- With an NAACP Image Award win for Outstanding Talk Show; four Daytime Emmy Award nominations; and a Bronze Telly Award for Promotional Campaign in its debut season of the nationally syndicated talk show "SHERRI" hosted by Sherri Shepherd, executive producer Jawn Murray is proving that he has the Midas touch at one of the highest levels of daytime television.
A recognizable multi-hyphenate in his own right, Murray spent most of his career in front of the camera as a TV host/contributor and personality before taking on the duality of also working behind the scenes. As a TV host, Murray led a series for Travel Channel called "Night Crawl New York with Jawn Murray" as well as hosted specials for NFL Network and EPIX. As an ABC News contributor, he delivered brand-integration segments on "GMA3: What You Need To Know," the afternoon companion to ratings leader "Good Morning America."
Dubbed "The Pop Culture Expert" by CNN's Brooke Baldwin, the iconic TV news trailblazer Barbara Walters even complimented Murray live on-air with "I like your way with words!" as he cohosted "The View" in 2014. In addition to featured appearances on "The Wendy Williams Show," "The Meredith Vieira Show" and "Today;" was also a coveted expert for such networks as HLN, BBC, MSNBC, TV One and Al Jazeera English.
Prior to making his mark in television, Murray was a journalist with his own syndicated column as well as an on-air personality on the legendary "Tom Joyner Morning Show," becoming the youngest to ever join the groundbreaking nationally syndicated radio program. Before his tenure on the legendary TJMS, he had a stint as a contributing talent on the nationally syndicated Doug Banks Morning Show.
A creative who wears many hats, Murray also has a stellar reputation as a go-to moderator and event emcee for both the entertainment and corporate sectors. On top of that, he's curated and facilitated digital activations and social media campaigns for various brands and platforms.
His time in radio has created a natural transition into voiceover opportunities. Murray was the voice of Gillette's 'The Best a Man Can Get' Father's Day radio campaign. He's also voiced projects for the American Heart Association, National Pan-Hellenic Council and Miles Ahead Broadcasting.
Murray's previous accolades include the NAACP naming him among its "40 Power Players Under 40" and Ebony magazine placing him among its "30 on the Rise" entertainment industry list. Making good on that promise, the renaissance creative transferred his magic behind the scenes and received his first executive producer title for a music competition compilation he released in partnership with EMI/Motown titled "Jawn Murray Presents Untapped," featuring 10-unsigned faith-based aspiring artists.
Since then, he's produced and directed episodes of the TV One documentary series "Uncensored" as well as served as a consulting producer on Café Mocha's "Salute Them Awards" series that aired on the Black News Channel (now TheGrio Channel) and BNC's 2021 Academy Awards Special.
Most recently, he served as lead contributor, narrator and consulting producer for the ABC primetime documentary "Soul of a Nation: Black in Vegas," currently streaming on Hulu. The documentary was Murray's original idea that he pitched to ABC News.
In addition to his executive producing duties, Murray can also be seen on air on "SHERRI" daily.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Simone Smalls
- In July 2007, Jawn convinced Sherri Shepherd to take the job on "The View." Sherri told the story on-air in 2014 when he guest co-hosted the show. While working out her contract for the talk show, Shepherd's former agents botched negotiations with ABC and Murray convinced the comedienne to call executive producer Bill Geddie directly. That ultimately salvaged the situation, ABC extended their offer again and Shepherd joined the hit show.
- In 2005, Jawn and TV producer/music manager Phil Thornton convinced 90's girl group SWV to reunite after nearly a 10-year hiatus. The platinum-selling trio (Coko, Leele & Taj) got back together in June 2015 for 100.3FM The Beat's Summer Jam Concert and now, 10 years later the group is still working and going strong.
- In 2012, Jawn facilitated a meeting with "Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada and former talk show host Star Jones after the VH1 reality series received fallout for its excessive violence and fighting amongst its co-stars after Jones led a campaign against it. Lozada went on social media and thanked Murray for being the peacemaker and introducing her and Jones. Murray later encouraged Lozada's team to have her appear on OWN Network's "Iyanla: Fix My Life," making the reality star the first celebrity to appear on the series and starting a trend to book high-profile guests on the show.
- In 2005, while working as a columnist for AOL Black Voices, Jawn helped Jennifer Hudson get her second audition for her Oscar-winning role in "Dreamgirls." After casting executives for the film originally being passed the former "American Idol" star the first time, Murray wrote as the lead story in his column that Hudson was a front-runner to play the coveted role of Effie White in the movie adaptation in an effort to make executives reconsider. The story ultimately made the casting team call Hudson back for another audition.
- In May 2009, Jawn led a campaign with the cast members of the sitcom "The Game" to bring the series back after The CW canceled it. BET ultimately acquired the show in 2011 and relaunched it to record-breaking ratings.
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