michael martin murphey

Michael Martin Murphey, born on March 14, 1945, in Dallas, Texas, developed an early affinity for cowboy songs and stories from his grandfather’s ranches. By the age of 17, he began performing Western songs professionally and subsequently played in Dallas clubs, forming a band that gained local recognition. While studying Greek at North Texas State University and later creative writing and medieval history at UCLA, he connected with other musicians and signed a publishing contract with Sparrow Records, entering the Los Angeles folk-music scene. His early career saw him collaborate with Michael Nesmith of The Monkees, co-writing “What Am I Doing Hangin’ Round” for their multi-million selling album *Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.* in 1967. He also formed the Lewis and Clarke Expedition, releasing a self-titled album and achieving a modest hit with “I Feel Good (I Feel Bad).” Records by Flatt and Scruggs and Bobbie Gentry included his songs, and Kenny Rogers and the First Edition dedicated an entire album, *The Ballad of Calico*, to his compositions.

In 1971, Murphey returned to Texas, where he significantly contributed to the progressive country genre. He signed with A&M Records, and his 1972 debut album, *Geronimo’s Cadillac*, produced by Bob Johnston, featured the politically charged title track, which reached the top 40 on US pop charts. *Rolling Stone* magazine recognized him as the “best new songwriter in the country” for this album. His 1975 album, *Blue Sky – Night Thunder*, on Epic Records, became a major commercial success with the platinum-certified single “Wildfire,” reaching number three on the *Billboard* Hot 100, and “Carolina in the Pines.” Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Murphey continued to release successful albums and achieved several country hits, including the number-one track “What’s Forever For” in 1982. He also earned the Academy of Country Music’s Best New Male Vocalist of the Year award in 1983 and a Grammy nomination for “A Face in the Crowd” with Holly Dunn in 1987.

Transitioning in the 1990s, Murphey returned to his roots, focusing on Western music. His 1990 album, *Cowboy Songs*, became the first Western album since Marty Robbins’ 1980 *No. 1 Cowboy* to achieve gold status, inspiring the formation of Warner Western, a subsidiary label for Western music. He founded WestFest in 1986, an annual festival celebrating Western art and culture, and continued to release multiple *Cowboy Songs* volumes, including collaborations such as *Sagebrush Symphony* (1995) with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra. His work extended into bluegrass in the 2000s, with albums like *Buckaroo Blue Grass* (2009), which earned him another Grammy nomination. Murphey has consistently advocated for Western wilderness and culture, using his platform for causes such as Native American rights and private property rights for farmers and ranchers.