May 30th, 2014

Dear Father,

Who were you?  Keith and I are grown now.  I a father, Keith a father and grandfather we both missed getting to know our father.  No one was really there to train us, the men in our lives more resenting our presence while playing the temporary role of father, not their fault, they were simply there too late.

Who were you?  Keith and I didn't grow up together, didn't end up calling the same person mother, didn't know for a few years of our existence.

Who were you?

Love, your son,
Jason Vincent Alexander Murray

May 27th, 2014


Dear Father,

It gets closer to the day we leave for the summer.  A stressful blend of work and fun and driving that earns our way in the world.  Lisa is working every moment trying to get enough done for the first few shows of the summer,  I am cleaning and doing yard work to get us ready and our house ready.

This is a stressful life full of stomach aches and head aches but I wouldn't want to go back to the grind of a regular job.

Is that how you felt as a musician?

Love, your son,

Jason Vincent Alexander Murray

May 24th, 2014


Dear Father,

Today was a stressful day.  Arguments were many and didn't end well.  Your granddaughter is going to her prom sad because her boyfriend won't talk to her and won't see her.  These children are selfish and their arguments are petty.  Maybe they aren't but it seems as though they are to me since I've now been married almost 24 years.  What arguments did you guys have?  You were young, maybe they were petty as well.

I don't know what to do for my daughter.  She seemed so happy a couple of days ago and now she seems so sad.  She stakes so much of what she is feeling on the people around her.  I think sometimes she doesn't have much of an understanding of who she is.

Well so long for now.  I must get on with the process of living, something I wish you had participated more in.

Your son,

Jason Vincent Alexander Murray

October 4th, 2012

Dear Father,

Your birthday is approaching.  I think your death day is as well.  What did you feel when you found out that your brother in law killed himself.  Did it surprise you?  Did you shake your head and mourn?  Did you go on wondering why? 
Your first son was well on his way into this world, so was my cousin, but he or she didn't make it.  But Kieth did.  And I not long after.  but the people I should of known but didn't started with Tommy, continued with you, and ended with my Grandmother.  I often wonder if she would have made it if you hadn't already left.  A mother's connection with her son is almost always strong.  Sometimes however it is broken.
Father, happy birthday.

Your son,
Jason Vincent Alexander Murray

Mark Twain

Dear Father;

I am reading Letters From Earth, the unedited writings of Mark Twain. The man was a genius. He wrote like someone who came years later, a modern style, an unedited look at what was ridiculous in his world. This book is partially responsible for these letters. These are my letters from Earth.

Your son,
Jason Vincent Alexander Murray

The End Is Near

Dear Father;

The end is near. I am signing up for classes that represent the beginning of my final year of regular college. Twenty seven years after I signed up for my first class in college I am finally looking like I am going to finish. After this it's time for grad school but at least I finally will have one part of his all done.
This thing is going to feel good to be done.

Jason Vincent Alexander Murray

Another winter comes to a close

Dear Father;

The realization I had on my way home is that most of the terrible things that have happened in this world have been the result of anger. Anger at things left undone, unsaid. Anger at things done and said. These things are in the past. You are in the past. We are all in the past and walking towards the future. Unfortunately I have spent the last 43 years walking without you.

I could be angry at you, or God, or the gods. I could bare grudges and subtle hatred about what has happened to take you away from me.

And so instead of anger I turn to music and listen to your ethereal self come through other's music.

Jason VA Murray