Looking back at 2023: Murren joins Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame

The Iowa Rock n’ Roll Music Association Hall of Fame Class of 2023 includes Southwest Iowa’s own John Murren.
Murren, was born in Red Oak and grew up in Elliott, where he still lives. Murren was one of two nominees in the promoter category. Murren has been serving as a music promoter for the past 25 years. Prior to his 25-year career in music promotion, Murren said he worked a regular day job as an examiner for the State of Iowa.
“I was a grain warehouse examiner, and I’ve worked in every county in the state in that role. I also worked in Kansas City and Omaha, to a variety of little towns that had elevators,” Murren said.
In most of the towns, the only place to eat was at the local bar, which proved to be valuable when he started doing music promotion while maintaining his auditor role.
“I’d walk in, and see a stage, and ask them if they booked bands. If the answer was yes, I’d give them a promo kit. I was working four 10-hour days, so I was able to do a fair amount of promotion on the road and during weekends. I carried them around with me and got a lot of results with that. Later on, I worked in three places in Sioux City on a revolving basis, and I worked at numerous places in Omaha,” commented Murren.
Murren added he’s done music promotion in roughly 168 towns, working as a soundman and/or booker with Rumor Has It, Taxi Driver, Captain Obvious, Farmer Ted, Hurricane Annie, and Skinny Webb. Some of the bands Murren booked opened for nationals such as Eddie Money, Rick Derringer, Vixen, Molly Hatchet, and Quiet Riot.
Part of the soundwork includes a lot of heavy lifting, and while he started off by himself, he now works with a partner.
“There was a kid named James Schlup. We all call him Jimmy James. He started working for me when he was 17 years old. He’s been helping me for 17 years. First it was just grunt labor, and then he started learning the set-up, and now he can do it all. He mixes once in a while. He’s a musician too, and can play the bass guitar and regular guitar.”
Murren also issued praise to prior inductee Kirk “Skinny” Webb, who was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame. Murren wanted to thank Bill Hillman, John Murren II, and Joe Smith for sponsoring him into the hall of fame along with Webb.
“I’ve worked with Webb, and he’s an incredible guitar player. He’s kind of a hired gun now, and plays with different bands every night and all over different areas,” commented Murren.