Thirty-four years ago, on February 21, 1982, Murray the K, born Murray Kaufman, passed away just one week after his 60th birthday. Born on Valentine’s Day 1922 in New York City, show business was in his blood. His mother was a vaudeville pianist and songwriter, and other family members worked in the stage and film industries. Kaufman even appeared as a child extra in 1930s films before building a career that would make him one of the most influential radio disc jockeys of the rock era.
After serving in the U.S. Army, where he organized entertainment for troops, Kaufman became a song plugger for songwriter Bob Merrill, promoting the 1952 hit “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?” His knack for promotion led him to radio work at WMCA and, in 1958, to WINS, where he launched his all-night show, The Swingin’ Soiree. That program cemented his status as a powerhouse tastemaker in New York radio
The nickname “the Fifth Beatle” has been applied to several figures in the Fab Four’s orbit, but Murray the K claimed it for himself during the height of Beatlemania. When The Beatles first arrived in the United States in 1964, Murray was instrumental in promoting them on American radio. He secured exclusive interviews, heavily played their records, and even traveled with them during their first U.S. visit, helping introduce them to a massive American audience.
While others, such as Brian Epstein and George Martin, are traditionally associated with the “Fifth Beatle” title, Murray’s self-proclaimed moniker reflected his deep involvement in breaking the band in the U.S. market. His enthusiastic on-air support significantly amplified their stateside success.
Beyond The Beatles, Murray the K worked with artists ranging from Bobby Darin to countless emerging rock and pop acts of the 1960s. His large-scale “Music in the Fifth Dimension” shows at the Brooklyn Fox Theatre further showcased his flair for promotion and production.
More than four decades after his death, Murray the K remains a fascinating figure in rock history, a flamboyant, ambitious radio pioneer who helped shape the sound of 1960s America and played a unique role in launching the British Invasion on U.S. shores.