# Shirley Murdock

Shirley Murdock (born May 22, 1957) is an American R&B singer-songwriter. She is best known for her guest appearance alongside Charlie Wilson on Zapp and Roger's 1986 single "Computer Love", as well as her 1986 single, "As We Lay". The latter peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spawned from her self-titled debut album (1986), released by Elektra Records.

## Early life

Murdock was born on May 22, 1957 in Toledo, Ohio. She attended and graduated from St. Ursula Academy.

## Career

Murdock started out singing gospel music in her native Toledo. Singer/musician Roger Troutman hired Murdock as a backing vocalist for his family's band Zapp, which had several hits on Warner Bros. (and its Reprise Records imprint). Based on this success, Troutman began recording tracks with Murdock and lead singer Sugarfoot of the Ohio Players, among others, at his Dayton-based recording studio, Troutman Sound Labs. Murdock and Troutman's first charted single was a Warner Bros. single issued as Roger (featuring Shirley Murdock), "Girl, Cut It Out", which charted at number 79 R&B in early 1985.
Murdock signed with Elektra Records and released "No More", written by Shirley Murdock and Gregory Jackson (Cincinnati, Ohio funk keyboardist and member of Zapp), which made it to number 24 R&B in early 1986. Then came her signature hit, "As We Lay", written by Zapp's Larry Troutman and keyboardist Billy Beck (of the Ohio Players). The tender, melancholy ballad made it to the R&B Top Ten in 1986 and peaked at number 23 pop and number 21 on the adult contemporary chart in early 1987. Her debut album was certified gold, also helped along by the follow-up hits "Go on Without You" and "Be Free." She also released albums in 1988 (A Woman's Point of View) and 1991 (Let There Be Love!). In early 2000, Murdock toured in the inspirational/gospel play Be Careful What You Pray For with Cuba Gooding, Sr. and David Peaston.
Murdock released Home, her gospel-music debut album, in 2002 on T.D. Jakes' Dexterity Sounds record label. She made her acting debut in the movie Sweating in the Spirit. Most recently, Murdock has signed with Tyscot Records and released her most recent album in March 2007.
In 2009, Murdock collaborated with Teena Marie on the song "Soldier", from Marie's album Congo Square. She also appeared in the 2009 stage play A Mother's Prayer, with Johnny Gill, Robin Givens, and Jermaine Crawford. She also appeared in "A Mother's Love" a stage play produced by Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker in 2014.

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Year | Album details | US | US R&B | US Gos | Certifications |
| 1986 | Shirley Murdock! First studio album Release date: February 18, 1986 Label: Elektra | 44 | 9 | — | RIAA: Gold |
| 1988 | A Woman's Point of View Second studio album Release date: May 31, 1988 Label: Elektra | 137 | 19 | — | |
| 1991 | Let There Be Love! Third studio album Release date: June 17, 1991 Label: Elektra | — | 22 | — | |
| 2002 | Home Fourth studio album Release date: February 26, 2002 Label: Chordant | — | — | 9 | |
| 2007 | Soulfood Fifth studio album Release date: March 20, 2007 Label: Tyscot | — | 71 | 7 | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. ||||||

### Live albums

| Year | Album details | Peak |
| Year | Album details | US Gos |
| 2011 | Live: The Journey First live album Release date: October 18, 2011 Label: Tyscot | 24 |

### Compilation albums

| Year | Album details |
| 2001 | The Very Best of Shirley Murdock First compilation album Released: May 15, 2001 Label: Elektra/Rhino/Atlantic |

### Singles

| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Year | Single | US | US R&B | US A/C | US Dan | US Gos | UK | Album |
| 1986 | "No More" | — | 24 | — | 27 | — | — | Shirley Murdock! |
| 1986 | "Truth or Dare" | — | — | — | — | — | 60 | Shirley Murdock! |
| 1986 | "As We Lay" | 23 | 5 | 21 | — | — | — | Shirley Murdock! |
| 1987 | "Go on Without You" | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | Shirley Murdock! |
| 1987 | "Be Free" | — | 86 | — | — | — | — | Shirley Murdock! |
| 1988 | "Husband" | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | A Woman's Point of View |
| 1988 | "Oh What a Feeling" | — | — | — | — | — | — | A Woman's Point of View |
| 1988 | "Found My Way" | — | — | — | — | — | — | A Woman's Point of View |
| 1991 | "In Your Eyes" | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | Let There Be Love! |
| 1991 | "Stay with Me Tonight" | — | 34 | — | — | — | — | Let There Be Love! |
| 1992 | "Let There Be Love!" | — | 89 | — | 47 | — | — | Let There Be Love! |
| 2007 | "I Love Me Better Than That" | — | — | — | — | 22 | — | Soulfood |
| 2011 | "Dream" | — | — | — | — | 22 | — | Live: The Journey |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |||||||||