 +
|E19n=hologram
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}}
 +
{{Season25A
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|E6=yes
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|E6n=picture
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|E21=yes
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|E21n=picture
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}}
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{{Season26A
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|E3=yes
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|E3n=picture
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|E11=yes
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|E11n=picture
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|E13=yes
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|E13n=picture
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}}
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{{Season27A
 +
|E1cg=yes
 +
|E6=yes
 +
|E6n=picture
 +
|E7=yes
 +
|E7n=picture
 +
|E8=yes
 +
|E8n=picture
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|E9=yes
 +
|E9n=grave
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|E14=yes
 +
|E14n=picture
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}}
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{{Season28A
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|E11=yes
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|E11n=picture
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|E16=yes
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|E16n=picture
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}}
 +
{{Season29A
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|E1=yes
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|E1n=severed head
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|E8=yes
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|E8n=picture
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|E10=yes
 +
|E10n=picture
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|E13=yes
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|E17=yes
 +
|E17n=picture
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|E21=yes
 +
|E21n=ghost
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}}
 +
{{Season30A
 +
|E7=yes
 +
|E7n=picture
 +
|E9=yes
 +
|E9n=picture
 +
|E12=yes
 +
|E12n=picture
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|E13=yes
 +
|E13n=picture
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|E15=yes
 +
|E15n=picture
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|E17=yes
 +
|E17n=picture
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|E18=yes
 +
|E18n=picture
 +
}}
 +
{{Season31A
 +
|E1=yes
 +
|E1n=picture
 +
|E5=yes
 +
|E5n=picture
 +
|E7=yes
 +
|E7n=picture
 +
|E11=yes
 +
|E11n=picture
 +
|E13=yes
 +
|E13n=mentioned
 +
|E16=yes
 +
|E16n=picture
 +
|E20=yes
 +
|E20n=picture
 +
}}
 +
{{Season32A
 +
|E9=yes
 +
|E20=yes
 +
|E20n=picture
 +
}}
 +
{{Season33A
 +
|E4=yes
 +
|E4n=picture
 +
|E17=yes
 +
}}
 +
{{Season34A
 +
|E3=yes
 +
|E3n=Spider Fan: Turn Off The Snark; grave
 +
|E6=yes
 +
|E6n=Death Tome, picture; SimpsonsWorld
 +
|E19=yes
 +
|E19n=picture
 +
|E22OS=yes
 +
|E22OSp=yes
 +
}}
 +
{{Season35A
 +
|E5=yes
 +
|E5n=Ei8ht, picture
 +
|E6=yes
 +
|E6n=picture
 +
|E7=yes
 +
|E7n=picture
 +
|E12=yes
 +
|E12n=picture
 +
}}
 +
{{Season36A
 +
|E1=yes
 +
}}
 +
'''Specials:'''
 +
{{SpecialsA
 +
|Bartman=yes
 +
|TSG=yes
 +
|TSGn=picture
 +
|Bowl=yes
 +
|Bowln=archive footage
 +
|Class2020=yes
 +
|Class2020n=picture
 +
}}
 +
'''Simpsons Illustrated:'''
 +
{{SimpsonsIllustratedA
 +
|I1S3=yes
 +
|I3S1=yes
 +
|I3S7=yes
 +
|I3S7n=mentioned
 +
|I9S3=yes
 +
|I9S3n=mentioned
 +
}}
 +
'''Simpsons Comics:'''
 +
{{SimpsonsComicsA
 +
|I3S2=yes
 +
|I3S2n=picture
 +
|I6S1=yes
 +
|I27S1=yes
 +
|I48S2=yes
 +
|I48S2n=picture
 +
|I79S1=yes
 +
|I81S1=yes
 +
|I118S1=yes
 +
|I130S1=yes
 +
|I189S1=yes
 +
|I204S1=yes
 +
|I204S1n=mentioned
 +
|I207S1=yes
 +
}}
 +
'''Treehouse of Horror:'''
 +
{{TreehouseA
 +
|I5S2=yes
 +
|I20S2=yes
 +
|I22S1=yes
 +
}}
 +
'''Bart Simpson:'''
 +
{{BartSimpsonA
 +
|I19S2=yes
 +
|I43S3=yes
 +
|I43S3n=picture
 +
|I47S4=yes
 +
|I47S4n=picture
 +
|I73S4=yes
 +
|I73S4n=picture
 +
|I75S2=yes
 +
|I75S2n=picture
 +
|I96S2=yes
 +
|I96S2n=picture
 +
|I100S1=yes
 +
}}
 +
'''Super Spectacular:'''
 +
{{SuperSpectacularA
 +
|I7S1=yes
 +
}}
 +
'''Homer for the Holidays:'''
 +
{{HftHA
 +
|S7=yes
 +
|S7n=cutout
 +
}}
 +
'''Video Games:'''
 +
{{GamesA
 +
|Arcade=yes
 +
|Skate=yes
 +
|Skaten=picture
 +
|Game=yes
 +
|Gamen=statue
 +
|TSTO=yes
 +
}}
 +
'''Books:'''
 +
{{BooksA
 +
|GfTS90=yes
 +
|UEG=yes
 +
|TBB=yes
 +
|TBBn=mentioned
 +
|UFA=yes
 +
|UJRoSFB=yes
 +
|BSGTL=yes
 +
|BSGTLn=picture
 +
|LSGtGC=yes
 +
|LSGtGCn=picture
 +
|TSGtS=yes
 +
|FitS=yes
 +
|RDFB=yes
 +
}}
 +
{{TC}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
−
<references/>
+
{{Reflist}}
  
−
{{Simpsons characters}}
+
{{Images}}
−
{{Deceased characters}}
+
{{Musicians|saxophone=yes}}
 +
{{Deceased characters|other=yes}}
 +
{{Wall of Fame}}
 +
{{Tapped Out characters|c-celebs=yes}}
 
{{Simpsons World factfiles|1=yes}}
 
{{Simpsons World factfiles|1=yes}}
 +
{{Simpsons characters|springfield=yes}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, Bleeding Gums}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, Bleeding Gums}}
  
−
[[Category:Male characters]]
 
 
[[Category:Adults]]
 
[[Category:Adults]]
−
[[Category:Characters|Murphy, Bleeding Gums]]
+
[[Category:Celebrities]]
−
[[Category:Deceased characters]]
 
−
[[Category:Parodies]]
 
−
[[Category:Recurring characters|Murphy Bleeding Gums]]
 
 
[[Category:Hibbert family]]
 
[[Category:Hibbert family]]
 +
[[Category:Recurring characters]]
 
[[Category:Characters voiced by guest stars]]
 
[[Category:Characters voiced by guest stars]]
−
[[Category:Musicians]]
+
[[Category:Characters voiced by other cast members]]
 +
[[Category:Characters voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson]]
 +
[[Category:Characters introduced in season 1]]
 +
[[Category:Black characters]]

Latest revision as of 20:32, October 24, 2024

"Bleeding Gums" Murphy
Bleeding Gums Murphy.png
Artwork of Bleeding Gums Murphy from The Simpsons: Tapped Out
Character Information
Gender:
Male ♂
Status:
Deceased
Age: 49 (at death)
Hair: Brown
Occupation: Musician
Relatives: Son: Monk Murphy
Brothers: Julius Hibbert and One unnamed
Ex-Wife: Vela Murphy
Nephew: Unnamed
First appearance: "Moaning Lisa"
Voiced by: Ron Taylor
Daryl L. Coley
Kevin Michael Richardson
v • d • e • h


Oscar "Bleeding Gums" Murphy was a jazz musician, and an idol of Lisa Simpson.

Biography[edit]

Bleeding Gums learned his musical skills "at the feet of Blind Willie Witherspoon". Willie wanted to give Bleeding Gums his saxophone, only to be finally told that it wasn't a saxophone and actually an umbrella, meaning that Willie had actually been playing an umbrella for some thirty years. Bleeding Gums explained to Willie that no one informed him of the mistake because "we all thought it was funny".[1]

At one point, Murphy was married to a woman named Vela, who was also a singer. At some point, they got divorced, but Vela still used her ex-husband's last name in a professional capacity.[2]

Murphy had one child, Monk Murphy. When Monk was born, Bleeding Gums wrote "Monk's New Tune". Monk was born deaf, which saddened his father because it meant Monk could never hear his music. Bleeding Gums tried to raise the money to pay for cochlear implants for his son, but only made $16. He then wrote the song "Sixteen Bucks Just Ain't Enough".[3]

Murphy recorded only one album, titled Sax on the Beach, which was extremely lucrative for him. However, he soon went broke after spending his money on his Fabergé egg addiction. He revealed that he had once made a guest appearance on The Cosby Show in 1986 as the Huxtable children's grandfather, as well as appearing on The Tonight Show when Steve Allen was the host.[1]

Bleeding Gums on The Cosby Show.

Bleeding Gums was a mentor to Lisa Simpson until his early death. He played and sang a blues song written by Lisa. It pleased Lisa to see the performance of her own song in the club "The Jazz Hole", but not everyone in the family was happy with the lyrics, as they were sharply critical of Homer and Bart, and mildly critical of Marge.[4]

Bleeding Gums once sang a twenty-six minute version of the American national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a Springfield Isotopes game.[5]

He served as one of the three judges for a talent show once, giving Bart a 10 for his impersonation of Principal Skinner.[6] Murphy also joined with a group of local celebrities in singing the song "We're Sending Our Love Down the Well" as a benefit for Timmy O'Toole.[7]

When Springfield was hit by a freak snowstorm and Mayor Quimby declared a snow day for the whole town, Murphy and Lisa were seen playing their saxes in the crowd of townspeople enjoying the snow.[8]

Allison Taylor has a photo of Bleeding Gums on her wall. It may be possible that Bleeding Gums was also Allison's one idol.[9] Lisa also has a picture of Bleeding Gums on her wall.

It is hinted that Dr. Hibbert and Bleeding Gums are long-lost brothers.[1]

He has been featured on Before They Were Famous.[10]

At some point before his death, Bleeding Gums Murphy told his nephew that Lisa was the most promising young musician he had ever met.[11]

At some point before his death, he had a relationship with Mrs. Muntz.[12]

In Bart's coma dream, Bleeding Gums Murphy was one of the ghosts who came to Bart to get help to move on to the afterlife.[13]

Death and legacy[edit]

Bleeding Gums (left) appearing to Lisa Simpson in a cloud, after his death.
Bleeding Gums' tombstone

When Bart went to the hospital after eating a jagged metal Krusty-O, Lisa found Bleeding Gums in a hospital bed in a nearby ward. They played Carole King's "Jazzman" together, entertaining everyone in the hospital. Bleeding Gums told Lisa about his life, family and career, including his only album, Sax on the Beach. He also gave her advice for her upcoming school recital and lent her his saxophone. At the recital, only a few of the school band members were present and their performance of "The Stars and Stripes Forever" was about to fall flat, but Lisa saved the day with an inspired impromptu jam on Murphy's sax. Lisa returned from the recital to share her triumph with Bleeding Gums, only to find that he had died. (The cause was never revealed, nor was the reason Murphy was in the hospital in the first place.)

No one, except for Lisa, Marge and Homer, attended Murphy's funeral. Reverend Lovejoy officiated and got Murphy's name wrong, calling him "Blood and Guts Murphy" and "Bloody Gums Murphy", as well as saying that he was "quite the sousaphone player". Lovejoy's blundering outraged Lisa and moved her to find Murphy's album and have it played on the radio so people would know who he was. However, even the local jazz station didn't have the album, and when she found it in Comic Book Guy's shop, it was priced at $500, which she couldn't afford. However, Bart had sued KrustyCo Inc. over the jagged metal Krusty-O incident and received $500 in a settlement. When he saw how disappointed Lisa was at not being able to buy Murphy's album, Bart bought the album and gave it to her. Lisa then took it to KJAZZ and the DJ played it on the radio. The station's signal was very weak, but a freak lightning strike hit the antenna and boosted the signal so that all of Springfield heard Sax on the Beach playing.

Murphy's face appeared from the clouds, thanking Lisa and telling him that he had made her happy. They were interrupted by other famous characters appearing: Mufasa from The Lion King, Darth Vader from Star Wars and James Earl Jones reciting his "This is CNN" narration. Murphy asked them to leave, and he and Lisa jammed out to "Jazzman" one last time. Lisa wanted to do it again ("One more time!"), but Murphy protested that he had a date with Billie Holiday.[1]

A hologram image of him was used by She-Done-Left-Me Records to advertise various products. This caused Lisa to protest against them for using dead celebrities to advertise various commercial products.[14]

After Bleeding Gums' death, the rights to his music were sold off by Treasured Artists Publishing to various other companies. This led to a song of his, "Can't Face Tomorrow", being turned into "Scratch That Itch" and used to advertise the Springfield Lottery. A giant hologram of him was also going on tour around Europe.[3]

Non-canon[edit]

Donut Homer.png The contents of this article or section are considered to be non-canon and therefore may not have actually happened or existed.

Bleeding Gums Murphy has a biography called Floss, I Hardly Knew Ye.[15]

The Simpsons: Tapped Out[edit]

This section is transcluded from The Simpsons: Tapped Out characters/C-List Celebrities. To edit it, please edit the transcluded page.
Bleeding Gums Murphy
Image Cost Unlock method Unlocks with Unlock message
Bleeding Gums Murphy.png Donut165 Homerpalooza and All This Jazz
Premium 		The Jazz Hole You know, you play pretty well for someone with no real problems.
Donut80 Itchy & Scratchy Land
Premium (Summer Concert Mystery Box)
Donut80 Thanksgiving 2018, All American Auction, Blargsgiving, Northward Bound, The Atom Smasher and Cold Turkey
Premium (Men Mystery Box)
Mystery Box Token1 Thanksgiving 2018, All American Auction, Blargsgiving, Northward Bound, The Atom Smasher and Cold Turkey
Gold Mystery Box
FREE Simpsons Babies
The Sleuthenizer Pt. 4
Black History Month Mystery Box Token.png Black History
Black History Month Mystery Box
Shattered Dreams Mystery Box Token1 Shattered Dreams Mystery Box
Entertainment
Technical Information ID Groups Quest(s) Internal Name
178000 Celebrity, Musicians, Premium Characters, Premium Male, Adult It Happened One Event BleedingGumsMurphy
Taps Final Update
Wave Cost Release
3 Donut150 October 8, 2024

Behind the Laughter[edit]

The appearance of Bleeding Gums Murphy is loosely based on LeRoi Moore, the late saxophone player for the Dave Matthews Band. It may also be an homage to Sonny Rollins, a great saxophone player who famously retired from public performance and was not seen for three years, until a journalist discovered him playing the saxophone alone on the Williamsburg Bridge. Murphy's introductory appearance, where Lisa sees him playing his sax on a bridge in the middle of the night, is a direct reference to Rollins.

Bleeding Gums gave the origin of his nickname in "Moaning Lisa" as thus: "Well let me put it this way... you ever been to the dentist? Not me. I suppose I should go to one, but I got enough pain in my life as it is."

The voice of Bleeding Gums Murphy was provided by Ron Taylor, while his saxophone playing is provided by Dan Higgins. In the episode "Dancin' Homer" he was voiced by Daryl L. Coley.

Mufasa, Darth Vader, and (of course) the James Earl Jones CNN narration were voice roles originally portrayed by James Earl Jones, but were performed by Harry Shearer for their scene in "'Round Springfield".

Murphy has been a fixture of The Simpsons' opening sequence from Season Two on, even after his death. He even appeared in the live-action format,[16] in The Simpsons Sky One commercial, that was also used for the episode "Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife". In 2009, the opening sequence had to be updated since the series was now broadcast in hi-def widescreen format. The new, updated sequence removed Murphy completely apart from a picture of him that can be seen in the Music Room when Lisa plays her Sax.

In addition to his onscreen appearances, Murphy also appeared on The Simpsons Sing the Blues, an album of rock, and jazz music with vocals performed by characters from the show. On the track "God Bless the Child" (a cover of the Billie Holiday song), performed by Lisa Simpson (Yeardley Smith), Murphy speaks up after the final chorus to praise Lisa for her vocals, after which he and Lisa perform a saxophone duet for the remainder of the song. Murphy was again voiced by Ron Taylor for the song, and his alto saxophone part was performed by Kim Richmond. Everytime Lisa's room is seen after "Moaning Lisa" a picture of Bleeding Gums Murphy is seen.

Foreign Dubs[edit]

Language Voice dubber
Germany.png Deutsch Fred Klaus (until 2005)
Italy Flag.png Italiano Pino Ammendola

Appearances[edit]

Episodes:Specials:Simpsons Illustrated:Simpsons Comics:Treehouse of Horror:Bart Simpson:Super Spectacular:Homer for the Holidays:Video Games:Books:

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "'Round Springfield"
  2. ↑ Springfield Shopper
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The Sound of Bleeding Gums"
  4. ↑ "Moaning Lisa"
  5. ↑ "Dancin' Homer"
  6. ↑ "Lisa's Pony"
  7. ↑ "Radio Bart"
  8. ↑ "Bart Gets an "F""
  9. ↑ "Lisa's Rival"
  10. ↑ "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious"
  11. ↑ "Lisa Gets the Blues"
  12. ↑ "Better Off Ned"
  13. ↑ "Flanders' Ladder"
  14. ↑ "Whiskey Business"
  15. ↑ Lisa Simpson's Book Club
  16. ↑ Real Life Simpsons Intro (He appears after 35 seconds) YouTube. URL accessed on December 14, 2006


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