J. F. Murphy & Salt was an utterly unique sextet that became a popular college campus fixture during the early 1970s. The band's rebellious stance against the Vietnam War was part of the picture, but it was the original compositions by bandleader, J.F. Murphy, and an overtly creative non-traditional approach to the covers they developed that brought them such a dedicated fan base.
Showcasing unique instrumentation for an American band at the time, J. F. Murphy & Salt's four-man front line were all multi-instrumentalists, and while Joe Parrino was quite capable of playing searing lead guitar (ala Jimmy Page), the group just as often featured clarinet, sax, flute, harmonica and even bagpipe solos throughout their music.