Muruga
(Muruga Booker, Steve Booker, Steven T. Bookvich)
Musician/Artist/Producer/Band Leader/Drummer/Public Speaker
Band Leader - Muruga Cosmic Boogie
(Muruga Booker, Steve Booker, Steven T. 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
MURUGA-SIKIRU-TRANCE TRIBE – Sacred Boom Grooves
Legendary drummers Muruga Booker and Sikiru Adepoju gathered with TRANCE TRIBE to deliver Sacred Boom Grooves—a hypnotic journey into the heart of rhythm. A powerful follow-up to their groundbreaking collaboration with Baba Olatunji on Circle of Drums, this album pulses with deep trance grooves, cosmic percussion, and infectious energy. Rooted in ancient traditions yet soaring into new sonic dimensions, Sacred Boom Grooves invites you to move, meditate, and lose yourself in the beat. Let the rhythm guide you!
Sikiru Adepoju - Talking Drum and Conga Drums
Muruga Booker - Drum Set and Nada Drum\
Alex Terzian – Yayli Tanbur (Bowed Tanbur), Swarmandal (Indian Zither), and Dundun (African Drums)
Richie “Shakin” Nagan - Shakers and Percussion
Ken Kozora - Keyboards, Trumpet, and Electronic Percussion
Shakti Ma - Vocals
Steve "Oz" Osburn - One string instrument
Justin James Bridges - Merlin
Vinyl, CD and merch @ Media Stream LLC
Out on all major streaming
We have CDs and digital downloads for sale on our Media Stream LLC website and the album is on all major streaming services.
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.
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!
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 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.
"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)
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.
Muruga's use of eastern hand drums in Jazz and western music was a big innovation
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.
Cosmic Boogie guitarist Tony Thomas is also on UDFG
Muruga & The Soda Jerks were being produced by George Clinton in the 80s.
"Superstar Madness" would be released on the P-Funk Family Series
"Here" 1982
This Bootsy Collins production was one of Muruga's first projects with the P-Funk Family
"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
"Freaky Styley" 1985
Muruga is credited with "massages" and gave RHCP yoga guidance and massages during the time they recorded the album in Detroit.
The first of what would be a series of trance drumming albums Muruga put on in the 90s on his Musart record label.
Billboard charting collaboration with Merl Saunders and Jerry Garcia.
Muruga's wife and collaborator Shakti provides backing vocals on this record
"Superstar Madness" is the only Muruga & The Soda Jerks song to get an official release.
This song features Sly Stone on bass.
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."
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.
Featuring Belita Woods from P-Funk on 3 songs
Originally recorded in '95 and remastered to SCCD Audio 5.1 for this Chesky Records release
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
Won a Detroit Music Award for "Outstanding World Music Recording"
John Churchville is a grammy award winner on the album with Billy Strings !
Muruga played drums with Tim Hardin's band
"Taking it Back 2 the Tribe" 2011
Featuring Richie "Shakin" Negan
"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"
Featuring several Parliamant-Funkadelic alumni
A collaboration with David Leikam
"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."
"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.
"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
"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.
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
Muruga Cosmic Boogie w/ Dennis Coffey
"Taking the Time to Tell You" Live 2022
Opening artwork by Muruga Booker