Director Deacon Warner reflects on the importance of the music of Willie Murphy to The Co-op Wars and the Twin Cities co-op scene:
The music of Willie Murphy was an integral element of the Minneapolis West Bank scene in the 1970s. Willie as well as his bandmate John Beach were big co-op supporters—so it was a natural fit to incorporate their songs into the soundtrack of the film. The Co-op Wars features fourteen songs performed by Willie Murphy—as Willie & the Bees and also Willie & the Bumblebees. Most of the songs were penned by Willie, but the film also includes originals by bandmates John Beach, José James and Tony Glover.
I met with Willie back in 2016 when I was first starting to edit the film. I tracked him down after a Monday night blues jam at the Richfield MN American Legion. That this local legend, who produced Bonnie Raitt’s first album in addition to at least fourteen albums of his own music, was playing a Monday night blues jam at an American Legion is a testament to the attitude of Willie and his fellow West Bank musicians of that era. It was all about the music—and the message—and not the fame. Needless to say, Willie was immediately onboard with our project and happy to have his music featured in the film.
Some weeks later Willie stopped by my house to personally deliver a few CDs that I’d ordered from his website. He and his dog Clyde often went for walks in the Minneapolis park I live near. When I met them at the door there was an astonishing resemblance. Both Willie and Clyde had similar shaggy white air—and they both seemed to have recently rolled in a leaf pile together. For me, a long time fan, it seemed a bit surreal to have this music legend on my doorstep with his big old sheep dog, personally delivering me his CDs. But that was 100% Willie. No pretension—just being real.
The last time I saw him perform was at the Minneapolis Eagles Club, playing a birthday party for Annie Young—one of the co-op founders featured in the film. Dean Zimmerman, also featured in the film, was there too. It was a bitter sweet party as Annie was in ill health—but a joyous event. I had gotten to know Annie back in 2012 through her work to start up a new co-op in the Harrison neighborhood of Minneapolis. Annie lived to see that store, Wirth Co-op, open in 2017. Sadly, Wirth co-op was open less than a year before closing in June 2018. But Annie didn’t live to see the demise of that store.
Annie Young passed away Jan 22, 2018 at the age of 75. Almost exactly one year later, on Jan 13, 2019, Willie Murphy died, also at the age of 75. The Co-op Wars is dedicated to both Willie and Annie.
Listen to some of the Willie Murphy songs featured in The Co-op Wars on YouTube:
Honey From The Bee written by Willie Murphy, Performed by Willie and the Bumblebees
All These Things Will Pass written by John Beach, Performed by Willie and the Bumblebees
Fairy Tale written & performed by Willie Murphy