Accordionist Murl Allen Sanders leads a very interesting musical life. Excerpts from his bio:
Murl Allen Sanders is a musician, composer, teacher and recording artist living in Seattle. Murl has worked in the USA, Canada, England, Brazil and Japan with such diverse artists as Chuck Berry, Etta James, Il Divo, Glenn Yarbrough, Seattle Symphony, accordion virtuosi Frank Marocco, Chico Chagas, Stas Venglevski, Alex Meixner, Gary Blair and Cory Pesaturo, Leroy Bell, Peter Duchin, Alarm Will Sound, Seattle Modern Orchestra, Cascade Symphony, Everett Philarmonic, Orchestra Seattle/Seattle Chamber Singers, The Von Trapp Children, Theodore Bikel, Leslie Gore, Barbara Lamb, Susan Pascal, Warren Rand, Pearl Django, Michael Tomlinson and Kelly Harland, among many others.
Murl teaches piano and accordion privately and is also adjunct faculty at Cornish College of the Arts and Shoreline College in Seattle. He has received two grants from The Seattle Mayor’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs to compose “She Blows Hot and Cold” for chorus and symphony orchestra in 2010 and “Accordion Concerto #2” in 2007, both pieces performed by Orchestra Seattle/Seattle Chamber Singers. His “Accordion Concerto #1”, a commission from Orchestra Seattle/Seattle Chamber Singers, premiered in 2003. Murl received a 2010 and 2009 ASCAP plus award for his concert compositions from The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Recent appearances:
Seattle Symphony “Music Beyond Borders” Concert 2017
LeRoy Bell 2019
Deep Squeeze Accordion Festival 2019, Port Townsend, WA
Leavenworth International Accordion Festival 2018
Accordionists and Teachers Guild Festival, Chicago 2018
International Festival Da Sanfona, Juazeiro, Brazil 2016
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil with Chico Chagas
Earshot Jazz Festival
Bellevue Jazz Festival
Milwaukee Accordion Club & Chicago Accordion Club
Alarm Will Sound
Seattle Modern Orchestra
Northwest Film Forum
Murl’s discography:
“Guides and Spirits” 1981, “Soon” 1991, “New Romance and Doing All Right” 1996
“Can You Dance To It?” 2000, “Accordion Concerto #1” 2003
“Murl’s Holiday Favorites” 2009, “Stories of Lucile” 2012
Murl is also an inventor, designing the Murlstrap – Accordion Back Strap to help move the weight of the accordion and alleviate some of the neck and shoulder strain many accordionists endure. You can find out more about Murl Allen Sanders’ many accomplishments and the Murlstrap: murl@murlallensanders.com
Upcoming performances:
December 1, 2019: Silicon Valley Accordion Club in Los Altos, California. Show begins at 1:30 PM at the Christ Episcopal Church 1040 Border Road, Los Altos,
just off Highway 280 near El Monte Avenue.
December 28, 2019 9:PM: Performance with LeRoy Bell’s band at the Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. NW Seattle, WA 98107. LeRoy is the mighty singer/songwriter who has written hits for Elton John.
For further information:
murlsanders@cs.com
Tel: 206-781-8196
