NJ Musician to Appear With J-Lo in New TV Series ‘Shades of Blue’

Greg Murphy is no stranger to playing "Taps" during military funerals, but performing the somber melody in front of television cameras and 300 other costumed actors is a different story.

Murphy, a Gloucester Township resident, has spent years volunteering to play "Taps" at military funerals for the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs. His latest performance, however, will take place on Thursday night's episode of NBC's new series, "Shades of Blue." In the show, which stars Jennifer Lopez as a New York City detective, Murphy will "fittingly" play the role of a graveside bugler, Camden County public affairs officer Dan Keashen said in a press release.

"Murphy, who has been acting for 25 years, received an audition request for an actor that owned a bugle. That led to him playing 'Taps' in a scene with 300 actors dressed as police at the funeral of a fallen officer," the press release stated.

Since retiring from his job as a project manager, Murphy has been dedicating more of his time to acting from television to movies, as well as stage performances. He was recently seen in the movie "Creed," starring Sylvester Stallone. He was also on several television shows including "Madam Secretary," "Blind Spot" and "Mozart in the Jungle."

Murphy comes from a musical family, county officials said. His father, Vincent E. Murphy, played a bugle in the Air Force during WW II. One of his most meaningful performances took place at his father's funeral.

“When I lost my father in 2000, there was no one to play the bugle at his funeral, he was the bugle player,” Murphy said.

“Shades of Blue” airs Thursday night at 10 p.m. on NBC.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor for news at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.