Who is SRM?

Stephen R. Murphy is an award winning American pianist, singer, composer/songwriter/arranger who lives in Michigan. He is a member of ASCAP. He graduated from Spring Arbor University with a B.A. in musical composition and voice. He also studied piano with Prof. Heydenburg while at SAU. In 2024, he will complete a graduate certificate in song writing from Berklee College of Music in Boston. He completed 18 graduate credits in music at Vandercook College of music with a concentration in Jazz studies. In 2023, he won first place at the International Write About Jesus Songwriting Conference, in Nashville, TN, in the Southern Gospel Music category. Additionally, while he was at SAU, he was awarded the senior musical composition award; was asked to perform an original piano compostion at the founders day symposium; was awarded a second place trophy in the National Religious Broadcasters Association (NRBA) radio contest, and also won first place in the SAU original Christmas Hymn songwriting contest. In 2018, he was a finalist in the new songwriter search hosted by Dove Award winner and Gospel recording artist, Babbie Mason. And in 2024, he and Babbie Mason began co-writing songs together.

He has been teaching at Jackson College for over thirty-four years. In that time, he has accompanied, composed, arranged, directed choral groups and taught music appreciation, voice classes, and piano classes. He is now, also, an adjunct professor of music at his alma mater, Spring Arbor University where he teaches piano, voice, music production, applied musical composition and accompanies applied vocal lessons and other school musical functions and events. He is also an instructor of piano and voice at Expressions Music Academy in West Bloomfiled, MI.

He continues to be mentored by five-time Dove Award winner, Sue. C Smith.

He has performed live on stage with some of the most well-known Gospel artists as well as professional opera singers in the world including: Larnelle Harris, Phil Driscol, GLAD, Greg Buchanon, Meredith Zara, Dr. Donald Hartman, Joann Drayton, Keith E. Drayton, Richard Fracker, Vera Scammon, Ann Holt, Dick and Melody Tunney, Terri and Barb Franklin, and many, many more. Additionally, he is the Gospel orgainst at the yearly Nazarene Evangelists Homecoming-Campmeeting Reunion in Vicksburg, MI.

In addition to writing music, teaching and performing, he is also an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene. He currently is the lead pastor of Okemos Church of the Nazarene in Okemos, Michigan. Click this LINK to go his church website.