Muruga
(Muruga Booker, Steve Booker, Steven Bookvich)
Musician/Artist/Producer/Band Leader/Drummer/Public Speaker
Band Leader - Muruga Cosmic Boogie
Contact: murugabooker@yahoo.com
Music Label: Media Stream LLC - http://mediastreamllc.net
News & Announcements
Sitting Bull Standing Tall
A Media Stream LLC Movie
Directed by Muruga Booker
Now avaliable for rent and purchase!
"Eternal Echoes"
Muruga, Paul VornHagen, & Alext Terzian
(New Age/World/Jazz)
BOOKER & BRIDGES DALIGHT
WORLD JAMDEMIC
Vinyl, CD and merch @ Media Stream LLC
Out on all major streaming
"DANCING FEET" (official video)
Muruga Cosmic Boogie - All Night Long
The latest single and video from the new Muruga Cosmic Boogie release "ALL NIGHT LONG"!
We have CDs and digital downloads for sale on our Media Stream LLC website and the album is on all major streaming services.
Muruga's Story
60s: Early rock - Folk/Rock into Woodstock '69
Muruga Booker, born, Steven Bookvich '42, has been playing music and drums since the age of 3 when he knew he would be a musician and artist and at 6 he took his first lessons with Misha Bishkoff who was also a teacher of Gene Krupa.
At the age of 16 young Steven Bookvich played on his first album with Reverend Heart and the Musical Hearts of Detroit's liberty temple. With the Low Rocks, they would garner a regional hit with "Blueberry Jam" in 1960 when he was 17.
He has been making music since!
Low Rocks
The Low Rocks were one of Detroits first garage Rock N Roll bands to come out of a vibrant 50s Detroit music scene.
Check out "Snicker" by the Low Rocks!
Brenda Lee
In 1965 Muruga joined Brenda Lee's touring band called "The Casuals" as their drummer and was sponsored by Rogers Drums.
The Chess Mate Cafe..."Hooker & Booker" 60s-70s
Muruga (at the time Steve Booker) was the house band and music advisor at The Chess Mate after-hours club in Detroit from 1965-71. Leading the house band he would often back up the blues, folk, and jazz artists who would come through town and be in need of a backing band. This included backing up the likes of Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Buffy St. Marie, Jim & Jean, and more. Out of this scene arose his relationship playing in Detroit with John Lee Hooker. Sometimes billed as "HOOKER & BOOKER." They would perform at The Chess Mate, Red Carpet, and 20 Grand and on the Tube Works TV show.
Crossing Paths With Jimi Hendrix... Buzzy and beyond
Buzzy Linhart & Hendrix
Muruga and Buzzy Linhart had a deep creative friendship from the 90s including their collaboration with James Gurley and KOS with ART-OFFICIAL INTELLIGENCE but Muruga also happened to bump into Buzzy when they both first saw Jimi Hendrix perform prior to Hendrix having any of his albums out. Muruga also had the blessing to be invited to jam with Jimi one night in New York at The Scene along with an all-star group of musicians.
"Muruga told me to get inside and hear the greatest guitarist in the world..." - Buzzy Linhart
"Buzzy also worked with Eddie Kramer and Mitch Mitchell putting vibraphone on the song "Drifting" which appears on all three variations of the "Cry Of Love" sessions. Buzzy:" I first met Jimi at the Cafe Au Go Go at the middle of a rehearsal with Hendrix and John Hammond Jr. We were just stopping by to pick up a couple of drums or something.
This was a pivotal evening for me because as I approached the Cafe Au Go Go, the famous drummer Muruga (of Weather Report fame)was exiting the club - Muruga told me to get inside and hear the greatest guitarist in the world. I went down the dimly lit stairs into the showroom of the Cafe Au GoGo and turned the corner into the big room and saw Jimmy James & The Blue Flames and John Hammond Jr. rehearsing for an up-and-coming show." (original)
WOODSTOCK 1969 - "PEACE, LOVE, MUSIC"
Muruga played at the '69 Woodstock Festival with Tim Hardin
Muruga played at the 1969 Woodstock Festival with Tim Hardin on night one. The band was flown in on a helicopter and to get out of the festival grounds he caught a ride with Arlo Guthry in his "Woodie" smoking hash the ride out. It was at Woodstock where Muruga met Swami Satchidananda who bestowed on him the name "Muruga" previously having gone by "Steve Booker."
70s: Brubeck's-Jazz Fusion... Ginsberg & Dylan... Al Kooper
Darius Brubeck
Muruga and Darius Brubeck also had a group together called MBR along with clarinetist Perry Robinson.
Muruga also played Carnegie Hall with The Brubeck Generations.
Weather Report
Muruga's use of eastern hand drums in Jazz and western music was a big innovation
Muruga's use of eastern hand drums in Jazz and western music was a big innovation
Nada Drum Invention
Muruga invented the "Nada Drum" which he played on many P-Funk albums as well as on "Blues from the Rainforest" and "Circle of Drums." He patented it in '85 and manufactured it through Latin Percussion for a number of years. The Nada Drum invention came to him in meditation at the Integral Yoga Institute in 1970.
Muruga is currently working on limited-edition models of the Nada Drum. Each with a custom-painted drum shell. Stay tuned!
80s: Muruga's P-Funk Decade
P-Funk All Stars Era
Muruga was brought into the fold of P-Funk in the late 70s by Bootsy Collins and ever since has been a part of the P-Funk "Extended Family" of musicians. Through out the years many P-Funk members and alumni have collaborated with Muruga including George Clinton, Belita Woods, Treylewd, Michael Hampton, Gary Shider+
"Let your butterfly free!" - George Clinton
"Freedom, is Freedom of the need to be FREE." - George Clinton
"The Electric Spanking of War Babies" 1981
Muruga plays Electric Nada Drum on "Funk Gets Strong"
This album also features Sly Stone who also recorded on several Muruga & The Soda Jerk Songs during that era.
"Urban Dance Floor Guerillas" 1983
Cosmic Boogie guitarist Tony Thomas is also on UDFG
SODA JERKS
Muruga & The Soda Jerks were being produced by George Clinton in the 80s.
"Superstar Madness" would be released on the P-Funk Family Series
Godmama
"Here" 1982
This Bootsy Collins production was one of Muruga's first projects with the P-Funk Family
George Clinton
"You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish" 1983
Muruga played all sorts of odd percussion in addition to his nada drum on lots of the 80s era P-Funk materials
Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Freaky Styley" 1985
Muruga is credited with "massages" and gave RHCP yoga guidance and massages during the time they recorded the album in Detroit.
Muruga & The Soda Jerks
"Twinkies eaten by vegetarians.. Super Star Madness"
90s: California Years... Merls & Jerry Garcia... Trance Music
Muruga & Premdas - "Journey of the Drums" 1990
The first of what would be a series of trance drumming albums Muruga put on in the 90s on his Musart record label.
Merl Saunders w/ Jerry Garcia - "Blues from the Rainforest" 1990
Billboard charting collaboration with Merl Saunders and Jerry Garcia.
Muruga's wife and collaborator Shakti provides backing vocals on this record
P-Funk Family Series - Soda Jerks - "Superstar Madness" 1993
"Superstar Madness" is the only Muruga & The Soda Jerks song to get an official release.
This song features Sly Stone on bass.
Blues for the Rainforest
Muruga and Merl came together and recorded this album to bring attention to the rainforest of South America and the environmental impact of humans on our endangered rainforest. Unfortunately, this issue is even more important today.
Muruga, Merls, and Shakti recorded the basic tracks and Jerry Garcia came on board and recorded his guitar parts. They would film a video of an edited version of the song "Blues for the Rainforest."
1991 Muruga recieved the Hiroshima Voices for Peace Award
Muruga UFM - "Rock the Planet" 1992
Features production and vocals by George Clinton
Features James Gurley of Big Brother and the Holding Co.
Merl Saunders & The Rainforest Band 1992
This band lineup also included Steve Kimock on guitar and has John Popper sitting in
Foom - "Earth Sauce" 1994
Featuring long time friends Pat LaRose, Muruga Booker, Perry Robinson, and Hubie Crawford.
P-Funk All Stars - "Dope Dogs" 1995
Muruga is is on the song "Pepe" and would often play with the live p-funk band through the 90s for their west coast dates and was with them for the landing of the Mother Ship in Central Park, NY.
California 90s Rave-Tech Scene
Muruga played many commercial and underground "Rave Parties" in the San Francisco and Santa Cruz area through the nineties. Including live musical collaborations with Goa Gil as well as the project ART-OFFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
2000s: Muruga GVCB... Chesky releases CIRCLE OF DRUMS
Muruga & The Global Village Ceremonial Band 2003
Featuring Belita Woods from P-Funk on 3 songs
Olatunji, Muruga, & Sikiru - "Circle of Drums" 2005
Originally recorded in '95 and remastered to SCCD Audio 5.1 for this Chesky Records release
Swami Satchidananda - "The Woodstock Years" 2005
Swami Satchadananda gave then Steve Booker the new name "MURUGA" at Woodstock Festival in 1969 and Muruga would go on to study under and play with Swamiji
Spike Drivers 2002
This was a rerelease of 60s era Spike Drivers music which Muruga recored on as "Steve Booker"
QBICO RECORDS - Free Funk - "Free Funk" 2005
A QBICO RECORD limited edition colored vinyl release and features Belita Woods and Tony Mamina on vocals. Also includes a cover version of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love"
Paul Walker - "Long Lost Tapes" 2009
The lost tapes found!
QBICO RECORDS - Muruga and Robinson Dyad - "Bubble Waves" 2007
Another QBICO RECORD vinyl release featuring Muruga and Perry Robinson on clarinet
2010s: QBICO UNITE... Tabla Mastery... Woodstock 40
Joty Drums
Won a Detroit Music Award for "Outstanding World Music Recording"
John Churchville is a grammy award winner on the album with Billy Strings !
Woodstock 40th - 2013
Muruga played drums with Tim Hardin's band
MURUGA FREE FUNK
"Taking it Back 2 the Tribe" 2011
Featuring Richie "Shakin" Negan
The Cosmic Hoedown Band
"Changing The Sound of Your Room" 2013
Featuring Tony Thomas who played with Muruga on Urban Dancefloor Guerillas by Pfunk. This album includes 2 covers - "Maggot Brain" and "Machine Gun"
Wormhole Cafe 2016
Featuring several Parliamant-Funkadelic alumni
"Solar Rhythms"
A collaboration with David Leikam
COSMIC BOOGIE - "ALL NIGHT LONG" 2021
NOW OUT
Booker Blues All Stars
"Booker Plays Hooker" 2017
Muruga played with John Lee Hooker in Detroit in the 60s and 70s and they were often booked as "Hooker and Booker."
James Gurley and Muruga Booker
"It's Big Huge" 2016
Muruga and James Gurley were dear friends and recorded this album shortly before St. James passed away. A real monster of a record.
The Muruga Band
"Michigan Mud" 2014
This one a Detroit Music Award for "Outstanding World Guitar" and features Michigan up and coming guitar virtueoso Justin Weirenga on guitar
Booker, Dansby, Sauter & Love
"The Hand I Was Dealt" 2011
Muruga recorded this album with two old friends and one new one. Muruga and Sauter & Dansby went back to the 60's adding Misty Love of Kid Rock vocal fame.
MURUGA ART
Visual Arts
Muruga is a visual artist who draws, paints and works in the digital art medium.
His art is featured on many of his album covers including many collaborations with QBICO and Sagittarius A-Star Records out of Italy with our dear friend Emanuele.
Muruga started his art career as a youth painting signs in the Detroit area and also took lessons at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Muruga recently produced and directed the short film SITTING BULL STANDING TALL with his son Aaron. Currently available at www.sittingbullstandingtall.com
"Sun Ra"
"Bubble Waves"
"Muruga"
TODAY-NOW-CURRENTLY
Muruga Cosmic Boogie w/ Dennis Coffey
"Taking the Time to Tell You" Live 2022
Opening artwork by Muruga Booker