Jimmy Murphy

City of Vincent resident Jimmy 'the lips' Murphy was performing with the Kalamunda Youth Swing Band from the age of eight and went on to be in numerous bands and ensembles, both during his school days and after, including international successes with the Sunshine Brothers and as trumpeter for Perth's own mariachi band. In his early twenties, Jimmy set up the Funk Club, a community of alternative music lovers, which filled a void in Perth of opportunities to perform professionally and explore and enjoy alternative music forms. The Funk Club house band had a residency upstairs at the Leederville Hotel for many years and enjoyed great local popularity every Friday night. Jimmy went on to set up Upbeat Events, which spearheaded the Mt Hawthorn and Leederville carnivals, as well as producing street events in Subiaco and Victoria Park. In 2015 Jimmy was elected as councillor for the City of Vincent. We met with Jimmy upstairs at the Leederville Hotel in the venue that was home to the Funk Club on a Friday night, so he could show us the ropes at the venue as well as have a chat.