Robert Murdock Named Middlesex County College’s Alumnus Of The Year
From left: Veronica Clinton, executive director of the Middlesex County College Foundation, who presented the award; Robert Murdock; and College President Joann La Perla-Morales.
Robert Murdock, a 1979 graduate of Middlesex County College, was named the 2017 Alumnus of the Year for Contributions to the College, its Alumni Association or its Foundation. The award was presented during Celebration Day, an annual event that honors College employees reaching milestone service anniversaries, two Outstanding Service to the College award winners, as well as the Alumnus of the Year.
Mr. Murdock graduated with a degree in Accounting and went on to Rider University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree. He is a founder of the band “The British Invasion Years” (formerly “The British Invasion Tribute Band”) and he sings and plays the bass guitar. He is also the business manager for the group and says the accounting skills he was taught at MCC and Rider made him the logical choice to manage the band’s financial affairs.
“On February 9, 1964 when my parents sat me down in front of the TV to watch the historic first appearance by The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, I knew I wanted to be a musician in a band,” Murdock said as he accepted the award.
His parents hired a teacher, who taught Murdock to play the guitar, bass guitar and piano.
“As I got older, I discovered that music is more than just an art form, it is also a business,” he said. He came to MCC in 1977.
“It was one of the wisest decisions I ever made,” he said. “Because of the great business fundamentals and foundation I learned here, I am now able to wear two hats in my career, managing the business of the British Invasion Years and performing the music I love with a great bunch of musicians and friends. For that, I have to say thank you to MCC for the helping me to get to this point. I owe a huge debt of gratitude for all I learned here in just two short years.”
The British Invasion Years now travels the nation at theaters, performing arts centers and many large community summer concerts series, some in New Jersey. They also donate their talents for numerous charitable events each year.
The band has performed at two MCC events: the Alumni Association reunion of the classes of the 1960s and 1970s in 2013, and again at the 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2015.