Read the complete artiicle written by Gary Stifford for the Springfield Newsleader, in 1982. Also see the original Newsleader picture in larger scale.

the history of the blues clinic & dr. bob

Bob Martin moved to Springfield, Missouri from Michigan in the mid 70's and literally fell in love with the downtown area. The year was 1978 and Bob Martin had been in the food service industry for 15 years prior to his move in Springfield. With tumbleweeds then blowing across the streets of downtown Springfield, Bob envisioned opening a Jazz club with the intensions that half of the club would be a New York style deli. The deli was to be named Capistrano's. Today you can still see the beautiful stained glass in front of the building’s regulation; because of difficulties the deli never became a reality. Yet, the Jazz club “Nathan P Murphy's” was a great hit with the residents of Springfield.

With white table linen, fresh carnations and friendly employees in tuxedo uniforms, it became a tradition that allowed you to walk into a room with great ambiance. This club had a welcoming family atmposhere. Murphy's was the first nightbclub in the area to bring in National Jazz & Blues touring artist, such as Buddy Rich and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Maynard Fergluson, Count Base, and Mighty Joe Young just to name a few. It was a very classy place to spend a nice romantic evening out with a loved one.

Due to DUI law that was passed and enforced, this club was greatly affected and lost many of its faithful clientele. It was a hard blow for the club. Being persistent and dedicated, it was time to take the club in a new direction. After 7 1/2 years of Jazz, the club changed it's format to rock-n-roll. Mr. Martin has been a long time junkie for great talent, great music, and live entertainment.

Blues music is the only format of Murphy's now. This would be a huge challenge to educate the folks of Springfield on the wonders of Blues music. Bob has done a tremendous job as a teacher of Blues tradition. He has managed to bring many stellar Blues musicians into his club for local residents to enjoy. These artist include Buddy Miles, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Roomful of Blues, Corey Stevens, Son Seals, Tommy Castro and Lonnie Brooks and an extensive group of many Blues legends.

Running a blues club is not all peaches and cream. It can sometimes give you the blues, like so many of those musicians who play and sing about life. Bob also works a full time job to subsidize the club through the hard times. Mr. Martin also broadcast a live blues show on air with KKLH--104. 7 FM, Sunday Mornings from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. For some folks, this is a weekly ritual for the blues and he has many faithful listeners that tune into his radio show each and every Sunday. Bob, aka Dr. Bob, has in the past, broadcasted with other radio stations. He broadcasted from KXUS 97.3, a Clear Channel Station, for quite some time and he also broadcasted for B95 as co-host with Shelly Scott who was kind enough to teach Dr. Bob a few of the ropes of radio. And praises Shelly Scott, still to this day, as being a true friend and mentor of the airwaves of FM radio. Dr. Bob has been on air almost 10 years.

Dr Bob has been married to Nathan P Murphy’s, Springfield’s Official Blues Club, for over 2 decades.

Nathan P Murphy’s is located at 218 S. Campbell at old Route 66. Still, with white table linen and a friendly staff. Bob had a dream 23 years ago, but he never dreamed that he would have one of the finest, coolest and hippest clubs in the downtown area. And now is the oldest night club to have survived in Springfield.

Nathan P Murphy’s has proven itself a true test of time. It’s a showcase club only. Downtown has become the center of Springfield for entertainment. It is filled with variety of restaurants, nightclubs, and great architecture. Many of the buildings have upstairs loft apartments.

There is now Jordan Valley Ice Park and Hockey Arena, which is a big attraction for kids of all ages. With a baseball stadium to soon open.

Dr. Bob Martin, along with many other business owners, have been working hard to keep downtown Springfield alive. This area holds a lot of this town ’ s history and should be preserved for future generations to enjoy. The Blues Clinic that Dr. Bob talks of on his show “The Blues Show” is on the second floor above the club at Nathan P. Murphy’s and he hopes to syndicate his show in the very near future.