Michael Martin Murphey Named Entertainer of the Year

The Texas Music Awards are sanctioned by the Academy of Texas Music, Inc., and the show was presented by MyTexasMusic.com, the retail partner of the show’s production company, Payline Productions.  Awards were presented to independent Texas performers in numerous categories.  

Michael Martin Murphey was thrilled at the honor of Entertainer of the Year saying, “No entertainer can entertain without an audience, so I want to thank all the promoters, presenters, and loyal friends who have attended many concerts over the years, and most importantly the support and patience of my family. A special thanks to Mike Drudge of Class Act Entertainment, Kay Waggoner of PLA Media, Penni McDaniel of Hope River Entertainment (Publicist for Rural Rhythm Records), Sam Passamano and all the family and friends at Rural Rhythm. Thanks to everyone!

“I also feel like the award was a victory for everyone who performs and presents Cowboy Music and Cowboy Poetry, as that is the genre of material I’ve worked into all my performances since 1989. My special thanks to Hal Cannon and the staff of The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Western Folklife Center, Don and Kathy Edwards, Red Steagall, The Sons of the San Joaquin, Bethany Braley, and Dottie Tinsley (wife of Jim Bob Tinsley), Waddie and Lisa Mitchell, and Ian Tyson - all of whom have been wonderfully supportive friends in the Cowboy Music and Poetry field.”

After the ceremony, Murphey performed a concert that turned out to be a reunion with most of the members of the original Cosmic Cowboy Band from Murphey’s Austin, Texas days. Band members included: Bob Livingston, Gary P. Nunn, Craig Hillis and Herb Steiner. Michael McGeary (the first drummer in the band) and Leonard Arnold (original guitar on “Geronimo”) couldn’t be there, Robert Fripp performed on drums. The concert finale included “Home with the Armadillos” and “Wildfire.”