Come April 5th, Eddie’s Attic will have a true legend in its presence. In the early 1970s, Rolling Stone Magazine called Michael Martin Murphey “one of the best songwriters in America.” Since that time, Murphey has left an indelible mark on the American music landscape crafting and recording such iconic hits as Wildfire, Carolina In The Pines, Geronimo’s Cadillac, Cowboy Logic, Cherokee Fiddle, Boy From The Country and more. In the process, he has topped the pop, country, bluegrass and western music charts, earned six gold albums and multiple Grammy nominations.
Through all the chart-jumping and genre-busting, Murphey has remained constant to an honest, sophisticated approach to his songwriting. His forthcoming Red River Drifter (set for release on Red River Entertainment) is a collection that draws from a deep well of eclectic influences ranging from classical to country, blues to bluegrass, pop to western. In fact, it’s simply impossible to pigeon-hole Murphey to one specific genre. He is no more country than rock, no more bluegrass than classical. He is, rather, a true American songwriter.
A native Texan, Murphey’s songs have always reflected his lifestyle, and are understandably seen through a Western lens, often built on outdoor themes with the sensibilities of his cowboy lifestyle. From the first notes of the bluegrass-driven Peaceful Country, Red River Drifter takes listeners on a journey through the broad spectrum of music Murphey absorbs while traveling from city to city, with up to 200 dates a year, from coast to coast.
At the core of his music is a stubborn determination to be the best songwriter he can be, a focus that has led to his songs being covered by such artists as Lyle Lovett, John Denver, Kenny Rogers, Hoyt Axton, The Monkees and more. “I spend a lot of time on the road listening to all kinds of music,” he says. “I grew up in Texas, the world’s number one musical crossroads where anything goes musically. Texas has produced great artists from every genre. You can wake up and say ‘today, I think I’ll write a symphony’ and you can find an audience for it there. The same can be said about any genre in music. Texans love music. They enjoy opera and they enjoy bluegrass. I am a product of that, and I am the number one fan of all types of music.”
Don’t miss Michael Martin Murphey’s show at Eddie’s Attic on Saturday, April 5th!
Doors at 6 p.m. Tickets: GA $36 in advance, $42 at the door. Table seats are $45 and must be purchased in multiples of 4. Online and phone sales close at 5 p.m. day of show.
