A promising clarinetist, Don Murray's early death (five days short of his 25th birthday) means that he will be forever associated with the 1920s and the white jazz musicians of the era. Murray's brief career found him playing with some of the major jazzmen of the time. He was on tenor with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings for a short period in 1923, and in Detroit he was with the Jean Goldkette Orchestra from 1923-27 (including when Bix Beiderbecke and Frankie Trumbauer were members from 1926-27). Murray recorded with both players in several different settings. A member of the legendary Adrian Rollini Orchestra in 1927, Murray also worked with Joe Venuti (1927-28), Broadway theater orchestras and, during his last year, with Ted Lewis. Murray, who never led his own record date, appeared in the Lewis film short Is Everybody Happy shortly before his premature death from head injuries apparently caused by his falling against a parked car in a drunken stupor.