Detroit-raised yet Georgia-based, William Murphy serves as pastor, music director, and vocalist whose stirring praise-and-worship selections blend classic gospel roots with contemporary urban CCM. Early recognition arrived when his soaring lead vocal anchored the modern standard “Praise Is What I Do” on the 2005 debut All Day. Beyond pastoral duties, he has collected two Grammy nominations while placing multiple projects inside the Top Ten of the Gospel Albums chart, among them the 2016 live release Demonstrate, 2019’s Settle Here, and 2022’s Worship & Justice.
William Henry Murphy, III entered the world in Detroit in 1973 as the son of Bishop William H. Murphy, Jr. and grandson of pastor Dr. William H. Murphy, Sr. Growing up inside a deeply religious household fostered both his affinity for singing and, by senior year of high school, a clear calling to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Ordained an elder at twenty-three within his father’s ministry, he filled several roles that included Minister of Music and Executive Pastor. In 2001 he and his wife, Pastor Danielle Murphy, moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he joined New Birth Missionary Church as worship minister.
His recording career began with the 2005 album All Day, which climbed to number twenty-two on the Gospel Albums chart and introduced the enduring favorite “Praise Is What I Do.” The well-received follow-up The Sound appeared in 2007. His major-label bow arrived in 2013 with the live set God Chaser, which opened at number three on Billboard’s gospel tally and earned his first Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Album. Demonstrate, featuring appearances by Tasha Cobbs, Nicole Binion, and Bishop James Morton, followed in 2016 and brought a second Grammy nod in the same category. The sixth full-length, Settle Here, debuted at number one on the Top Gospel Albums chart in 2019. Teaming again with longtime collaborator David Outing, Murphy released the socially conscious Worship & Justice in 2022.
