The Murmurs were an American alternative pop music duo composed of singer-songwriters Leisha Hailey and Heather Grody.
The Murmurs | |
|---|---|
 Heather Grody and Leisha Hailey, 1998 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative pop, indie pop, folk pop |
| Years active | 1991–1998 |
| Labels | MCA |
| Past members | Leisha Hailey Heather Grody |
History
editThe Murmurs and Gush
editLeisha Hailey and Heather Grody (Reid) began performing as The Murmurs in 1991 while the duo were both students of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.[1] They released Who Are We, produced and released by William Basinski's Arcadia Records, in 1991.[citation needed] The band became popular around the East Village in Manhattan.[1] In 1994, The Murmurs signed with MCA Records. They released their self-titled major label debut album the same year. Their single "You Suck" got radio airplay and gained them national attention.[2] While the song reached number 89 in the United States, it was a number-one hit in Norway, reaching Platinum status. The duo expanded into a four-woman group in 1997 with the addition of bassist Sheri Ozeki and drummer Sherri Solinger.[1] They released Pristine Smut in 1997 and Blender one year later.
In 2001, Hailey and Grody reunited as a band named Gush which featured more of an indie rock sound. The band also included members Jon Skibic, Brad Caselden and Dave Doyle. They released one self-titled album that was sold exclusively at their live shows.
After the Murmurs
editFrom 2004 to 2009, Hailey, who had previously acted on an episode of Boy Meets World in 1996 and in the 1997 movie All Over Me, starred as Alice Pieszecki, a journalist, television, and radio show host, on The L Word. Hailey has continued acting since and revived the Alice Pieszecki character on The L Word: Generation Q in 2019.
From 2007 to 2016, Hailey performed in the band Uh Huh Her with Camila Grey. The band recorded three albums and three EPs and had their music featured in the films The Kids Are All Right, Hotel for Dogs, and The Carmilla Movie.
In 2005, following the breakup of Gush, Heather Reid (formerly Grody) and Jon Skibic formed the band Redcar with Michael Sullivan and Ryan MacMillan.[3] Their debut album was released in March 2007 and was produced by Grammy award winning producer Greg Collins (U2 and Gwen Stefani). Reid also started a record company, Phyllis Records. Reid wrote the music, book and lyrics to Dear Bernard a musical that played in Los Angeles at The Court and Zephyr theaters in 2013. The musical attracted the attention of Chrysalis Records who hired her as a songwriter for other artists. This resulted in a song she co-wrote with Hailey, "Don't Bother", being recorded by Shakira on the singer's 2005 album Oral Fixation, Vol. 2. Reid recorded a solo album, Cross Words, which was released in 2014.
In 2018, Reid was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.[4] After several months of chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant, Heather considered herself healed.[5] In 2020, Reid recorded the single “Right Here Right Now”, based on her cancer diagnosis and treatment.
In 2020, Reid stated that she and Hailey "are constantly talking about a reunion for the Murmurs."[6]
Band members
edit- Leisha Hailey – vocals and acoustic guitar
- Heather Grody – vocals and acoustic guitar
- Sheri Ozeki – bass
- Sherri Solinger – drums
Discography
editAlbums
edit- Who Are We (1991)
- The Murmurs (1994)
- Pristine Smut (1997)
- Blender (1998)
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] |
US Rock [7] |
AUS [8] |
NOR [9] | |||||||||||
| 1994 | "All I Need to Know" | — | — | — | — | Murmurs | ||||||||
| "You Suck" | 89 | 23 | 25 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 1995 | "White Rabbit" | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| 1997 | "I'm a Mess" | — | — | — | — | Pristine Smut | ||||||||
| 1998 | "La Di Da" | — | — | — | — | Blender | ||||||||
| 1999 | "Smash" | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ a b c Ankeny, Jason, "The Murmurs Biography", Allmusic, Rovi Corporation, retrieved June 11, 2011
- ^ "Murmurs Release New CD", The Vindicator (from the Los Angeles Daily News), The Vindicator Printing Company, p. B12, June 30, 1997
- ^ "Redcar Is", official Redcar website, retrieved June 11, 2011
- ^ "Cancer Couldn't Stop Former Murmurs Member Heather Reid or Her Music".
- ^ "Rocker Heather Reid Discusses Her Cancer Journey, Co-Parenting, and Broadway Musicals". June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Cancer Couldn't Stop Former Murmurs Member Heather Reid or Her Music".
- ^ a b "Artist Search for "murmurs"". AllMusic.
- ^ "australian-charts.com – The Murmurs – You Suck". Australian-charts.com.
- ^ "norwegiancharts.com – Norwegian charts portal". Norwegiancharts.com.
- ^ "SØK I TROFÉER". IFPI Norway. Archived from the original on June 26, 2006. Retrieved August 14, 2012.