Eddie Murphy

Born in Brooklyn, New York City on April 3, 1961, Eddie Murphy is a comedian and actor who first came to prominence in 1980 as a cast member of the long-running comedy series Saturday Night Live. While only on the show for four seasons, he remains one of the most popular cast members in the show’s history. During his time with SNL, he released two popular comedy albums – Eddie Murphy (1982) and Comedian (1983) – which helped to build his career. However, he decided to pursue music as a serious career with the release of How Could It Be (1985), which was produced by Rick James, Stevie Wonder, and Aquil Fudge. The album included the hit single “Party All the Time,” which is his best-known R&B hit. Written and produced by funk icon Rick James, the track paired slick synthesizers with a danceable groove—and, unexpectedly, a sincere vocal performance. “Party All the Time” climbed to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, holding its own against the era’s biggest hits and proving Eddie Murphy could compete in the mainstream music arena. While his movie career continued to be popular, his next two albums - So Happy (1989) and Love’s Alright (1993) - were not quite as successful. During this period, he also collaborated with major artists, including a 1993 duet with Michael Jackson on “Whatzupwitu.” He revisited music sporadically in later years, releasing singles such as “Red Light” and reggae-influenced tracks that reflected evolving tastes and a continued passion for recording. However, he focused more of his attention on films and other projects.