News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

JAMES MCMURTRY


BIO:
The son of acclaimed author Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment), James grew up on a steady diet of Johnny Cash and Roy Acuff records. His first album, Too Long in the Wasteland (released in 1989), was produced by John Mellencamp and marked the beginning of a series of acclaimed projects for Columbia and Sugar Hill. In 1996, McMurtry received a Grammy nomination for his Longform Music Video of Where'd You Hide The Body. 1997's It Had To Happen received the American Indie Award for Best Americana Album. In 2004, McMurtry released the universally lauded Live in Aught-Three on Compadre Records. 2005's Childish Things garnered some of the highest critical praise of McMurtry's career and spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Americana Music Radio Chart in 2005 and 2006. In September 2006, Childish Things and "We Can't Make It Here" won the Americana Music Awards for Album and Song of the Year, respectively. McMurtry received more Americana Music Award nominations for 2008's Just Us Kids. This album marked his highest Billboard 200 chart position in more than 19 years. In 2009, Live in Europe was released, capturing The McMurtry Band's first European tour and extraordinary live set. Along with seasoned band members Ronnie Johnson, Daren Hess, and Tim Holt, the disc features special guests Ian McLagan and Jon Dee Graham. Also, for the first time ever, video of the James McMurtry Band's live performance is available on the included DVD. The poignant lyrics of his immense catalog still ring true today. In 2011, "We Can't Make It Here" was cited among 'The Nation's' "Best Protest Songs Ever." Bob Lefsetz writes, "'We Can't Make It Here' has stood the test of time because of its unmitigated truth." Never one to rest on his laurels, James McMurtry continues to tour constantly, and consistently puts on a "must-see" powerhouse performance. 'The Washington Post' noted McMurtry's live prowess: "Much attention is paid to James McMurtry's lyrics, and rightfully so: He creates a novel's worth of emotion and experience in four minutes of blisteringly stark couplets. What gets overlooked, however, is that he's an accomplished rock guitar player. At a sold-out Birchmere, the Austin-based artist was joined by drummer Daren Hess and bassist Ronnie Johnson in a set that demonstrated the raw power of wince-inducing imagery propelled by electric guitar. It was serious stuff, imparted by a singularly serious band."

Latest Articles


Kentucky Songwriter Stoll Vaughan To Release New Album Photo Kentucky Songwriter Stoll Vaughan To Release New Album
by Michael Major - December 12, 2023

Musically grounded in his John Mellencamp Indiana days, the album features Dane Clark on drums (Mellencamp), John Ginty on keys (Sheryl Crow, Allman Betts Band), Mike Grosser on bass (Grace Potter), Johnny Stachela with slide guitar on 'Thick Of It' and 'Killing Floor' (Duane Betts, Allman Betts Ban...

Jon Dee Graham Releases New Album 'ONLY DEAD FOR A LITTLE WHILE' Photo Jon Dee Graham Releases New Album 'ONLY DEAD FOR A LITTLE WHILE'
by Blair Ingenthron - November 11, 2023

JON DEE GRAHAM's new album 'Only Dead For a Little While' explores mortality in a powerful and introspective way....

Jon Dee Graham Premieres His New Single 'There's A Ghost On The Train' Photo Jon Dee Graham Premieres His New Single 'There's A Ghost On The Train'
by Michael Major - October 31, 2023

Jon Dee Graham premieres his new single 'there's a ghost on the train' on Halloween. The single is part of his upcoming album 'Only Dead for a little while.' The single, 'there's a ghost on the train,' references an eerie trip Jon Dee took on the legendary train the 'City of New Orleans,' immortaliz...

Rachel Maddow Show Features Bettysoo and James McMurtry's Anti-Drag TN Law Photo Rachel Maddow Show Features Bettysoo and James McMurtry's Anti-Drag TN Law
by Michael Major - May 10, 2023

James McMurtry – a tall, quiet, enigmatic, and well-respected songwriter, and son of novelist Larry McMurtry – and BettySoo, a five-foot powerhouse of a singer and guitar player, award-winning songwriter, and second-generation Korean-American Texan – had been on tour together throughout the spring. ...

Video: Jake Ybarra Delivers Latest Music Video 'BloodFire' Photo Video: Jake Ybarra Delivers Latest Music Video 'BloodFire'
by Chloe Rabinowitz - April 24, 2023

Jake Ybarra's latest music video, 'BloodFire,' premiered today. A companion piece to Jake's newest single, the clip is deceptively simple - and compelling. ...

Max Gomez Releases New Video 'Key To The Highway' Photo Max Gomez Releases New Video 'Key To The Highway'
by Sarah Jae Leiber - July 29, 2021

Max Gomez has also announced new tour dates for 2021, including performances at The Red River Folk Festival in September, an annual 4-day event held in the resort mountain town of Red River, New Mexico which Gomez curates....

THE MASTERSONS Premiere 'In the Name of God' Single Photo THE MASTERSONS Premiere 'In the Name of God' Single
by Sarah Jae Leiber - October 06, 2020

The Mastersons, singer-songwriters/multi-instrumentalists Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore, channel vintage acoustic rock (think Fairport Convention, Fleetwood Mac and even Led Zeppelin's folk songs) on their somber new track, 'In the Name of God,' premiering today at Glide. ...

Adam Carroll To Release 'I Walked In Them Shoes' April 12 Photo Adam Carroll To Release 'I Walked In Them Shoes' April 12
by Kaitlin Milligan - March 06, 2019

Given that they don't come around all that often, the announcement of a new collection of Adam Carroll songs is always cause for a certain amount of celebration by discerning aficionados of quality Americana music. Mind, nothing too showy or over-the-top, because that would be at odds with the whole...

Experimental Americana Artist William Harries Graham Releases New Album JAKES Today Photo Experimental Americana Artist William Harries Graham Releases New Album JAKES Today
by Tori Hartshorn - February 22, 2019

Austin-based, indie Americana artist William Harries Graham is thrilled to release his brand new album, “Jakes,”today. Recorded and mixed by platinum, Grammy-award winner Stuart Sullivan at Wire Recording in Austin, Texas, the record features William Harries Graham on lead vocals and guitar, Mike Me...

Craft Recordings Set To Re-Release Long Out Of Print Vinyl, Ted Hawkins' WATCH YOUR S Photo Craft Recordings Set To Re-Release Long Out Of Print Vinyl, Ted Hawkins' WATCH YOUR STEP
by Macon Prickett - June 19, 2018

Craft Recordings celebrates the reissue of Ted Hawkins' 1982 album Watch Your Step. This release marks the first-ever official vinyl reissue of Watch Your Step, available on August 3, 2018 (8/3). From his obscure beginnings in Biloxi, Mississippi, to playing on the streets of Venice, California for ...

The Oak Ridge Boys New Album 17th AVENUE REVIVAL Out Today Photo The Oak Ridge Boys New Album 17th AVENUE REVIVAL Out Today
by Macon Prickett - March 19, 2018

With the release of their highly anticipated new album 17th Avenue Revival (March 16, Lightning Rod Records), The Oak Ridge Boys are hitting the Big Apple this week where the quartet will make appearances on Good Day NY, Varney & Company, Access Hollywood, PBS's METRO FOCUS, Fox & Friends, IMUS in t...

Ed Romanoff's New Album THE ORPHAN KING Available Now Photo Ed Romanoff's New Album THE ORPHAN KING Available Now
by Macon Prickett - February 23, 2018

Ed Romanoff's highly anticipated album,The Orphan King, is out now viaPineRock Records. Album purchase is available HERE. The title of the follow-up to his 2012 self-titled debut stems in part from Romanoff's recent discovery from a DNA test that his father's identity was mistaken....

Ed Romanoff's Newest Album 'The Orphan King' Out Today Photo Ed Romanoff's Newest Album 'The Orphan King' Out Today
by BWW News Desk - February 23, 2018

Ed Romanoff's newest album The Orphan King is slated for release February 23. The first single Less Broken Now premieres at M Music & Musicians Magazine, see the post HERE and share the track HERE....

The Oak Ridge Boys Set To Release 17TH AVENUE REVIVAL 3/16 Photo The Oak Ridge Boys Set To Release 17TH AVENUE REVIVAL 3/16
by Tori Hartshorn - January 18, 2018

The Oak Ridge Boys Set To Release 17TH AVENUE REVIVAL 3/16...

PopMatters Premieres Ed Romanoff's Video For LESS BROKEN NOW New Album Due 2/23 Photo PopMatters Premieres Ed Romanoff's Video For LESS BROKEN NOW New Album Due 2/23
by Tori Hartshorn - January 16, 2018

PopMatters Premieres Ed Romanoff's Video For LESS BROKEN NOW New Album Due 2/23...

Ed Romanoff's Newest Album 'The Orphan King' Out 2/23 Photo Ed Romanoff's Newest Album 'The Orphan King' Out 2/23
by Caryn Robbins - December 04, 2017

Ed Romanoff's newest album The Orphan King is slated for release February 23. The first single Less Broken Now premieres at M Music & Musicians Magazine, see the post HERE and share the track HERE....

Max Gomez Releases New EP 'Me & Joe' On Brigadoon Records Photo Max Gomez Releases New EP 'Me & Joe' On Brigadoon Records
by Caryn Robbins - September 26, 2017

New Mexico-based songwriter Max Gomez has released his new EP, Me & Joe on Brigadoon Records. An artist in the vein of Jackson Browne and John Prine, Gomez unites beatific melodies with weathered lyrics and a down-home delivery that make the five tracks that make up the record shine with honesty and...












Videos

Recommended For You