Murphy was one of the very first American entertainment journalists to travel to China to report on the state of popular music and culture. The Los Angeles Times wrote at length about Murphy’s China reporting and affectionately acknowledged for being the “peripatetic entertainment reporter" - both times she traveled there, Murphy says, “I was working at KLOS and ABC News at the time and I was invited to cover a Jan and Dean Tour in China for a month. The band were part of a cultural exchange between the two countries, bringing ‘Surf City USA’ music to the sleeping giant in Beijing, Shanghai and 6 others cities in China. Less then six months after the second tour…student protests erupted at Tiananmen Square and we all know how that went.”

The Los Angeles Times wrote about her again when she went to “The Wall” for rock 'n' roll in Berlin, after she filed a series of radio features on the emerging music scene in a newly reunified Germany as “The Wall” came tumbling down. “The focus of my coverage from the divided city of Berlin was the music scene and the stamped on record stores in West Berlin by musically-deprived East Berliners, to determine what their new found musical freedom would now afford them. And it was called Heavy Metal!”

In addition to news assignments in Beijing, Shanghai and Berlin, Murphy’s travels in search for a great showbiz story have taken her through Europe, Canada, Mexico, The Caribbean, Costa Rica and Japan. In her on-air career, she estimates she's interviewed more than 15,000+ celebrities in entertainment and business. “When I started in news, if it traveled on an airwave, it was an entertainment story. So I covered everything that required a ticket, or in my case an All-Access Backstage Pass, except for sporting events. Although, I did crash the Olympics in Nagano, Japan with no credentials just to see if I could do it, and I did! It was snowing and freezing, so I was only in Nagano for two days. I slept on the floor in the press building and reported on the ‘celebrity angle’ of the games, so for me it was Michelle Kwan, Tara Lipinski and Wayne Gretsky.

Gayl traveled to the rock‘n roll, star-studded “Japan Aid 2” tour in Tokyo, Japan to cover the U.N. sanctioned concert there with headliners James Brown and Ronnie James Dio. She also produced and wrote and voiced the B-side of the“Stars” single from the “Hear‘n Aid” charity project organized by Ronnie James Dio.

Murphy's career on-air began in Los Angeles, when she literally talked her way on to the airwaves at KROQ radio on "The Young Marquis Show” as the lovely and talented German dominatrix Greta La Gumbo. After 4 years, she jumped the dial to KWST, where Murphy transformed herself into their "Traffic Tootsie," leaving her black leather corset and stilettos behind in trade for a '57 Chevy. From there she moved across town and settled down at KLOS and ABC Radio News for the next 18 years. At the ABC Radio rock station she created her on-air persona, and L.A.'s first and only On-Air Backstage Concert Reporter was born – as she broadcast “live” from huge rock concerts, festivals, tours, awards shows and entertainment events throughout Southern California, the U.S. and around the world. For ABC News she interviewed and reported on the breaking news in music, film, television and popular culture.

For her contributions in public service, Gayl took top honors with two Finalist Awards from the International Radio Festival of New York competition for her radio documentaries; “The Coming Home: Vietnam Veterans” and “Staying Safe in the Age of the AIDS Epidemic”. She also received a SUNNY Award from L.A. County and the Southern California Broadcasters Association acknowledging her participation in the stations Blood Drive and wrangling musicians and bands to come on air and take part in the annual 3-day event.

Gayl is a card carrying member of SAG/AFTRA and The Critics Choice Association. Her non-showbiz public service obligations have included a sitting Board member on the Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council (CHNC), Chair of the Outreach Committee, and the VP Chair of Planning and Land Use Management Committee, (PLUM).