Location
San Francisco Bay Area, California
School
University of California-Santa Barbara, San Jose State University
Expertise
Music industry oddities, Songwriting, Love songs and breakup anthems
- Beth once performed in a band that serenaded Santa's grand helicopter arrival at the San Carlos Airport (the reindeer were unavailable).
- Her car still has a CD player, which rotates a healthy dose of '90s alternative and an unhealthy dose of '90s female angst.
- As a self-proclaimed music archaeologist, she likes to dig up strange stories from music history.
Experience
Beth launched her writing career crafting thrilling product descriptions for paper clips and has never looked back — seriously, never again. She much prefers writing about music and other pop culture topics. Beth will spend hours down a research rabbit hole and loves to share the interesting notes she finds with readers. Beth has bylines with multiple Static Media verticals including Mashed, Explore, and Grunge.
Education
Beth graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with bachelor's degrees in communication and anthropology, with a minor in English. She also received a master's degree in communication studies from San Jose State University.
The unique content on Grunge is a result of skilled collaboration between writers and editors with a broad array of expertise in music, music history, pop culture and strange news. Our goal is to provide accurate and diverse content bolstered by expert input.
Focused on accuracy and ethical coverage, the Grunge editorial team consistently fact-checks and reviews site content to provide readers with an informative, entertaining, and engaging experience. Click here for more information on our editorial process.
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Quotes
By Beth McMurray 3 hours ago
Dolly Parton was infinitely quotable, but in our quote of the day, her message truly speaks to the kind of person she was and how she wanted to be remembered.
By Beth McMurray 3 hours ago
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'90s
By Beth McMurray 6 days ago
This song spent three weeks at No. 1 in 1991, but it also caused a lawsuit when the artist was accused of plagiarism for its similarity to a '70s disco hit.
By Beth McMurray 6 days ago
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'80s
By Beth McMurray 14 days ago
From Diana Ross to Rick James, Motown's stars found new ways to rule the charts. These unforgettable '80s hits kept the legendary label in the spotlight.
By Beth McMurray 14 days ago
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'60s
By Beth McMurray 30 days ago
As the cracks in the Beatles grew in the late '60s, Paul McCartney crafted a heartfelt No. 1 song that can lift anyone's spirits in troubled times.
By Beth McMurray 30 days ago
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'90s
By Beth McMurray 1 month ago
It was written with a pop diva in mind, but this soundtrack cut became a surprise hit for Aerosmith and sent the Boston hard-rockers straight to No. 1.
By Beth McMurray 1 month ago
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Other Genres
By Beth McMurray 30 days ago
Some of the most romantic soft rock solos of all time can be heard in these songs by Michael Bolton, Lionel Richie, Phil Collins, Paul McCartney, and Journey.
By Beth McMurray 30 days ago
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Quotes
By Beth McMurray 2 months ago
Barbra Streisand knows a thing or two about being self-aware and forging ahead, as her decades-long list of accomplishments and awards amply demonstrates.
By Beth McMurray 2 months ago
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Quotes
By Beth McMurray 1 month ago
Before all the sold-out shows, Celine Dion was just a little girl singing in a piano bar — sometimes with some rather unexpected backup singers joining in.
By Beth McMurray 1 month ago
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'80s
By Beth McMurray 2 months ago
Originally written as a title song for a Brooke Shields movie, Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross' iconic, tender 1981 duet was also nearly derailed by a nap.
By Beth McMurray 2 months ago
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Other Genres
By Beth McMurray 8 months ago
Barry Manilow became the king of jingles in the '70s, and even penned one for toilet cleaner, but there was one specific hygiene product he wouldn't sing about.
By Beth McMurray 8 months ago
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Music
By Beth McMurray 9 months ago
The innovation and creativity of the '80s created countless classic hits we still love today, but some of them are surprisingly better a cappella.
By Beth McMurray 9 months ago
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'80s
By Beth McMurray 10 months ago
When a song's lyrics don't make sense, we just roll with it even as we say, huh? Here are a few '80s songs with lyrics that may always be head-scratchers.
By Beth McMurray 10 months ago
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Other Genres
By Beth McMurray 10 months ago
We all have our own musical tastes, but there's a rare group of '70s dance songs that are so timeless, they even get Gen Xers moving on the dance floor.
By Beth McMurray 10 months ago
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Nature
By Beth McMurray September 24th, 2025
From a suggestively-shaped worm to a sea moth with an odd number of eyes, 2025 has been a banner year for uncovering ancient creatures of the sea.
By Beth McMurray September 24th, 2025
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Discoveries
By Beth McMurray September 5th, 2025
When you look at the people who became wealthy from underwater treasure, you might be surprised to see that many of them lived fairly ordinary lives.
By Beth McMurray September 5th, 2025
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Presidents
By Beth McMurray July 16th, 2025
Anyone who makes it to the presidency has clearly lived an extraordinary life, but there are things about these former presidents that just don't make sense.
By Beth McMurray July 16th, 2025
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