Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter Name Michael Murphey Music group Lost Gonzo Band | Years active 1964–present Children Ryan Murphey | |
 | ||
Born March 14, 1945 (age 79)
Dallas, Texas, United States ( 1945-03-14 ) Genres Western, country, folk, pop, bluegrass, soft rock Instruments Vocals, guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica, mandolin Labels A&M, Epic, Liberty,
Warner Bros. Records,
Valley Entertainment,
Real West Productions,
Rural Rhythm Records,
Western Jubilee Recording Role Singer · michaelmartinmurphey.com Albums Cowboy Christmas, Cowboy Songs, Blue Sky – Night Thunder, Red River Drifter, Cosmic Cowboy Souvenir Profiles | ||
Michael martin murphey carolina in the pines
Michael John Murphy is a folk musician based in Omaha, Nebraska. He plays various instruments, including the guitar, piano, and Native American flute. He has been a singer songwriter based out of Omaha since the 1970s.
Contents
Michael martin murphey lexi walker duet what s forever for
Style
His lyrics are often socially conscious or spiritual, and he uses personal stories and anecdotes in his shows. He has been writing songs since the 1970s, as noted by the lyrics to song, Liquor Stores, which begins: "I was working at a liquor store in July of '73". More recently, he has garnered popularity with the Native American flute, which he started playing after his mother (who was part Cherokee) died.
Production and studio work
He has worked with a number of other well known musicians, including Brule, Mark Holland, The Young Bucks, and Duane Martin, Sr.. Murphy helped produce and does the instrumentation on Martin's 2010 project, Cante Tenza Olowan - Song For The Strong Heart [1].
Activism
Michael has been involved with the Whiteclay Advisory Committee, a group of activists concerned about alcoholism on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and about the sale of alcohol on the border of the reservation in the town of Whiteclay, Nebraska. Along with Canupa Gluha Mani, he performed and produced the music for The Battle for Whiteclay, a documentary about the Whiteclay issue. Murphy has been featured at the Omaha Summer Arts Festival, the Avoca Iowa Folk Festival, and the Lincoln Plainsong Festival.
Music education
He has taught Native American flute at clinics and colleges in the midwest, especially the Omaha Metropolitan Community College and the Nebraska Indian Community College and St. Augustine Mission in Macy, Nebraska. Murphy is a member of the Nebraska Arts Council and the International Native American Flute Association.