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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING LEANDA “RICK” MURRAY, KNOWN AS THE SOLDIER’S VOICE
WHEREAS, LeAnda “Rick” Murray was born February 23, 1933 in Little Rock Arkansas. His family moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1936, when Rick was three years old. He attended elementary public schools in Chicago and Phillips High School.; and
WHEREAS, in 1950, when Rick was seventeen years old, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving during the Korean War as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne and briefly with the101st Airborne. Rick was honorably discharged in 1953; and
WHEREAS, Rick was employed with the Steel Mill and the Water Reclamation where he retired after working 25 years. Rick has performed acapella as a Baritone Bass soloist, and, in his early musical career; he performed under the music schooling of Jazz Trumpeter Zilner Randolph, a well-known music educator; and
WHEREAS, in addition, he also performed with the historic Sun Ra Avant-Garde Arkestra for four years. Rick worked with many notable musicians such as Lucius Bell and the Swinging 7/8 Notes, Larry Novak, jazz pianist, Cozy Eggleston musical artist, William “Bugs” Cochran, drummer, Johnny Griffin, tenor saxophonist, George Freeman, jazz guitarist, Ron Dewer, jazz saxophonist, John Gilmore, jazz saxophonist who also performed with Sun Ra.; and
WHEREAS, Rick currently performs with the “New Orleans Mud Cats Band, where he is known as “Creole Rick,” Rick has performed at numerous state and city public military and veteran events such as Soldier Field, the Daley Center, White Sox Park, and the Annual Memorial Day Parade and Wreath Laying; and
WHEREAS, Over several decades, Rick has served on the following: veteran councils, committees and organizations: Illinois Secretary of State advisory council, City of Chicago Mayor’s Advisory Council, Minority Veterans Steering Committee Coalition of Veteran’s Organizations (CVO) Founding Group, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Patton Chapter, the 555th Triple Nickel in 1982 and remains a faithful lifetime member; and
WHEREAS, Rick has four adult children: Byron, Scott, Lamont and Candace. Rick’s beloved wife Barbara made her transition in February 2017; they were married for 56 years; and
WHEREAS, Rick continues to sing at the young age of 87; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, honor LeAnda “Rick” Murray forever known as “the Soldier’s Voice” and praise his essential contribution to the health and viability of Cook County.
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