Though Nick the lounge singer was one of actor Bill Murray’s signature recurring characters from his stint at “Saturday Night Live,” the role did not actually originate on the sketch comedy TV show.
Rather, Murray polished his lounge lizard act on the stage at Second City in Chicago, where the Wilmette, Illinois native got his start in comedy in 1973 before moving to New York City the following year. He didn’t debut on “SNL” until 1977.
In a rare vintage clip posted by the Media Burn Archive earlier this year, a young mustachioed Murray can be seen singing “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” at 13:07 in the above video, taken from a local TV news broadcast.
Clearly, the role felt like a natural one for the musically-inclined Murray. One of his most well-known performances as Nick was his take on the “Star Wars” theme. In another incredible sketch, his drawn-out “Stairway To Heaven” became a instant fan favorite.
The real-life Chicago lounge singer who inspired Murray’s act, Jimmy Damon, died last year at the age of 75.
