Formed nearly 15 years ago, the band has moved through a variety of different styles and a number of different line-ups. The group started out as an acoustic trio, later building itself into a six piece electric band, and more recently, morphing into the current five man line-up.

Choptank derives its sound from a variety of influences creating a unique original style that has aptly been referred to as Suburban Soul.

Choptank released its first studio effort in 2002 -- The Plastic Welcome Mat EP -- consisting of five songs carefully selected from the group's arsenal of original material.

Playing guitar since the 5th grade Gabe has had a host of influences. Starting with the Big Hair bands of the 80’s Classic rockers of the 70’s & over the past two decades the music of the Grateful Dead and the Jam Band scene that followed them. Gabe has taken on the role of being the musical writing force behind the band. Bringing a little of all his influences into the mix and creating an ever changing dynamic.

Gabe proudly plays Gibson & Fender electric guitars. Simon & Patrick Acoustic Guitars and Fender Amps. Utilizing a variety of vintage effects box’s (Ibanez, Visual Sound, Cry Baby, MXR and Boss) Gabe creates the tone that is the cornerstone of Choptank’s unique sound.

internet places   JamBase | Grateful Dead

Marv brings to Choptank Murphy a contemporary blues influence with a combination of talents in harmonica, banjo and Navajo flute. When Marvin was 15 years old he received his first banjo as a gift from his uncle Roosevelt. These were the days when bluegrass music ruled in the DC area! (No, really, it did!) This set Marvin off on a reprobate life of wandering from festival to festival and, soon, from bar to bar in search of the next tune or banjo run. There were plenty of bars, festivals and pickers to satisfy him for a while. While he continued to play the banjo, he took a short break from the festival circuit to get a day job, get married and raise two sons. Then came that fateful day when he discovered the harmonica. This set him off on a reprobate life of open mike nights and wasted hours spent trying to get a single note and the elusive note “bend.”

While hanging out at yet another open mike night at Tiffany Tavern in Alexandria he got the chance to sit in with Choptank Murphy. After a couple of “chance meetings” he was invited to play with the band on a more regular basis. More reprobate activities followed with Choptank Murphy. What a blessing!

Marvin’s influences include, Gabe, Chad, The Seldom Scene (Ben Eldridge is the smoothest banjo player of all time), Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Jimmy Buffet, Hank Williams, Steven Curtis Chapman, Bryan Bowers, John Prine, Steve Goodman, Pierre Lacocque the list goes on and on.

Glenn joined the Choptank Murphy lineup in 2007 as the newest member.

Glenn’s experience with drums goes back as far as his early teens which is estimated to be somewhere between the Mesolithic and Neolithic ages. He grew up surrounded by music and credits his family, friends and teachers for encouraging him as he developed interest and skill over the years.

Glenn’s stylistic approach is influenced by a broad variety of artists from the pop rock bands of the 70s and 80s as well as a wide range of genres including R&B and many other sub genres of rock and roll.

Glenn varies his drum kit configuration to best suit the venue or project. He rocks a 6 pc Gretch Renown (maple) with a Perl Masters Custom (maple) snare complemented with Zildjian and / or Paiste brass. In other instances he employs a Roland V20 Pro electronic kit rebuilt on a compact AL frame combined in various hybrid acoustic and electronic arrangements. The e-kit provides a high degree of quality, versatility, easy transport, quick setup, small footprint and volume control for situations that are more restrictive. Once in a while Glenn breaks out the LP congas for the occasional "acoustic" gig.