Walter Murphy Sheet Music

About Walter Murphy

Walter Murphy is an accomplished American composer, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer, widely recognized for his innovative fusion of classical music with contemporary genres. He rose to international fame with his instrumental disco adaptation of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, "A Fifth of Beethoven," which became a number one hit in 1976 and was prominently featured in the iconic Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Beyond his disco success, Murphy has carved out a significant career spanning five decades in film and television scoring, making him a versatile and enduring figure in modern music history.

  • Walter Murphy began studying organ and classical and jazz piano at the tender age of four with Rosa Rio, even appearing in television commercials for the Hammond organ during his youth.
  • Despite the massive success of "A Fifth of Beethoven," which earned him a Grammy Award, his record company initially hesitated to credit the track to an individual, eventually settling on "Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band" before simply "Walter Murphy."
  • He has maintained a long-standing and prolific collaboration with Seth MacFarlane, composing music for popular animated series like Family Guy and American Dad!, as well as films such as Ted and Ted 2.
  • Murphy received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" from the movie Ted and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics for the Family Guy song "You've Got a Lot to See."

Performing Walter Murphy's music offers a rewarding experience for musicians across various skill levels, from advanced beginners to intermediate and beyond. His sheet music, including iconic hits like "A Fifth of Beethoven" and themes from his extensive film and television work such as "Theme from Family Guy," is available for a wide array of instruments, including piano, voice, guitar, strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Musicians can delve into diverse genres like classical, disco, pop, jazz, and film/TV scores, enjoying pieces that are both fun to play and highly recognizable, making them excellent choices for recitals, concerts, or simply personal enjoyment.

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