Michael Martin Murphey
Encyclopedia
Michael Martin Murphey is an American
singer-songwriter
best known for writing and performing Western music
, Country music
, and Popular music
. A multiple Grammy nominee, Murphey has six gold albums, including Cowboy Songs
, the first album of cowboy music to achieve gold status since Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs
by Marty Robbins
in 1959. He has recorded the hit singles "Wildfire
", "Carolina in the Pines
", "What's Forever For
", "A Long Line of Love
", "What She Wants
", and "Don't Count the Rainy Days
". Murphey is also the author of New Mexico
's state ballad, "The Land of Enchantment". Murphey has become a prominent musical voice for the Western horseman, rancher, and cowboy.
section of Dallas, Texas
, the son of Pink and Lois (Corbett) Murphey. He grew up in Dallas, Texas. His love of the outdoors began at an early age when his parents took him and his brother Mark (who was three years Michael's junior) on regular trips to the country to visit relatives. When he was six years old, Murphey started riding horses on his grandfather's and uncle's ranches. Years later he would remember sleeping on his grandfather's porch under the stars listening to the older man's stories and cowboy songs. He also enjoyed being around these men of the land as they went about their work. These experiences made a deep impression on the young boy.
During these early years, Murphey developed a special love for cowboy songs and stories. He was also an avid reader, especially drawn to the books of Mark Twain
and William Faulkner
. As a youth, he enjoyed writing poetry and loved listening to his uncle's old 78 rpm records—particularly the music of country and folk artists such as Hank Williams, Bob Wills
, and Woody Guthrie
. In junior high school, he began performing as an amateur, and later as a camp counselor at a summer camp called "Sky Ranch". At the age of seventeen, he took his first "professional" music job, playing western songs around a campfire at a Texas ranch. By the early 1960s, Murphey was playing the clubs in Dallas, performing country music, folk music
, and rock music. He won over the conservative Texas audiences with his charm and talent, and soon formed a band that developed a significant following in the Dallas area.
in Oak Cliff
, Murphey studied Greek at the University of North Texas
and joined the Folk Music Club where he met Steven Fromholz
, Ray Wylie Hubbard
, Spencer Perskin
, and Eddie Wilson
—co-founder of Armadillo World Headquarters
. Murphey then moved to California, where he studied creative writing at the University of California at Los Angeles, majoring in medieval history and literature
. He signed a publishing contract with the Sparrow Music company, and soon he made a name for himself in the Los Angeles folk music scene. By 1964, he formed a musical group with an old Texas friend, Michael Nesmith
, John London, and John Raines, under the name the Trinity River Boys.
In 1967, Murphey formed the Lewis & Clarke Expedition with Owens Castleman, and recorded one self-titled album for Colgems Records
. They had a modest hit with "I Feel Good (I Feel Bad)."
Murphey's first big break came through his friend Michael Nesmith, who had become part of the popular television musical group, The Monkees
. Nesmith asked Murphey to write them a song for the next Monkees album, and Murphey composed "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round." The album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. sold over five million copies.
In 1968, Murphey moved to Wrightwood, a village in the San Gabriel Mountains
adjacent to the Mojave Desert
of California to work on his songwriting. Based on the success of his songs, he signed a contract with the Screen Gems
company, the publishing arm of Columbia Pictures
. Some of his songs were recorded by Flatt and Scruggs and Bobbie Gentry
. Kenny Rogers
recorded an entire album of Michael Murphey songs called The Ballad of Calico, about a Mojave Desert ghost town. Murphey wrote some additional songs for The Monkees, but he grew disillusioned with the poor financial rewards and the Southern California music scene.
movement, playing alongside other maverick performers such as Willie Nelson
and Jerry Jeff Walker
. He created a unique sound that combined his country, rock, and folk influences. It was during this period that Murphey wrote "Geronimo's Cadillac", a song about Indian rights that later became an unofficial anthem for the American Indian Movement
in the early 1970s.
In 1971, Murphey was signed to A&M Records
by Bob Johnston, who discovered him in a Dallas club, the Rubiayat. Johnston had produced some of the country's most popular recording artists, including Bob Dylan
, Johnny Cash
, and Simon and Garfunkel
. In 1972, Johnston produced Murphey's first album Geronimo's Cadillac
in Nashville, Tennessee
. The sound of the album reflects Murphey's love of country, folk, and blues music. Murphey's early gospel
influences are also evident throughout the album. The title track was released as a single
, and reached the Top 40 on the US
pop charts
. In addition to the title track, the album included "Boy from the Country", "What Am I Doin' Hangin' Around?", and "Michael Angelo's Blues". Rolling Stone Magazine proclaimed, "On the strength of his first album alone, Michael Murphey is the best new songwriter in the country."
In 1973, Murphey followed up with the album Cosmic Cowboy Souvenir
, which continued the urban cowboy theme of the first album. The album included "Cosmic Cowboy, Pt. 1", "Alleys of Austin", and "Rolling Hills".
Throughout this period, Murphey's band included Bob Livingston
and Gary P. Nunn
, the author of "London Homesick Blues". He performed a number of times at the Armadillo World Headquarters
, and his photo was even used for the original cover of Jan Reid's book, The Improbable Rise of Redneck Rock. But Michael Murphey's musical vision was expanding beyond the confines of the outlaw country sound and moving toward a much more ambitious musical tapestry.
and released the album Michael Murphey
that same year. Produced by Bob Johnston, the album included the beautiful "Southwestern Pilgrimage".
In 1975, Murphey released his seminal album, Blue Sky – Night Thunder
, also produced by Bob Johnston. The album generated two hit singles: "Carolina in the Pines" and his masterpiece "Wildfire
", a sentimental song about the ghosts of a woman and her horse. As a boy, he first heard from his grandfather the story of a ghost horse
rescuing people in the desert. Years later, Murphey had a dream about this ghost horse and wrote the words and music the same day with songwriter Larry Cansler.
In May 1975, "Wildfire" became a number one hit on the Radio and Records Charts, reached number three on Billboard's Pop Chart, and number one on all Adult Contemporary Charts, giving Murphey a new level of commercial success and exposure. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
by the R.I.A.A. in July 1975. The song's success was due, in large part, to the unique harmonies supplied by Jeff Hanna and Jimmy Ibbotson from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
, and the beautiful piano introduction and ending coda played by master jazz pianist Jac Murphy, based on Prelude in D-flat, Op. 11 No. 15 by the Russian classical composer Alexander Scriabin
.
During the late 1970s, Murphey recorded four albums: Swans Against the Sun (1976), Flowing Free Forever (1976), Lone Wolf (1978), and Peaks, Valleys, Honky Tonks & Alleys (1979). The album Swans Against the Sun produced his first country hits "A Mansion on the Hill", "Flowing Free Forever", and "Cherokee Fiddle
", which also became a top ten hit for Johnny Lee
. Murphey's friends, John Denver
, Willie Nelson
, Charlie Daniels
, and Steve Weisberg
appeared on the album. Despite some success on the country music charts, none of these albums generated the enthusiasm or sales of Blue Sky – Night Thunder.
In 1981, Murphey made his first film appearance in Hard Country
, which he cowrote. To distinguish himself from another well-known actor named Michael Murphy
, the singer began using his middle name for film and music credits. To this day, he is known to the world as Michael Martin Murphey.
and produced two original albums, Michael Martin Murphey and The Heart Never Lies, as well as a compilation of re-recorded versions of his A&M, Epic, and Liberty hits called The Best of Michael Martin Murphey. During the early 1980s, Murphey had significant commercial success with hits like "Still Taking Chances", "Disenchanted", "Don't Count the Rainy Days", "Will It Be Love By Morning", "Radio Land", and the number one hit "What's Forever For", written by Rafe VanHoy, which also crossed over to number three at AC Radio and number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100
Pop Singles Chart.
In 1983, Murphey was voted Best New Male Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music
. In 1985, his rerecorded version of "Carolina in the Pines" reached the Top 10.
In 1985, Murphey signed a new recording contract with Warner Bros. Records
and continued his streak of successful recordings. In 1996, he released the album Tonight We Ride
, which included "Rollin' Nowhere", "Fiddlin' Man", and "Sante Fe Cantina". In 1987, he released the album Americana
, which included "Once Upon a Time", "My Darling Wherever You Are", and another number one country hit with the song "A Long Line Of Love". That same album produced the hit single "A Face in the Crowd" with Holly Dunn, which was nominated for a Grammy Award
.
In 1988, Murphey released the album River of Time
, which produced three hit singles that reached number three on the charts: Jesse Winchester's "I'm Going to Miss You, Girl", his own "From The Word Go", and "Talkin' to the Wrong Man
", which featured his son Ryan.
In 1989, Murphey closed out a successful decade of recording with the album Land of Enchantment, which contained "Never Givin' up on Love", "Got to Pay the Fiddler", "Route 66", and "Land of Enchantment", which became New Mexico's state ballad.
. As early as 1985, Murphey performed with the New Mexico
Symphony
in a show called A Night in the American West, which led to many subsequent performances with American and Canadian symphonies, including the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C.
These western shows, and the songs he was writing and recording at the time, presaged a major change in Murphey's career—a change that would lead the artist down the unlikely trail of Cowboy music.
In 1990, Murphey released the album Cowboy Songs
—a project he'd been working on for several years. This was a pure labor of love, since no one had recorded an album of authentic cowboy songs in more than twenty years. The album contained Murphey's versions of old cowboy songs from the public domain such as "Tumbling Tumbleweeds
", "The Old Chisholm Trail
", the beautiful "Spanish is the Loving Tongue
", the classic "The Streets of Laredo", and his tip of the hat to Roy Rogers
, "Happy Trails
". The album also contained Murphey's own "Cowboy Logic".
Murphey was reluctant to promote the project, but he eventually released "Cowboy Logic" as a single and it quickly became a hit. Soon after, the album caught on and sold much better than expected. Cowboy Songs earned widespread praise from country and folk music critics, such as Jack Hurst from the Chicago Tribune
who wrote, "[This is] not only one of the finest albums of [the] year but also one of the finest of the last decade. Its 22 riveting cuts represent a labor of not only love but also scholarship; it raises a cult musical genre to the level of mainstream art." Cowboy Songs went on to achieve Gold status, the first western album to do so since Marty Robbins' No. 1 Cowboy in 1980.
In 1991, Murphey followed up with two additional albums of cowboy songs. His innovative concept album Cowboy Christmas: Cowboy Songs II contained versions of traditional and original western Christmas songs
, including "The Christmas Trail," "The Cowboy Christmas Ball," and "Two-Step 'Round the Christmas Tree." An accompanying video was later released of one of Murphey's Cowboy Christmas Ball concerts, which included many of these songs. Cowboy Songs III contained a mix of traditional and original cowboy songs, including a virtual duet with Marty Robbins, "Big Iron," which used an early Marty Robbins' vocal track.
Cowboy Songs and its followup albums were so successful that they inspired the formation of Warner Western, a new subsidiary label of Warner Bros. Records
devoted to western music and cowboy poetry. In 1992, Warner Western issued albums by Don Edwards
, Waddie Mitchell, and the Sons of the San Joaquin
. All three records were produced by Michael Martin Murphey.
In 1995, Murphey further demonstrated his musical ambitions with the concept album Sagebrush Symphony, recorded live with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, Herb Jeffries, and the Sons of the San Joaquin.
In 1997, Murphey released the album The Horse Legends, a musical tribute to this majestic animal. The album included several new Murphey songs, a new version of "Wildfire," and covers of some well-known songs, such as Dan Fogelberg
's "Run for the Roses
" and Gordon Lightfoot
's "The Pony Man."
In 1998, Murphey left Warner Bros. Records and started his own record label, WestFest/Real West Productions. That year, he released Cowboy Songs Four, which contained both traditional and original cowboy songs, including "Utah Carroll," "Little Joe, the Wrangler," and Murphey's "Song from Lonesome Dove." In 1999, he released Acoustic Christmas Carols: Cowboy Christmas II, which included Murphey's quiet renditions of traditional Christmas songs, and featured his son Ryan and daughter Laura.
In 2001, Murphey released a compilation of some of his best-loved songs, Playing Favorites, which included rerecorded versions of such songs as "Carolina in the Pines," "Cherokee Fiddle," "Cowboy Logic," "What's Forever For," and "Wildfire." He followed this up in 2002 with Cowboy Classics: Playing Favorites II, which again included re-recorded versions of some of his best-loved cowboy songs. That same year, Murphey released Cowboy Christmas III, which contained a new original song "The Kill Pen," as well as original cowboy poetry written and recited by his daughter Karen.
In 2004, Murphey released Live at Billy Bob's Texas, and in 2006, he released Heartland Cowboy: Cowboy Songs, Vol. 5.
During the past twenty years, Michael Martin Murphey has been a champion of western cowboy culture and the western wilderness
. In 1986 he founded WestFest, an annual music festival held at Copper Mountain
, Colorado
that celebrates western art and culture. The festival has attracted the biggest names in Country Music
as well as Western Music
.
Murphey almost singlehandedly resurrected the cowboy song genre and its image throughout the country. Molly Carpenter, writing in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, noted, "Murphey's love for the American West clearly comes through in his songs, painted with vivid images of the rugged mountains and vast deserts of southwest landscapes, all evidence of his travels from his native Texas to California's Mojave Desert, Colorado's Rockies and the wild diversity of New Mexico, his home for the past 10 years."
During the 1990s, in a further effort to preserve the traditions of the West, Murphey led a group of performers—including cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell and western music historian and troubadour
Don Edwards
—in a series of improvisational
concerts called Cowboy Logic, which toured throughout the United States, including such unlikely locations as New York City
and Las Vegas
. Waddy Mitchell is the co-founder of the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
. Murphey met Mitchell there in 1986, the first such event he had ever attended. Murphey later described the transforming event as "a religious experience," noting, "I'd been collecting cowboy music and performing it among my friends. But when I saw a lot of other guys like me and also women performing this music and enjoying each other's company, it was the most important thing that had happened to me in years in my musical life."
On May 22, 2007, Murphey made a rare appearance in New York City to perform "Wildfire" on the Late Show with David Letterman
. The song had become one of Letterman's favorites and was included regularly on the show.
Also in 2007, Murphey, through his Wildfire Productions Inc. released 3 DVDs detailing his love of the cowboy ways, life, and preservation of the American West traditions. This includes trail rides, cattle drives, and Cowboy Poetry gatherings. One of Murphey's Cowboy Christmas Ball concerts, recorded in Oklahoma City, was included on the combination CD/DVD (4th DVD) set as well. The releases of the DVDs were made mid to late 2007.
That same year, Murphey co-wrote "A Soldier's Christmas" based on a poem by Michael E. Marks
, a soldier serving in Iraq
. Marks sent the poem to Murphey, who was so moved he sought permission to set it to music, which he did. Murphey started including the song in all his concerts, including his Cowboy Christmas Ball concerts, to long standing ovations after its performance, which prompted its release in December 2007. It soon became a hit single on the country charts.
In May 2007, Murphey organized and performed for John Wayne's 100th Birthday Celebration, with the approval of the John Wayne Family. Murphey was commended by the White House for his activities.
, which marked a return to his bluegrass
musical roots. Murphey's love of Bluegrass music dates back to when he sang lead vocals with the Earl Scruggs Band. Over the years, Murphey's songs have been recorded by Bluegrass artists such as Flatt and Scruggs, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, the Country Gentlemen
, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
. On Buckaroo Bluegrass, Murphey offers new versions of his famous Bluegrass songs, such as "Carolina in the Pines", "Fiddlin' Man", "Lost River", and "What Am I Doing Hanging Around". Murphey also includes new Bluegrass versions of several of his classics, such as "Boy from the Country", "Dancing in the Meadow", and "Healing Spring". The album includes two new songs, "Close to the Land", the theme song of the PBS documentary television series America's Heartland, and "Lone Cowboy", a song that reflects Murphey's experiences as a solo artist performing throughout the West at music festivals, cowboy gatherings, historical theaters, and trail rides. Murphey has always used Bluegrass musicians on his records—people like Ricky Skaggs
, John McEuen
, Jerry Douglas, and Mark O'Conner. For Buckaroo Bluegrass, Murphey added Ronnie McCoury
, Charlie Cushman, Rob Ickes
, Andy Leftwich, and Rhonda Vincent
to this roster of top Bluegrass players. Michael's son, Ryan Murphey
, produced the album, and added acoustic guitar and vocals.
In February 2010, Murphey released a followup album, Buckaroo Blue Grass II – Riding Song
, which follows the production approach of the first album. This album contains fully acoustic Bluegrass versions of songs about the region to which Murphey has been deeply connected throughout his life, the American Southwest. Backed by an impressive list of Bluegrass veterans such as Carrie Hassler, Audie Blaylock, Sam Bush
, Andy Hall, Ronnie McCoury, Pat Flynn, Charlie Cushman, Andy Leftwich, Murphey delivers Bluegrass versions of songs mainly from his early-to-mid 1970s albums. Ryan Murphey's production and Bluegrass arrangements breath new life into songs like "Blue Sky Riding Song", "Backslider's Wine", "Southwestern Pilgrimage", "Cosmic Cowboy", "Wildfire", "Renegade", and "Swans Against the Sun".
In May 2011, Murphey gave a benefit concert at the Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper near Benton, Kansas
to help save the cabin where Brewster Higley wrote the song "Home on the Range
", Kansas' state song. "He might have been living anywhere," Murphey noted, "but he was inspired by that place. This song gives focus to the heritage of the American West, to the prairie and its songs, poems and literature." Murphey made his first pilgrimage to the cabin prior to the concert, where he performed the song.
In June 2011, Murphey released Tall Grass & Cool Water
, subtitled Cowboy Songs VI and Buckaroo Blue Grass III, which contains some of Western music's all-time classics. Backed again by a roster of top Bluegrass musicians and his son's solid production, Murphey delivers an inspired album that moves effortlessly between Bluegrass and Cowboy music. The CD includes two classics from the Sons of the Pioneers
, "Cool Water" and "Way Out There", as well as other Western classics such as "Texas Cowboy", "Santa Fe Trail", and "The James Gang Trilogy". Murphey closes out the album with a beautiful duet with Carin Mari, "Springtime in the Rockies".
On September 4, 2011, Murphey performed at the wedding of long-time friend David Lauren and Lauren Bush, the niece of former President George W. Bush, at Ralph Lauren's Double RL Ranch near Ridgeway, Colorado. The event was called "America's Royal Wedding". Murphey, who helped Ralph Lauren find the ranch they now call home, has been friends with the Lauren family for nearly 30 years. "I go there to write songs from time to time," Murphey noted, "It's the most spectacular ranch in the Rockies." At David Lauren's request, Murphey performed "Vanishing Breed" for the couple's first dance. Murphey wrote the song at a cabin on the Lauren ranch in the 1980s. Murphey and his Rio Grande Band played nearly six hours for the Lauren and Bush families.
, Cher
, Lyle Lovett
, Flatt and Scruggs, Claire Hamill
, Hoyt Axton
, Roger Miller
, Bobbie Gentry, Michael Nesmith, and the Monkees
. Murphey is the narrator of the short film Spirit of the Cowgirl at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
in Fort Worth
, Texas
Murphey played a major role in the resurrection of the cowboy song genre, recording and producing some of the most successful cowboy music of the past forty years. His album Cowboy Songs inspired a whole series of albums. For his accomplishments in the Western and Cowboy Music field, Murphey received five awards from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
, formerly known as the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City
.
Murphey met his third wife, New York model Mary Maciukas, in May 1978 at the Bottom Line in New York City. They were married in August 1978.
Murphy, his current wife Karen, and their six children are all involved in the family businesses of music, ranching, and recreational and competitive horseback riding. The Murphey family have residences in Colorado and Wisconsin, as well as a private fishing lake in Linden, Texas, not far from where Michael Martin Murphey's pioneer ancestors came to Texas in 1858.
In the past decade, Murphey has focused his political energies on the issue of private property rights—especially in the western and southwestern United States
. In 2006, he released "The Ballad of Kit Laney" in support of the New Mexico rancher's fight with the United States Forest Service
over water rights. Laney was imprisoned for assault after standing up to federal agents who seized his ranch in 2004. Murphey helped form the Farmers' Freedom Agriculture Alliance and scheduled a benefit—The Farmers' Freedom Concert—to protest unfair land acquisitions across the western states. Murphey's opposition to the political forces threatening the American family farmer
and rancher transcends political party affiliation. "I can tell you," Murphey observed, "that politics—doesn't matter whether it's Democrats or Republicans—have been involved with big agribusiness for a long, long time."
In recent years, Murphey has given his support to Tea Party
candidates throughout the country in an effort to reign in the overreaching powers of the federal government. "I've been going all over the country for the Tea Party," Murphey said. "That's not about where I live, but what we do as a nation."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
best known for writing and performing Western music
Western music (North America)
Western music originated as a form of American folk music. Originally composed by and about the people who settled and worked throughout the Western United States and Western Canada. Directly related musically to old English, Scottish, and Irish folk ballads, Western music celebrates the life of...
, Country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, and Popular music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. A multiple Grammy nominee, Murphey has six gold albums, including Cowboy Songs
Cowboy Songs (Michael Martin Murphey album)
Cowboy Songs is Michael Martin Murphey's sixteenth album. This is Murphey's first album of cowboy music and is considered one of the better modern collections.-Track listings:# "Cowboy Logic...
, the first album of cowboy music to achieve gold status since Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs
Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs
Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs is an album released by Marty Robbins on the Columbia Records label in September 1959, peaking at #6 on the U.S. pop albums chart. It was recorded on April 7, 1959...
by Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins
Martin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
in 1959. He has recorded the hit singles "Wildfire
Wildfire (song)
"Wildfire" is the title of a song written by Michael Murphey and Larry Cansler. It was originally recorded by American country artist Murphey , and appears on his 1975 album Blue Sky - Night Thunder....
", "Carolina in the Pines
Carolina in the Pines
"Carolina in the Pines" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in August 1975 as the second and final single from the album Blue Sky - Night Thunder. It peaked at #21 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, #4 on the Adult...
", "What's Forever For
What's Forever For
"What Forever For" is the title of a song written by Rafe VanHoy and recorded by Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in June 1982 as the third single from the album, Michael Martin Murphey. "What's Forever For" would be Murphey's second country hit and the first of two number ones on the...
", "A Long Line of Love
A Long Line of Love
"A Long Line of Love" is the title of a song written by Paul Overstreet and Thom Schuyler. It was recorded by American country music artist, Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in April 1987 as the second single from his album Americana. The song reached number one on the U.S. and Canadian...
", "What She Wants
What She Wants
"What She Wants" is the title of a song written by Renee Armand and Kerry Chater, and recorded by Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in November 1984 as the lead single from the compilation album, The Best of Michael Martin Murphey. The song peaked at #8 on the U.S...
", and "Don't Count the Rainy Days
Don't Count the Rainy Days
"Don't Count the Rainy Days" is the title of a song written by Victor Careaga and Wayland Holyfield, and recorded by Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in August 1983 as the lead single from the album, The Heart Never Lies. The song peaked at #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles in...
". Murphey is also the author of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
's state ballad, "The Land of Enchantment". Murphey has become a prominent musical voice for the Western horseman, rancher, and cowboy.
Early life
Michael Martin Murphey was born on March 14, 1945 in the Oak CliffOak Cliff
Oak Cliff is a community in Dallas, Texas, United States that was formerly a separate town located in Dallas County; Dallas annexed Oak Cliff in 1903...
section of Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, the son of Pink and Lois (Corbett) Murphey. He grew up in Dallas, Texas. His love of the outdoors began at an early age when his parents took him and his brother Mark (who was three years Michael's junior) on regular trips to the country to visit relatives. When he was six years old, Murphey started riding horses on his grandfather's and uncle's ranches. Years later he would remember sleeping on his grandfather's porch under the stars listening to the older man's stories and cowboy songs. He also enjoyed being around these men of the land as they went about their work. These experiences made a deep impression on the young boy.
During these early years, Murphey developed a special love for cowboy songs and stories. He was also an avid reader, especially drawn to the books of Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
and William Faulkner
William Faulkner
William Cuthbert Faulkner was an American writer from Oxford, Mississippi. Faulkner worked in a variety of media; he wrote novels, short stories, a play, poetry, essays and screenplays during his career...
. As a youth, he enjoyed writing poetry and loved listening to his uncle's old 78 rpm records—particularly the music of country and folk artists such as Hank Williams, Bob Wills
Bob Wills
James Robert Wills , better known as Bob Wills, was an American Western Swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader, considered by music authorities as the co-founder of Western Swing and universally known as the pioneering King of Western Swing.Bob Wills' name will forever be associated with...
, and Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
. In junior high school, he began performing as an amateur, and later as a camp counselor at a summer camp called "Sky Ranch". At the age of seventeen, he took his first "professional" music job, playing western songs around a campfire at a Texas ranch. By the early 1960s, Murphey was playing the clubs in Dallas, performing country music, folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, and rock music. He won over the conservative Texas audiences with his charm and talent, and soon formed a band that developed a significant following in the Dallas area.
Songwriting success
After graduating from W. H. Adamson High SchoolW. H. Adamson High School
William Hardin Adamson High School, formerly Oak Cliff High School, is a public secondary school located in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas . Adamson High School enrolls students in grades 9-12 and is a part of the Dallas Independent School District.- History :In 1891 the newly-incorporated...
in Oak Cliff
Oak Cliff
Oak Cliff is a community in Dallas, Texas, United States that was formerly a separate town located in Dallas County; Dallas annexed Oak Cliff in 1903...
, Murphey studied Greek at the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
and joined the Folk Music Club where he met Steven Fromholz
Steven Fromholz
Steven Fromholz is an entertainer, a singer and songwriter who was Poet Laureate of Texas in 2007.-Biography:Born in Temple, Texas, Fromholz began performing while he was serving in the United States Navy during the 1960s. After leaving the Navy, he teamed with Dan McCrimmon to create the group...
, Ray Wylie Hubbard
Ray Wylie Hubbard
Ray Wylie Hubbard is an American Texas Country singer and songwriter.-Early life:Hubbard grew up in southeastern town of Hugo, Oklahoma. His family moved to Oak Cliff in south Dallas, Texas in 1954. He attended W. H. Adamson High School with Michael Martin Murphey, who had his own band at the time...
, Spencer Perskin
Shiva's Headband
Shiva’s Headband, an early Texas psychedelic rock band, formed in Austin in 1967. The group was the house band at the Vulcan Gas Company, a late 1960s Austin nightclub. The band is credited with a significant role in the founding of the Armadillo World Headquarters. The bands first royalty check...
, and Eddie Wilson
Edwin Osbourne Wilson
Edwin Osbourne Wilson, aka Eddie Wilson, is a former concert promoter and co-founder and owner of the Armadillo World Headquarters , a music venue that led a music movement in Austin to national prominence from 1973 to 1980 as the birthplace of Texas progressive county, aka "redneck rock" – a...
—co-founder of Armadillo World Headquarters
Armadillo World Headquarters
The Armadillo World Headquarters was the premier music hall and entertainment center in Austin, Texas, United States from 1970 to 1980.-History:...
. Murphey then moved to California, where he studied creative writing at the University of California at Los Angeles, majoring in medieval history and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
. He signed a publishing contract with the Sparrow Music company, and soon he made a name for himself in the Los Angeles folk music scene. By 1964, he formed a musical group with an old Texas friend, Michael Nesmith
Michael Nesmith
Robert Michael Nesmith is an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist, best known as a member of the musical group The Monkees and star of the TV series of the same name...
, John London, and John Raines, under the name the Trinity River Boys.
In 1967, Murphey formed the Lewis & Clarke Expedition with Owens Castleman, and recorded one self-titled album for Colgems Records
Colgems Records
Colgems Records was a record label which existed from 1966 to 1971. It was a joint venture between Screen Gems, the television division of Columbia Pictures, and RCA Records, to issue records by The Monkees and other artists affiliated with Screen Gems. The label would also issue soundtrack...
. They had a modest hit with "I Feel Good (I Feel Bad)."
Murphey's first big break came through his friend Michael Nesmith, who had become part of the popular television musical group, The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
. Nesmith asked Murphey to write them a song for the next Monkees album, and Murphey composed "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round." The album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. sold over five million copies.
In 1968, Murphey moved to Wrightwood, a village in the San Gabriel Mountains
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
adjacent to the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
of California to work on his songwriting. Based on the success of his songs, he signed a contract with the Screen Gems
Screen Gems
Screen Gems is an American movie production company and subsidiary company of Sony Pictures Entertainment's Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group that has served several different purposes for its parent companies over the decades since its incorporation....
company, the publishing arm of Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
. Some of his songs were recorded by Flatt and Scruggs and Bobbie Gentry
Bobbie Gentry
Roberta Lee Streeter , professionally known as Bobbie Gentry, is a former American singer-songwriter notable as one of the first female country artists to compose and produce her own material...
. Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
recorded an entire album of Michael Murphey songs called The Ballad of Calico, about a Mojave Desert ghost town. Murphey wrote some additional songs for The Monkees, but he grew disillusioned with the poor financial rewards and the Southern California music scene.
The outlaw years
In 1971, Murphey returned to Texas and became part of the so-called Outlaw countryOutlaw country
Outlaw country is a subgenre of country music, most popular during the late 1960s and the 1970s , sometimes referred to as the outlaw movement or simply outlaw music...
movement, playing alongside other maverick performers such as Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
and Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is probably most famous for writing the song "Mr. Bojangles.-Biography:...
. He created a unique sound that combined his country, rock, and folk influences. It was during this period that Murphey wrote "Geronimo's Cadillac", a song about Indian rights that later became an unofficial anthem for the American Indian Movement
American Indian Movement
The American Indian Movement is a Native American activist organization in the United States, founded in 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota by urban Native Americans. The national AIM agenda focuses on spirituality, leadership, and sovereignty...
in the early 1970s.
In 1971, Murphey was signed to A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
by Bob Johnston, who discovered him in a Dallas club, the Rubiayat. Johnston had produced some of the country's most popular recording artists, including Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, and Simon and Garfunkel
Simon and Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel are an American duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl". As Simon & Garfunkel, the duo rose to fame in 1965, largely on the strength of the...
. In 1972, Johnston produced Murphey's first album Geronimo's Cadillac
Geronimo's Cadillac
Geronimo's Cadillac is Michael Martin Murphey's first album.- Track listing :# "Geronimo's Cadillac"# "Natchez Trace"# "Calico Silver"# "Harbor for My Soul"# "Rainbow Man"# "Waking Up"# "Crack Up in Las Cruces"# "Boy from the Country"...
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. The sound of the album reflects Murphey's love of country, folk, and blues music. Murphey's early gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
influences are also evident throughout the album. The title track was released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, and reached the Top 40 on the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. In addition to the title track, the album included "Boy from the Country", "What Am I Doin' Hangin' Around?", and "Michael Angelo's Blues". Rolling Stone Magazine proclaimed, "On the strength of his first album alone, Michael Murphey is the best new songwriter in the country."
In 1973, Murphey followed up with the album Cosmic Cowboy Souvenir
Cosmic Cowboy Souvenir
- Track listing :# "Cosmic Cowboy, Pt. 1"# "Alleys of Austin"# "South Canadian River Song"# "Blessings in Disguise"# "Temperature Train"# "Drunken Lady of the Morning"# "Prometheus Busted"# "Honolulu"# "Rolling Hills"# "Michael Angelo's Blues"...
, which continued the urban cowboy theme of the first album. The album included "Cosmic Cowboy, Pt. 1", "Alleys of Austin", and "Rolling Hills".
Throughout this period, Murphey's band included Bob Livingston
Bob Livingston (musician)
Bob Livingston is a musician from Texas. He is a singer-songwriter, bass player, and a founding member of The Lost Gonzo Band. Livingston was a key figure instigating the cosmic cowboy, progressive country and outlaw country music movements that distinguished the Austin, TX music scene in the 1970s...
and Gary P. Nunn
Gary P. Nunn
Gary P. Nunn is a Texas Country singer/songwriter. Nunn was born in Oklahoma and moved to Brownfield, Texas as a sixth grader. He was a member of Lubbock, Texas rock band The Sparkles during the 1960s. In 1995, Nunn was inducted into the West Texas Walk of Fame, and in 2004, into the Texas Hall of...
, the author of "London Homesick Blues". He performed a number of times at the Armadillo World Headquarters
Armadillo World Headquarters
The Armadillo World Headquarters was the premier music hall and entertainment center in Austin, Texas, United States from 1970 to 1980.-History:...
, and his photo was even used for the original cover of Jan Reid's book, The Improbable Rise of Redneck Rock. But Michael Murphey's musical vision was expanding beyond the confines of the outlaw country sound and moving toward a much more ambitious musical tapestry.
Wildfire and the Epic years
In 1973, Murphey signed to Epic RecordsEpic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
and released the album Michael Murphey
Michael Murphey (album)
- Track listing :# "Nobody's Gonna Tell Me How to Play My Music"# "Healing Springs"# "Rye by-the-Sea"# "You Can Only Say So Much"# "Observer"# "Holy Roller"# "Good Ol' Natural Habits"# "Fort Worth I Love You"# "Ace in the Hole"# "Southwestern Pilgrimage"...
that same year. Produced by Bob Johnston, the album included the beautiful "Southwestern Pilgrimage".
In 1975, Murphey released his seminal album, Blue Sky – Night Thunder
Blue Sky - Night Thunder
Blue Sky – Night Thunder is the title of Michael Martin Murphey's fourth studio album and is considered one of the seminal albums of his career...
, also produced by Bob Johnston. The album generated two hit singles: "Carolina in the Pines" and his masterpiece "Wildfire
Wildfire (song)
"Wildfire" is the title of a song written by Michael Murphey and Larry Cansler. It was originally recorded by American country artist Murphey , and appears on his 1975 album Blue Sky - Night Thunder....
", a sentimental song about the ghosts of a woman and her horse. As a boy, he first heard from his grandfather the story of a ghost horse
Púca
The Púca is a creature of Celtic folklore, notably in Ireland, the West of Scotland, and Wales. It is one of the myriad fairy folk, and, like many fairy folk, is both respected and feared by those who believe in it....
rescuing people in the desert. Years later, Murphey had a dream about this ghost horse and wrote the words and music the same day with songwriter Larry Cansler.
In May 1975, "Wildfire" became a number one hit on the Radio and Records Charts, reached number three on Billboard's Pop Chart, and number one on all Adult Contemporary Charts, giving Murphey a new level of commercial success and exposure. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the R.I.A.A. in July 1975. The song's success was due, in large part, to the unique harmonies supplied by Jeff Hanna and Jimmy Ibbotson from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California in 1966. The group's membership has had at least a dozen changes over the years, including a period from 1976 to 1981 when the band performed and recorded...
, and the beautiful piano introduction and ending coda played by master jazz pianist Jac Murphy, based on Prelude in D-flat, Op. 11 No. 15 by the Russian classical composer Alexander Scriabin
Alexander Scriabin
Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin was a Russian composer and pianist who initially developed a lyrical and idiosyncratic tonal language inspired by the music of Frédéric Chopin. Quite independent of the innovations of Arnold Schoenberg, Scriabin developed an increasingly atonal musical system,...
.
During the late 1970s, Murphey recorded four albums: Swans Against the Sun (1976), Flowing Free Forever (1976), Lone Wolf (1978), and Peaks, Valleys, Honky Tonks & Alleys (1979). The album Swans Against the Sun produced his first country hits "A Mansion on the Hill", "Flowing Free Forever", and "Cherokee Fiddle
Cherokee Fiddle
"Cherokee Fiddle" is the title of a song written by Michael Martin Murphey and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Lee. It was released in October 1982 as the first single from the album Sounds Like Love. The song reached #10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.-Chart...
", which also became a top ten hit for Johnny Lee
Johnny Lee
Johnny Lee is an American country music singer. His 1980 single, "Lookin' for Love" not only spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard country singles chart in the second half of 1980 but also went to the Top 5 on the Pop charts, and Top 10 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary survey...
. Murphey's friends, John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
, Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Charlie Daniels
Charlie Daniels
Charles Edward "Charlie" Daniels is an American musician known for his contributions to country and southern rock music. He is known primarily for his number one country hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", and multiple other songs he has performed and written. Daniels has been active as a singer...
, and Steve Weisberg
Steve Weisberg
Steve Weisberg, born 1963 in Norfolk, Virginia, is a composer/arranger/pianist and international recording artist/producer. In the 80's, after studying with Michael Gibbs at Berklee College in Boston, Ma., he recorded the XtraWatt/ECM release "I Can't Stand Another Night Alone ," produced by Carla...
appeared on the album. Despite some success on the country music charts, none of these albums generated the enthusiasm or sales of Blue Sky – Night Thunder.
In 1981, Murphey made his first film appearance in Hard Country
Hard Country (Michael Martin Murphey album)
Hard Country is Michael Martin Murphey's ninth album. This is Murphey's first film soundtrack, for the 1981 film Hard Country, starring Jan-Michael Vincent and Kim Basinger.- Track listing :# "Cowboy Cadillac" – Michael Martin Murphey...
, which he cowrote. To distinguish himself from another well-known actor named Michael Murphy
Michael Murphy (actor)
Michael George Murphy is an American film and television actor.-Career:Murphy played Woody Allen's duplicitous friend Yale in the film Manhattan...
, the singer began using his middle name for film and music credits. To this day, he is known to the world as Michael Martin Murphey.
Mainstream success
In 1982, Murphey signed with Liberty RecordsLiberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
and produced two original albums, Michael Martin Murphey and The Heart Never Lies, as well as a compilation of re-recorded versions of his A&M, Epic, and Liberty hits called The Best of Michael Martin Murphey. During the early 1980s, Murphey had significant commercial success with hits like "Still Taking Chances", "Disenchanted", "Don't Count the Rainy Days", "Will It Be Love By Morning", "Radio Land", and the number one hit "What's Forever For", written by Rafe VanHoy, which also crossed over to number three at AC Radio and number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
Pop Singles Chart.
In 1983, Murphey was voted Best New Male Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
. In 1985, his rerecorded version of "Carolina in the Pines" reached the Top 10.
In 1985, Murphey signed a new recording contract with Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
and continued his streak of successful recordings. In 1996, he released the album Tonight We Ride
Tonight We Ride
Tonight We Ride is Michael Martin Murphey's twelfth album. This was Murphey's debut album on Warner Bros. Records.- Track listing :# "Tonight We Ride"# "Rollin' Nowhere"# "Innocent Hearts"# "Close to My Heart"# "Face to Face With the Night"...
, which included "Rollin' Nowhere", "Fiddlin' Man", and "Sante Fe Cantina". In 1987, he released the album Americana
Americana (Michael Martin Murphey album)
- Track listing :# "A Face in the Crowd" # "A Long Line of Love"# "Once Upon a Time"# "Out of Touch"# "Almost Free"# "Worlds Apart"# "No One Else But You"# "You're History"# "My Darling Wherever You Are"# "I'm Never Gonna Let You Go"...
, which included "Once Upon a Time", "My Darling Wherever You Are", and another number one country hit with the song "A Long Line Of Love". That same album produced the hit single "A Face in the Crowd" with Holly Dunn, which was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
.
In 1988, Murphey released the album River of Time
River of Time (Michael Martin Murphey album)
- Track listing :# "From the Word Go"# "Talkin' to the Wrong Man" # "River of Time"# "Vanishing Breed"# "Pilgrims on the Way "# "The Running Blood"# "Children of the Wild World"# " Miss You Girl"...
, which produced three hit singles that reached number three on the charts: Jesse Winchester's "I'm Going to Miss You, Girl", his own "From The Word Go", and "Talkin' to the Wrong Man
Talkin' to the Wrong Man
"Talkin' to the Wrong Man" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Michael Martin Murphey with his son Ryan Murphey. It was released in February 1988 as the second single from Murphey's album River of Time...
", which featured his son Ryan.
In 1989, Murphey closed out a successful decade of recording with the album Land of Enchantment, which contained "Never Givin' up on Love", "Got to Pay the Fiddler", "Route 66", and "Land of Enchantment", which became New Mexico's state ballad.
Cowboy songs
Despite the impressive critical and commercial success he achieved throughout the 1980s, Michael Martin Murphey's creative heart and spirit began to focus on the Western music that first captured his imagination as a boy growing up in TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. As early as 1985, Murphey performed with the New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
Symphony
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
in a show called A Night in the American West, which led to many subsequent performances with American and Canadian symphonies, including the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
These western shows, and the songs he was writing and recording at the time, presaged a major change in Murphey's career—a change that would lead the artist down the unlikely trail of Cowboy music.
In 1990, Murphey released the album Cowboy Songs
Cowboy Songs (Michael Martin Murphey album)
Cowboy Songs is Michael Martin Murphey's sixteenth album. This is Murphey's first album of cowboy music and is considered one of the better modern collections.-Track listings:# "Cowboy Logic...
—a project he'd been working on for several years. This was a pure labor of love, since no one had recorded an album of authentic cowboy songs in more than twenty years. The album contained Murphey's versions of old cowboy songs from the public domain such as "Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Tumbling Tumbleweeds
"Tumbling Tumbleweeds" is a song composed by Bob Nolan, one of the founding members of the Sons of the Pioneers. Although one of the most famous songs associated with cowboys, the song was composed by Nolan back in the 1930s while he was working as a caddy and living in Los Angeles...
", "The Old Chisholm Trail
The Old Chisholm Trail
"The Old Chisholm Trail" is a cowboy song that dates back to the 1870s, when it was among the most popular songs sung by cowboys during that era. Based on an English lyrical song that dates back to 1640, "The Old Chisholm Trail" was modified by the cowboy idiom...
", the beautiful "Spanish is the Loving Tongue
Spanish is the Loving Tongue
"Spanish is the Loving Tongue" is a song based on the poem "A Border Affair" written by Charles Badger Clark in 1907. Clark was a cowboy poet who lived throughout the American West, and was named the Poet Laureate of South Dakota in 1930. The poem was set to music in 1925 by Billy Simon...
", the classic "The Streets of Laredo", and his tip of the hat to Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
, "Happy Trails
Happy Trails (song)
"Happy Trails," by Dale Evans Rogers, was the theme song for the 1940s and 1950s radio program and the 1950s television show starring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Rogers, always sung over the end credits of the program. Happy Trails was released in 1952 as a 78 RPM and 45 RPM by Rogers and Evans with...
". The album also contained Murphey's own "Cowboy Logic".
Murphey was reluctant to promote the project, but he eventually released "Cowboy Logic" as a single and it quickly became a hit. Soon after, the album caught on and sold much better than expected. Cowboy Songs earned widespread praise from country and folk music critics, such as Jack Hurst from the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
who wrote, "[This is] not only one of the finest albums of [the] year but also one of the finest of the last decade. Its 22 riveting cuts represent a labor of not only love but also scholarship; it raises a cult musical genre to the level of mainstream art." Cowboy Songs went on to achieve Gold status, the first western album to do so since Marty Robbins' No. 1 Cowboy in 1980.
In 1991, Murphey followed up with two additional albums of cowboy songs. His innovative concept album Cowboy Christmas: Cowboy Songs II contained versions of traditional and original western Christmas songs
Christmas Songs
Christmas Songs is a 2005 album by Diana Krall performed with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. This is Krall's first full-length album of Christmas songs , and her first studio album with a big band. It is her ninth album overall...
, including "The Christmas Trail," "The Cowboy Christmas Ball," and "Two-Step 'Round the Christmas Tree." An accompanying video was later released of one of Murphey's Cowboy Christmas Ball concerts, which included many of these songs. Cowboy Songs III contained a mix of traditional and original cowboy songs, including a virtual duet with Marty Robbins, "Big Iron," which used an early Marty Robbins' vocal track.
Cowboy Songs and its followup albums were so successful that they inspired the formation of Warner Western, a new subsidiary label of Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
devoted to western music and cowboy poetry. In 1992, Warner Western issued albums by Don Edwards
Don Edwards
William Donlon Edwards is an American politician of the Democratic Party, formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives from California.-Biography:...
, Waddie Mitchell, and the Sons of the San Joaquin
Sons of the San Joaquin
The Sons of the San Joaquin is a Western family band. Jack and Joe Hannah are brothers, while third member Lon Hannah is Joe's son. They began performing together in 1987 at a birthday party for Lon's grandfather....
. All three records were produced by Michael Martin Murphey.
In 1995, Murphey further demonstrated his musical ambitions with the concept album Sagebrush Symphony, recorded live with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, Herb Jeffries, and the Sons of the San Joaquin.
In 1997, Murphey released the album The Horse Legends, a musical tribute to this majestic animal. The album included several new Murphey songs, a new version of "Wildfire," and covers of some well-known songs, such as Dan Fogelberg
Dan Fogelberg
Daniel Grayling "Dan" Fogelberg was an American singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, whose music was inspired by sources as diverse as folk, pop, rock, classical, jazz, and bluegrass music...
's "Run for the Roses
Run for the Roses
"Run for the Roses" is a song on the album The Innocent Age, written and recorded by singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg in 1981. Released as a single the following year, it peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has since been used as an unofficial theme for the Kentucky Derby...
" and Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr. is a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s...
's "The Pony Man."
In 1998, Murphey left Warner Bros. Records and started his own record label, WestFest/Real West Productions. That year, he released Cowboy Songs Four, which contained both traditional and original cowboy songs, including "Utah Carroll," "Little Joe, the Wrangler," and Murphey's "Song from Lonesome Dove." In 1999, he released Acoustic Christmas Carols: Cowboy Christmas II, which included Murphey's quiet renditions of traditional Christmas songs, and featured his son Ryan and daughter Laura.
In 2001, Murphey released a compilation of some of his best-loved songs, Playing Favorites, which included rerecorded versions of such songs as "Carolina in the Pines," "Cherokee Fiddle," "Cowboy Logic," "What's Forever For," and "Wildfire." He followed this up in 2002 with Cowboy Classics: Playing Favorites II, which again included re-recorded versions of some of his best-loved cowboy songs. That same year, Murphey released Cowboy Christmas III, which contained a new original song "The Kill Pen," as well as original cowboy poetry written and recited by his daughter Karen.
In 2004, Murphey released Live at Billy Bob's Texas, and in 2006, he released Heartland Cowboy: Cowboy Songs, Vol. 5.
During the past twenty years, Michael Martin Murphey has been a champion of western cowboy culture and the western wilderness
Wilderness
Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
. In 1986 he founded WestFest, an annual music festival held at Copper Mountain
Copper Mountain (Colorado)
Copper Mountain is a mountain located in Summit County, Colorado, about west of Denver on Interstate 70. Opened in late 1972, its most notable use is as a ski resort, owned and operated by Intrawest until Dec...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
that celebrates western art and culture. The festival has attracted the biggest names in Country Music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
as well as Western Music
Western music (North America)
Western music originated as a form of American folk music. Originally composed by and about the people who settled and worked throughout the Western United States and Western Canada. Directly related musically to old English, Scottish, and Irish folk ballads, Western music celebrates the life of...
.
Murphey almost singlehandedly resurrected the cowboy song genre and its image throughout the country. Molly Carpenter, writing in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, noted, "Murphey's love for the American West clearly comes through in his songs, painted with vivid images of the rugged mountains and vast deserts of southwest landscapes, all evidence of his travels from his native Texas to California's Mojave Desert, Colorado's Rockies and the wild diversity of New Mexico, his home for the past 10 years."
During the 1990s, in a further effort to preserve the traditions of the West, Murphey led a group of performers—including cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell and western music historian and troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
Don Edwards
Don Edwards (cowboy singer)
Don Edwards is a cowboy singer and guitarist who plays Western music. He has recorded several albums, two of which, Guitars & Saddle Songs and Songs of the Cowboy, are included in the Folklore Archives of the Library of Congress...
—in a series of improvisational
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
concerts called Cowboy Logic, which toured throughout the United States, including such unlikely locations as New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
. Waddy Mitchell is the co-founder of the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering takes place in Elko, Nevada, US. Founded by folklorists in 1985, and now an annual event, it showcases poets, musicians, musical groups, and plays of cowboy poetry at various venues around the town. The inaugural year featured 40 poets, and an audience of less...
. Murphey met Mitchell there in 1986, the first such event he had ever attended. Murphey later described the transforming event as "a religious experience," noting, "I'd been collecting cowboy music and performing it among my friends. But when I saw a lot of other guys like me and also women performing this music and enjoying each other's company, it was the most important thing that had happened to me in years in my musical life."
On May 22, 2007, Murphey made a rare appearance in New York City to perform "Wildfire" on the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
. The song had become one of Letterman's favorites and was included regularly on the show.
Also in 2007, Murphey, through his Wildfire Productions Inc. released 3 DVDs detailing his love of the cowboy ways, life, and preservation of the American West traditions. This includes trail rides, cattle drives, and Cowboy Poetry gatherings. One of Murphey's Cowboy Christmas Ball concerts, recorded in Oklahoma City, was included on the combination CD/DVD (4th DVD) set as well. The releases of the DVDs were made mid to late 2007.
That same year, Murphey co-wrote "A Soldier's Christmas" based on a poem by Michael E. Marks
Michael E. Marks
Michael Edward Marks is an award-winning author, poet and songwriter best known for his patriotic writings in support of America's Armed Forces.Mr...
, a soldier serving in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Marks sent the poem to Murphey, who was so moved he sought permission to set it to music, which he did. Murphey started including the song in all his concerts, including his Cowboy Christmas Ball concerts, to long standing ovations after its performance, which prompted its release in December 2007. It soon became a hit single on the country charts.
In May 2007, Murphey organized and performed for John Wayne's 100th Birthday Celebration, with the approval of the John Wayne Family. Murphey was commended by the White House for his activities.
Bluegrass years
In February 2009, Murphey released Buckaroo Blue GrassBuckaroo Blue Grass
Buckaroo Blue Grass is Michael Martin Murphey's twenty-eighth album, and his first album of bluegrass music.- Track listing :# "Lone Cowboy" # "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round?" # "Lost River" # "Carolina in the Pines" # "Cherokee Fiddle"...
, which marked a return to his bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
musical roots. Murphey's love of Bluegrass music dates back to when he sang lead vocals with the Earl Scruggs Band. Over the years, Murphey's songs have been recorded by Bluegrass artists such as Flatt and Scruggs, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, the Country Gentlemen
The Country Gentlemen
The Country Gentlemen were a bluegrass band that originated during the 1950s in the area of Washington, DC, United States, and recorded and toured with various members until the death in 2004 of Charlie Waller, one of the group's founders who in its later years served as the group's "focal point...
, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California in 1966. The group's membership has had at least a dozen changes over the years, including a period from 1976 to 1981 when the band performed and recorded...
. On Buckaroo Bluegrass, Murphey offers new versions of his famous Bluegrass songs, such as "Carolina in the Pines", "Fiddlin' Man", "Lost River", and "What Am I Doing Hanging Around". Murphey also includes new Bluegrass versions of several of his classics, such as "Boy from the Country", "Dancing in the Meadow", and "Healing Spring". The album includes two new songs, "Close to the Land", the theme song of the PBS documentary television series America's Heartland, and "Lone Cowboy", a song that reflects Murphey's experiences as a solo artist performing throughout the West at music festivals, cowboy gatherings, historical theaters, and trail rides. Murphey has always used Bluegrass musicians on his records—people like Ricky Skaggs
Ricky Skaggs
Rickie Lee "Ricky" Skaggs is a country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, and banjo.-Early career:...
, John McEuen
John McEuen
John McEuen , is an American folk musician and entertainer. He was one of the earliest members of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He played with the band from 1966 to 1986, and returned in 2001.The group prior to that 'dissolved' a few times briefly, but none as long as in 1968, right after spending 4...
, Jerry Douglas, and Mark O'Conner. For Buckaroo Bluegrass, Murphey added Ronnie McCoury
Ronnie McCoury
Ronnie McCoury is a mandolin player, singer, and songwriter born in 1967. He is the son of bluegrass musician Del McCoury, and is best known for his work with the Del McCoury Band. He has also recorded several solo albums....
, Charlie Cushman, Rob Ickes
Rob Ickes
Rob Ickes is a dobro player. A Northern California native , Rob Ickes [rhymes with "bikes"] moved to Nashville in 1992 and joinedthe contemporary bluegrass band Blue Highway as a founding member in 1994...
, Andy Leftwich, and Rhonda Vincent
Rhonda Vincent
Rhonda Lea Vincent is a bluegrass singer, songwriter, mandolin player, guitarist, and fiddle player.Her musical career started as a child in her family's band, The Sally Mountain Show, and has spanned almost four decades...
to this roster of top Bluegrass players. Michael's son, Ryan Murphey
Ryan Murphey
Ryan Murphey is a Grammy-nominated music producer, songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist. Since 1988, Ryan has toured with his father, Michael Martin Murphey, as lead guitarist and vocalist in the Rio Grande Band. Ryan is Michael's oldest son, and has worked with his father extensively throughout...
, produced the album, and added acoustic guitar and vocals.
In February 2010, Murphey released a followup album, Buckaroo Blue Grass II – Riding Song
Buckaroo Blue Grass II
Buckaroo Blue Grass II – Riding Song is Michael Martin Murphey's twenty-ninth album, and his second album of bluegrass music.- Song listing :# "Blue Sky Riding Song"# "Running Gun"# "Backslider’s Wine"# "Rollin’ Nowhere"# "Southwestern Pilgrimage"...
, which follows the production approach of the first album. This album contains fully acoustic Bluegrass versions of songs about the region to which Murphey has been deeply connected throughout his life, the American Southwest. Backed by an impressive list of Bluegrass veterans such as Carrie Hassler, Audie Blaylock, Sam Bush
Sam Bush
Sam Bush is an American bluegrass mandolin player considered an originator of the Newgrass style.- History :...
, Andy Hall, Ronnie McCoury, Pat Flynn, Charlie Cushman, Andy Leftwich, Murphey delivers Bluegrass versions of songs mainly from his early-to-mid 1970s albums. Ryan Murphey's production and Bluegrass arrangements breath new life into songs like "Blue Sky Riding Song", "Backslider's Wine", "Southwestern Pilgrimage", "Cosmic Cowboy", "Wildfire", "Renegade", and "Swans Against the Sun".
In May 2011, Murphey gave a benefit concert at the Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper near Benton, Kansas
Benton, Kansas
Benton is a city in Butler County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 880.-Geography:Benton is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 827 people,...
to help save the cabin where Brewster Higley wrote the song "Home on the Range
Home on the Range
"Home on the Range" is the state song of Kansas, U.S.Home on the Range may also refer to:* Home on the Range , a drama directed by Arthur Jacobson* Home on the Range , a Disney animated feature film...
", Kansas' state song. "He might have been living anywhere," Murphey noted, "but he was inspired by that place. This song gives focus to the heritage of the American West, to the prairie and its songs, poems and literature." Murphey made his first pilgrimage to the cabin prior to the concert, where he performed the song.
In June 2011, Murphey released Tall Grass & Cool Water
Tall Grass & Cool Water
Tall Grass & Cool Water is Michael Martin Murphey's thirtieth album, his third album of bluegrass music, and his sixth album of cowboy music.- Song listing :# "Texas Cowboy"# "Cool Water"# "Santa Fe Trail"# "Way Out There"# "Railroad Corral"...
, subtitled Cowboy Songs VI and Buckaroo Blue Grass III, which contains some of Western music's all-time classics. Backed again by a roster of top Bluegrass musicians and his son's solid production, Murphey delivers an inspired album that moves effortlessly between Bluegrass and Cowboy music. The CD includes two classics from the Sons of the Pioneers
Sons of the Pioneers
The Sons of the Pioneers are one of America's earliest Western singing groups whose classic recordings set a new standard for performers of Western music. Known for the high quality of their vocal performances, musicianship, and songwriting, they produced finely-crafted and innovative recordings...
, "Cool Water" and "Way Out There", as well as other Western classics such as "Texas Cowboy", "Santa Fe Trail", and "The James Gang Trilogy". Murphey closes out the album with a beautiful duet with Carin Mari, "Springtime in the Rockies".
On September 4, 2011, Murphey performed at the wedding of long-time friend David Lauren and Lauren Bush, the niece of former President George W. Bush, at Ralph Lauren's Double RL Ranch near Ridgeway, Colorado. The event was called "America's Royal Wedding". Murphey, who helped Ralph Lauren find the ranch they now call home, has been friends with the Lauren family for nearly 30 years. "I go there to write songs from time to time," Murphey noted, "It's the most spectacular ranch in the Rockies." At David Lauren's request, Murphey performed "Vanishing Breed" for the couple's first dance. Murphey wrote the song at a cabin on the Lauren ranch in the 1980s. Murphey and his Rio Grande Band played nearly six hours for the Lauren and Bush families.
Legacy
Michael Martin Murphey has had a successful music career that has spanned four decades and included such musical genres as folk, country, rock, popular, western, and cowboy music. As a singer, songwriter, and producer, he has contributed some of the best-loved songs of his generation. His songs have been recorded by Kenny Rogers, John DenverJohn Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
, Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, Lyle Lovett
Lyle Lovett
Lyle Pearce Lovett is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Active since 1980, he has recorded thirteen albums and released 21 singles to date, including his highest entry, the number 10 chart hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, "Cowboy Man"...
, Flatt and Scruggs, Claire Hamill
Claire Hamill
Claire Hamill is a British singer-songwriter.- Biography :Claire Hamill was active in the music business since age 17...
, Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Wayne Axton was an American country music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. As he matured, some of his songwriting efforts became well...
, Roger Miller
Roger Miller
Roger Dean Miller was an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs...
, Bobbie Gentry, Michael Nesmith, and the Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
. Murphey is the narrator of the short film Spirit of the Cowgirl at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is a museum and association which honors women of the American West who have displayed courage or spirit and who have distinguished themselves while exemplifying the pioneer spirit...
in Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
Murphey played a major role in the resurrection of the cowboy song genre, recording and producing some of the most successful cowboy music of the past forty years. His album Cowboy Songs inspired a whole series of albums. For his accomplishments in the Western and Cowboy Music field, Murphey received five awards from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with more than 28,000 Western and American Indian art works and artifacts. The facility also has the world's most extensive collection of American rodeo, photographs, barbed wire, saddlery, and early rodeo trophies...
, formerly known as the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
.
Personal life
Michael Martin Murphey married his first wife, Diana Vero, in Dallas, Texas on June 17, 1967. Vero was the former secretary to Brian Epstein, and traveled with the Beatles during their first North American tour in the summer of 1964. Murphey married his second wife, Caroline, in 1973. They were divorced in 1978.Murphey met his third wife, New York model Mary Maciukas, in May 1978 at the Bottom Line in New York City. They were married in August 1978.
Murphy, his current wife Karen, and their six children are all involved in the family businesses of music, ranching, and recreational and competitive horseback riding. The Murphey family have residences in Colorado and Wisconsin, as well as a private fishing lake in Linden, Texas, not far from where Michael Martin Murphey's pioneer ancestors came to Texas in 1858.
Political views
Murphey has long been a champion of the western wilderness and wildlife, and has lent his support to various political causes associated with western culture and ideals. Early in his career, for example, he supported the Native American rights movement, which used his song, "Geronimo's Cadillac", as an anthem. In 1986, he founded an annual festival, WestFest, celebrating western art and culture in an effort to preserve the traditions of the West. He has been a long-time supporter of the conservation movement, attempting to find a middle ground between ranchers and activists on opposite sides of environmental issues.In the past decade, Murphey has focused his political energies on the issue of private property rights—especially in the western and southwestern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 2006, he released "The Ballad of Kit Laney" in support of the New Mexico rancher's fight with the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
over water rights. Laney was imprisoned for assault after standing up to federal agents who seized his ranch in 2004. Murphey helped form the Farmers' Freedom Agriculture Alliance and scheduled a benefit—The Farmers' Freedom Concert—to protest unfair land acquisitions across the western states. Murphey's opposition to the political forces threatening the American family farmer
Family farm
A family farm is a farm owned and operated by a family, and often passed down from generation to generation. It is the basic unit of the mostly agricultural economy of much of human history and continues to be so in developing nations...
and rancher transcends political party affiliation. "I can tell you," Murphey observed, "that politics—doesn't matter whether it's Democrats or Republicans—have been involved with big agribusiness for a long, long time."
In recent years, Murphey has given his support to Tea Party
Tea party
A tea party is a formal, ritualized gathering for afternoon tea.Formal tea parties are often characterized by the use of prestige utensils, such as bone china or silver. The table is made to look its prettiest, with cloth napkins and matching cups and plates. In addition to tea, larger parties may...
candidates throughout the country in an effort to reign in the overreaching powers of the federal government. "I've been going all over the country for the Tea Party," Murphey said. "That's not about where I live, but what we do as a nation."
Honors and awards
- 2009 Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
Nomination for Best Bluegrass Album, for Buckaroo Blue Grass - 2009 Texas Country Music Hall of FameTexas Country Music Hall of FameThe Texas Country Music Hall of Fame/Tex Ritter Museum, located in Carthage in Panola County in East Texas honors those who have made outstanding contributions to country music and were born in the state of Texas. This includes singers, songwriters, disc jockeys and others.A museum, a large...
- 2007 National Cowboy & Western Heritage MuseumNational Cowboy & Western Heritage MuseumThe National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with more than 28,000 Western and American Indian art works and artifacts. The facility also has the world's most extensive collection of American rodeo, photographs, barbed wire, saddlery, and early rodeo trophies...
Wrangler Award for Best Song, for "Long and Lonesome Road to Dalhart" - 2007 Texas Music Award for Best Song, for "Close the Land (America's Heartland)"
- 2007 Letter of Commendation from the President of the United StatesPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, for Murphey's involvement producing John Wayne's 100th Birthday Celebration - 2004 Western Music Association Hall of FameWestern Music Association Hall of FameThe Western Music Association Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Western Music Association. Inductees are those individuals deemed important to the traditional and contemporary music of the American West and the American Cowboy.-1989-1999:1989*Rex Allen...
- 2000 The New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Lifetime Achievement Award
- 1999 Academy of Western Artists Award for Best Album, for Cowboy Songs Four
- 1998 The Golden Smokey Award for Outstanding Service to the U.S. National Park Service
- 1997 Will Rogers Cowboy Philosopher Award, Will Rogers Memorial Commission
- 1982 Academy of Country MusicAcademy of Country MusicThe Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
Top New Male Vocalist - 1972 Rolling Stone Magazine Best New Singer-Songwriter in the Nation, for the album Geronimo's Cadillac
- American Quarter Horse AssociationAmerican Quarter Horse AssociationThe American Quarter Horse Association , based in Amarillo, Texas, is an international organization dedicated to the preservation, improvement and record-keeping of the American Quarter Horse. The association sanctions many competitive events and maintains the official registry...
Lifetime Honorary Member - CMA Award Nominations (three times)
- BMIBroadcast Music IncorporatedBroadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
Gold Record, for the song "Wildfire" - BMI Gold Record, for the album Cowboy Songs, the first Gold album in Cowboy music since Marty Robbins
- King of the Cowboys Award for Outstanding Contribution to Western Family Entertainment by the Cody Order of Scouts, State of Nebraska
- Cody Order of Scouts, Nebraska
- Nebraska Country Music Hall of Fame
- Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame
- Western Heritage Awards from the Cowboy Hall of Fame (six-time winner)
- International Charley Russell Western Heritage Society Red Sash Award for Outstanding Service in Preservation of Western Heritage, 1999–2000
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Label | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Bluegrass | CAN | |||
| 1972 | Geronimo's Cadillac Geronimo's Cadillac Geronimo's Cadillac is Michael Martin Murphey's first album.- Track listing :# "Geronimo's Cadillac"# "Natchez Trace"# "Calico Silver"# "Harbor for My Soul"# "Rainbow Man"# "Waking Up"# "Crack Up in Las Cruces"# "Boy from the Country"... |
— | 160 | — | 82 | A&M |
| 1973 | Cosmic Cowboy Souvenir Cosmic Cowboy Souvenir - Track listing :# "Cosmic Cowboy, Pt. 1"# "Alleys of Austin"# "South Canadian River Song"# "Blessings in Disguise"# "Temperature Train"# "Drunken Lady of the Morning"# "Prometheus Busted"# "Honolulu"# "Rolling Hills"# "Michael Angelo's Blues"... |
— | 196 | — | — | |
| Michael Murphey Michael Murphey (album) - Track listing :# "Nobody's Gonna Tell Me How to Play My Music"# "Healing Springs"# "Rye by-the-Sea"# "You Can Only Say So Much"# "Observer"# "Holy Roller"# "Good Ol' Natural Habits"# "Fort Worth I Love You"# "Ace in the Hole"# "Southwestern Pilgrimage"... |
— | — | — | — | Epic | |
| 1975 | Blue Sky – Night Thunder | — | 18 | — | 6 | |
| 1976 | Swans Against the Sun Swans Against the Sun - Track listing :# "Swans Against the Sun"# "Renegade"# "Rhythm of the Road"# "Pink Lady"# "Mansion on the Hill"# "Dancing in the Meadow"# "Temple of the Sun"# "Buffalo Gun"# "Wild West Show"# "Natural Bridges"# "Seasons Change"- Credits :... |
47 | 44 | — | 92 | |
| Flowing Free Forever Flowing Free Forever - Track listing :# "Flowing Free Forever"# "North Wind and a New Moon"# "Cherokee Fiddle"# "See How All the Horses Come Dancing"# "Yellow House"# "Changing Woman"# "High Country Caravan"# "Running Wide Open"# "Our Lady of Sante Fe"# "Wandering Minstrel"... |
— | 130 | — | — | ||
| 1978 | Lone Wolf Lone Wolf (Michael Martin Murphey album) - Track listing :# "Nothing Is Your Own"# "Paradise Tonight"# "No Man's Land"# "Loners"# "Song Dog"# "Arrows in the Darkness"# "Hard to Live Together"# "Night Patrol"# "Loving Time"# "Song Dog"- Credits :... |
— | 99 | — | — | |
| 1979 | Peaks, Valleys, Honky Tonks & Alleys Peaks, Valleys, Honky Tonks & Alleys Peaks, Valleys, Honky Tonks & Alleys is Michael Martin Murphey's eighth album. The first 5 tracks were recorded live at the legendary Palamino Club... |
— | 206 | — | — | |
| 1981 | Hard Country Hard Country (Michael Martin Murphey album) Hard Country is Michael Martin Murphey's ninth album. This is Murphey's first film soundtrack, for the 1981 film Hard Country, starring Jan-Michael Vincent and Kim Basinger.- Track listing :# "Cowboy Cadillac" – Michael Martin Murphey... |
— | — | — | — | |
| 1982 | Michael Martin Murphey Michael Martin Murphey (album) - Track listing :# "Still Takin' Chances"# "Two Step Is Easy"# "What's Forever For"# "Take It Like a Man"# "First Taste of Freedom"# "Love Affairs"# "Ring of Truth"# "Crystal"# "Lost River"# "Hearts in the Right Place"- Credits :... |
14 | 69 | — | — | Liberty |
| 1983 | The Heart Never Lies The Heart Never Lies (Michael Martin Murphey album) - Track listing :# "Will It Be Love by Morning"# "Don't Count the Rainy Days"# "Disenchanted"# "Goodbye Money Mountain"# "Radio Land"# "Maybe This Time"# "Showdown"# "Scared Heart"# "Crazy Blue"# "Heart Never Lies"- Credits :... |
27 | 187 | — | — | |
| 1986 | Tonight We Ride Tonight We Ride Tonight We Ride is Michael Martin Murphey's twelfth album. This was Murphey's debut album on Warner Bros. Records.- Track listing :# "Tonight We Ride"# "Rollin' Nowhere"# "Innocent Hearts"# "Close to My Heart"# "Face to Face With the Night"... |
46 | — | — | — | Warner Bros. |
| 1987 | Americana Americana (Michael Martin Murphey album) - Track listing :# "A Face in the Crowd" # "A Long Line of Love"# "Once Upon a Time"# "Out of Touch"# "Almost Free"# "Worlds Apart"# "No One Else But You"# "You're History"# "My Darling Wherever You Are"# "I'm Never Gonna Let You Go"... |
32 | — | — | — | |
| 1988 | River of Time River of Time (Michael Martin Murphey album) - Track listing :# "From the Word Go"# "Talkin' to the Wrong Man" # "River of Time"# "Vanishing Breed"# "Pilgrims on the Way "# "The Running Blood"# "Children of the Wild World"# " Miss You Girl"... |
11 | — | — | — | |
| 1989 | Land of Enchantment Land of Enchantment (Michael Martin Murphey album) - Track listing :# "Never Givin' up on Love"# "Got to Pay the Fiddler"# "Route 66"# "Land of Enchantment"# "Jukebox"# "Woodsmoke in the Wind"# "The Heart Knows the Truth"# "Land of the Navajo"# "Desperation Road"# "Family Tree"- Credits :... |
33 | — | — | — | |
| 1990 | Cowboy Songs Cowboy Songs (Michael Martin Murphey album) Cowboy Songs is Michael Martin Murphey's sixteenth album. This is Murphey's first album of cowboy music and is considered one of the better modern collections.-Track listings:# "Cowboy Logic... A |
25 | — | — | — | |
| 1991 | Cowboy Christmas: Cowboy Songs II Cowboy Christmas: Cowboy Songs II Cowboy Christmas: Cowboy Songs II is Michael Martin Murphey's seventeenth album. This is Murphey's first album of Christmas music.- Track listing :# "I Heard The Bells On Christmas / Old Time Christmas"# "Jolly Old St... |
— | — | — | — | |
| 1993 | Cowboy Songs III – Rhymes of the Renegades | — | — | — | — | |
| 1995 | Sagebrush Symphony Sagebrush Symphony Sagebrush Symphony is Michael Martin Murphey's nineteenth album. Recorded live with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, this ambitious album, which presents cowboy songs and poems in a symphonic setting, contains a selection of Murphey's most popular songs, as well as traditional cowboy music... |
— | — | — | — | |
| 1997 | Horse Legends Horse Legends Horse Legends is Michael Martin Murphey's twentieth album. This is Murphey's tribute to the horse and contains a duet with Johnny Cash "Tennessee Stud," cover versions of Dan Fogelberg's "Run for the Roses" and Gordon Lightfoot's "The Pony Man," and beautiful re-recordings of Murphey's "Wildfire"... |
— | — | — | — | |
| 1998 | Cowboy Songs Four Cowboy Songs Four Cowboy Songs Four is Michael Martin Murphey's twenty-first album. This is Murphey's fourth album of cowboy songs.- Track listing :# "Song from Lonesome Dove"# "Trail Song Medley: Colorado Trail / Twilight on the Trail / Along the Navaj"... |
— | — | — | — | West Fest |
| 1999 | Acoustic Christmas Carols Acoustic Christmas Carols Acoustic Christmas Carols is Michael Martin Murphey's twenty-second album. This is Murphey's second album of Christmas music.- Track listing :# "Home Sweet Home"# "O Little Town of Bethlehem"# "The First Noel"# "In the Bleak Midwinter"... |
— | — | — | — | |
| 2001 | Playing Favorites Playing Favorites Playing Favorites is Michael Martin Murphey's twenty-third album. This is Murphey's finest compilation album and contains excellent rerecorded versions of his best-loved hits.- Track listing :# "Carolina in the Pines"# "Adobe Walls"# "Cherokee Fiddle"... |
— | — | — | — | Real West |
| 2002 | Cowboy Classics: Playing Favorites II Cowboy Classics: Playing Favorites II Cowboy Classics: Playing Favorites II is Michael Martin Murphey's twenty-fourth album. This is Murphey's followup to his successful 2001 compilation Playing Favorites and contains rerecorded versions of many of his cowboy songs.- Track listing :... |
— | — | — | — | |
| Cowboy Christmas III Cowboy Christmas III Cowboy Christmas III is Michael Martin Murphey's twenty-fifth album. This is Murphey's third album of Christmas music and features traditional music and poetry performed by Michael Martin Murphy and cowgirl poet, Sarah Rische... |
— | — | — | — | Wildfire | |
| 2004 | Live at Billy Bob's Texas | — | — | — | — | Smith |
| 2006 | Heartland Cowboy: Cowboy Songs, Vol. 5 Heartland Cowboy: Cowboy Songs, Vol. 5 Heartland Cowboy: Cowboy Songs, Vol. 5 is Michael Martin Murphey's twenty-seventh album. This is Murphey's fifth album of cowboy songs and includes the hit song "Long and Lonesome Ride to Dalhart," which won the 2006 Wrangler Award for Outstanding Original Western Composition... |
— | — | — | — | West Fest |
| 2009 | Buckaroo Blue Grass Buckaroo Blue Grass Buckaroo Blue Grass is Michael Martin Murphey's twenty-eighth album, and his first album of bluegrass music.- Track listing :# "Lone Cowboy" # "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round?" # "Lost River" # "Carolina in the Pines" # "Cherokee Fiddle"... |
— | — | 6 | — | Rural Rhythm |
| 2010 | Buckaroo Blue Grass II – Riding Song Buckaroo Blue Grass II Buckaroo Blue Grass II – Riding Song is Michael Martin Murphey's twenty-ninth album, and his second album of bluegrass music.- Song listing :# "Blue Sky Riding Song"# "Running Gun"# "Backslider’s Wine"# "Rollin’ Nowhere"# "Southwestern Pilgrimage"... |
73 | — | 5 | — | |
| 2011 | Tall Grass & Cool Water Tall Grass & Cool Water Tall Grass & Cool Water is Michael Martin Murphey's thirtieth album, his third album of bluegrass music, and his sixth album of cowboy music.- Song listing :# "Texas Cowboy"# "Cool Water"# "Santa Fe Trail"# "Way Out There"# "Railroad Corral"... |
— | — | 4 | — | |
- ACowboy Songs has been certified Gold by the RIAARecording Industry Association of AmericaThe Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
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Compilation albums
| Year | Title | US Country | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | The Best of Michael Martin Murphey | 20 | Liberty |
| 1990 | The Best of Country | — | Curb |
| 1992 | What's Forever For | — | Cema |
| 1998 | Wildfire 1972-1984 | — | Raven |
| 2001 | Ultimate Collection | — | Hip-O |
| 2006 | Cowboy Christmas Gift Set | — | Wildfire |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US AC Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
CAN Country | CAN AC | CAN | |||
| 1972 | "Geronimo's Cadillac Geronimo's Cadillac (Michael Martin Murphey song) "Geronimo's Cadillac" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country artist Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in July 1972 as the lead single from his debut album of the same name Geronimo's Cadillac... " |
— | — | 37 | — | — | 30 | Geronimo's Cadillac |
| 1973 | "Calico Silver" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Cosmic Cowboy" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Cosmic Cowboy Souvenir | |
| 1974 | "Holy Roller" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Michael Murphey |
| "Fort Worth I Love You" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1975 | "Wildfire Wildfire (song) "Wildfire" is the title of a song written by Michael Murphey and Larry Cansler. It was originally recorded by American country artist Murphey , and appears on his 1975 album Blue Sky - Night Thunder.... " |
— | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | Blue Sky - Night Thunder |
| "Carolina in the Pines Carolina in the Pines "Carolina in the Pines" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in August 1975 as the second and final single from the album Blue Sky - Night Thunder. It peaked at #21 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, #4 on the Adult... " |
— | * | 21 | — | 4 | 25 | ||
| 1976 | "Renegade" | — | — | 39 | — | — | 48 | Swans Against the Sun |
| "A Mansion on the Hill" | 36 | — | — | 20 | — | — | ||
| "Rhythm of the Road" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977 | "Cherokee Fiddle" | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | Flowing Free Forever |
| "Changing Woman" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978 | "Nothing Is Your Own" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Lone Wolf |
| "Paradise Tonight" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979 | "Chain Gang" | 93 | — | — | — | — | — | Peaks, Valleys, Honky Tonks & Alleys |
| "Backslider's Wine" | 92 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981 | "Take It as It Comes" (w/ Katy Moffatt) | 83 | — | — | — | — | — | Michael Martin Murphey |
| 1982 | "The Two-Step Is Easy" | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "What's Forever For What's Forever For "What Forever For" is the title of a song written by Rafe VanHoy and recorded by Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in June 1982 as the third single from the album, Michael Martin Murphey. "What's Forever For" would be Murphey's second country hit and the first of two number ones on the... " |
1 | 4 | 19 | 1 | 7 | — | ||
| "Still Taking Chances Still Taking Chances "Still Taking Chances" is the title of a song written and recorded by Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in November 1982 as the fourth single from the album, Michael Martin Murphey. The song peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles in early 1983 and at #76 on the U.S. Billboard... " |
3 | 28 | 76 | 17 | 9 | — | ||
| 1983 | "Love Affairs Love Affairs "Love Affairs" is the title of a song written and recorded by Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in March 1983 as the fifth and final single from the album, Michael Martin Murphey. The song peaked at #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles and at #18 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks... " |
11 | — | — | 18 | — | — | |
| "Don't Count the Rainy Days Don't Count the Rainy Days "Don't Count the Rainy Days" is the title of a song written by Victor Careaga and Wayland Holyfield, and recorded by Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in August 1983 as the lead single from the album, The Heart Never Lies. The song peaked at #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles in... " |
9 | 16 | 106 | 22 | — | — | The Heart Never Lies | |
| 1984 | "Will It Be Love By Morning Will It Be Love By Morning "Will It Be Love By Morning" is the title of a song written by Lewis Anderson and Fred Koller, and recorded by Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in January 1984 as the second single from the album, The Heart Never Lies. The song peaked at #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles and at #5... " |
7 | — | — | 5 | — | — | |
| "Disenchanted Disenchanted "Disenchanted" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in April 1984 as the third single from the album, The Heart Never Lies. The song peaked at #12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles and at #11 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks... " |
12 | 12 | — | 11 | 22 | — | ||
| "Radio Land" | 19 | — | — | 30 | — | — | ||
| "What She Wants What She Wants "What She Wants" is the title of a song written by Renee Armand and Kerry Chater, and recorded by Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in November 1984 as the lead single from the compilation album, The Best of Michael Martin Murphey. The song peaked at #8 on the U.S... " |
8 | — | — | 6 | — | — | The Best of Michael Martin Murphey | |
| 1985 | "Carolina in the Pines Carolina in the Pines "Carolina in the Pines" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in August 1975 as the second and final single from the album Blue Sky - Night Thunder. It peaked at #21 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, #4 on the Adult... " (re-release) |
9 | — | — | 11 | — | — | |
| 1986 | "Tonight We Ride" | 26 | — | — | 28 | — | — | Tonight We Ride |
| "Rollin' Nowhere Rollin' Nowhere "Rollin' Nowhere" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in May 1986 as the second single from the album, Tonight We Ride. The song peaked at #15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles and at #14 on the Canadian RPM... " |
15 | — | — | 14 | — | — | ||
| "Fiddlin' Man" | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987 | "A Face in the Crowd A Face in the Crowd (Michael Martin Murphey and Holly Dunn song) "A Face in the Crowd" is the title of a song written by Karen Staley and Gary Harrison, and recorded by American country music artists Michael Martin Murphey and Holly Dunn. It was released in January 1987 as the first single from the album Americana... " (w/ Holly Dunn Holly Dunn Holly Dunn is a country music artist who first found fame with her 1986 Top-10 hit "Daddy's Hands" from her self-titled début album. Dunn has charted more than a dozen country singles, two of which reaching the #1 spot.Dunn is the daughter of a minister father... ) |
4 | — | — | 7 | — | — | Americana |
| "A Long Line of Love A Long Line of Love "A Long Line of Love" is the title of a song written by Paul Overstreet and Thom Schuyler. It was recorded by American country music artist, Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in April 1987 as the second single from his album Americana. The song reached number one on the U.S. and Canadian... " |
1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | ||
| "I'm Gonna Miss You, Girl I'm Gonna Miss You, Girl "I'm Gonna Miss You, Girl" is the title of a song written by Jesse Winchester and recorded by Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in October 1987 as the lead single from the album, River of Time. The song peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and at #4 on the Canadian RPM... " |
3 | — | — | 4 | — | — | River of Time | |
| 1988 | "Talkin' to the Wrong Man Talkin' to the Wrong Man "Talkin' to the Wrong Man" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Michael Martin Murphey with his son Ryan Murphey. It was released in February 1988 as the second single from Murphey's album River of Time... " (w/ Ryan Murphey Ryan Murphey Ryan Murphey is a Grammy-nominated music producer, songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist. Since 1988, Ryan has toured with his father, Michael Martin Murphey, as lead guitarist and vocalist in the Rio Grande Band. Ryan is Michael's oldest son, and has worked with his father extensively throughout... ) |
4 | — | — | 1 | — | — | |
| "Pilgrims on the Way (Matthew's Song)" | 29 | — | — | * | — | — | ||
| "From the Word Go From the Word Go (song) "From the Word Go" is the title of a song written by Michael Garvin and Chris Waters, and recorded by Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in late 1988 as the fourth and final single from the album, River of Time. The song peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.-Chart... " |
3 | — | — | * | — | — | ||
| 1989 | "Never Givin' Up on Love Never Givin' Up on Love "Never Givin' Up on Love" is the title of a song written by Michael Smotherman and recorded by Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in April 1989 as the lead single from the album, Land of Enchantment. The song peaked at #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and at #21 on the... " |
9 | — | — | 21 | — | — | Land of Enchantment |
| "Family Tree" | 48 | — | — | 81 | — | — | ||
| 1990 | "Route 66" | 67 | — | — | 44 | — | — | |
| "Cowboy Logic" | 52 | — | — | 71 | — | — | Cowboy Songs | |
| 1991 | "Let the Cowboy Dance" | 74 | — | — | 71 | — | — | |
| "What Am I Doing Here" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993 | "Big Iron" | — | — | — | 62 | — | — | Cowboy Songs III |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "Disenchanted" | |
| 1985 | "What She Wants" | |
| 1987 | "Long Line of Love" | |
| 1988 | "I'm Gonna Miss You Girl" | |
| 1989 | "Never Giving Up on Love" | |
| 1990 | "Route 66" | |
| "Cowboy Logic" | ||
| 1991 | "Red River Valley" | Michael Merriman |
| "Cowboy Christmas Ball" (w/ Suzy Bogguss Suzy Bogguss Susan Kay "Suzy" Bogguss is an American country music singer. In the 1980s and 90s she released one platinum and three gold albums and charted six top ten singles, winning the Academy of Country Music's award for Top New Female Vocalist and the Country Music Association's Horizon Award.After... ) |
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| 1992 | "Dancing with a Memory" | Michael Martin Murphey |
| 1993 | "Big Iron" | Michael Merriman |
| 1998 | "Born to Buck Bad Luck" | Adrienne Thiele |