Michael Martin Murphey
Michael Martin Murphey’s musical journey has taken many unpredictable paths over the past 50 years. Topping the Pop, Country, Western and Bluegrass charts, Murphey has never been one to rest on his laurels.
A loyal American son from Texas, Murphey is best known for his chart-topping hits “Wildfire,” Carolina In The Pines,” “What’s Forever For,” “Long Line of Love,” “Geronimo’s Cadillac”, “Cowboy Logic,” and many more across his 35 albums released to date.
During the early 1970s in Austin, TX along with artists like Jerry Jeff Walker and Gary P. Nunn, Murphey created the “Cosmic Cowboy” movement, which was pivotal in drawing artists like Willie Nelson to the scene and helped birth the “Outlaw” Country movement. In 1972, Murphey signed a major label deal. Discovered by renowned producer Bob Johnston (Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan), Murphey released his pivotal debut, Geronimo’s Cadillac. “On the strength of his first album alone,” proclaimed Rolling Stone Magazine, “Michael Murphey is the best new songwriter in the country.” In 1975 he topped the pop charts with his hit singles, “Wildfire” and “Carolina In the Pines” from the RIAA Certified Gold album Blue Sky - Night Thunder.
Then, in the early 1980s, Murphey recorded a watershed country album for Capitol Records produced by Jim Ed Norman. He topped the Country Charts with the “Still Taking Chances” single, which solidified his relationship with country radio as a hit singer-songwriter, and exposed him to an entirely new audience. Twelve years after his first hit in Pop music, Murphey was awarded “Best New Artist” by the Academy of Country Music (beating out George Strait). He continued to top the country charts throughout the decade with hits like “What’s Forever For,” the Grammy nominated “A Face In the Crowd,” (with Holly Dunn), the number one “A Long Line of Love”, “I’m Gonna Miss You Girl”, and many more.
In 1990 he circled around to one of his first loves, cowboy music. Cowboy Songs Vol.1, was wildly successful and became the first album of cowboy music to go gold since the heyday of Marty Robbins. Cowboy Songs was so popular and highly regarded that Warner Bros. created an entire imprint called Warner Western. In the midst of this Country / Western successes he founded a Western cultural festival called “Westfest”, deemed “the best festival in America”. It is American West showmanship, culture, lifestyle and scholarship.
Ever a genre-busting artist, Murphey refocused his attention again in 2009 with his Grammy nominated Buckaroo Blue Grass. That project — and two subsequent releases, Buckaroo Blue Grass II and Tall Grass & Cool Water — topped the Bluegrass charts.
Murphey has been awarded gold albums for Cowboy Songs, Vol. I, Blue Sky Night Thunder, and a Platinum single, “Wildfire”. He has been given the prestigious Charlie Russell Award for Western Heritage. He is a 5-time recipient of the Wrangler award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and Cowboy Hall of Fame, and boasts awards from the Academy of Country Music, Rock Music Awards, Academy of Western Music Awards, Governor of New Mexico’s Outstanding Achievement Award, Outstanding Son of Texas Award by the Texas Legislature, and multiple from BMI. In 2009, he was inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association Hall of Fame, joining old friends Willie Nelson, Guy Clark and Allen Shamblin.
In 2018, Murphey released Austinology – Alleys of Austin, celebrating living in Austin as a pioneer of the Music Scene with guest artists that include Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, and more.
Carin Mari
Inspired by the mountains of Colorado where she was born and raised, Carin Mari is a songwriter from the heart who is passionate about playing her own brand of music.
Country/Americana Music quickly became her passion summer of 2001, when dear friend and mentor, Michael Martin Murphey, suggested that Carin learn "I Want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart.” Not a far stretch from her roots, this style of music fit her lifestyle perfectly since she was already an avid horseback rider with a love for the western way of life. After sixteen years of continued dedication, her talents as a guitarist/singer/songwriter have won her numerous awards, including 2009 Entertainer and Songwriter of the year from the NACMA, Southwest Regional Winner for the Texaco Country Showdown, Female Vocalist/Female Entertainer of the year at South Plains College, and runner-up in the 2010 Texaco Country Showdown National Final. For nine years, Carin and her two brothers performed coast-to-coast as the band “Carin Mari & Pony Express,” winning numerous awards and playing formidable venues. In January 2011, Carin felt her dreams coming true as she performed one of her original songs on stage at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, as a competitor in the Texaco Country Showdown.
For the last three years, Carin has dedicated her time to writing music and playing shows across the Country. Two years in a row, Carin was thrilled to be a standing band member and to open the show on Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas Tour.
Andy Hedges
Andy Hedges is a songster, reciter, and guitarist. His varied repertoire includes classic cowboy poetry recitations, obscure cowboy songs, dust bowl ballads, and blues. Andy taught himself to play the guitar when he was 14 and began collecting classic cowboy poems and traditional cowboy songs. He has released 10 albums including four joint projects with songwriter Andy Wilkinson.
Andy also hosts a podcast, Cowboy Crossroads which features interviews with poets, musicians, songwriters and historians. Andy lives in Lubbock, Texas with his wife and children.
"I've always admired Andy Hedges for his longstanding fascination for classic cowboy songs. He sings 'em with just the right amount of grit and wry cowpoke humor." - Michael Martin Murphey
Dennis Rogers
Dennis is a tribally enrolled member of the Navajo Nation of Arizona. His specialties include Navajo Sandpainting, Silversmithing, Northern Traditional Style Dances, Hoop Dance and Native Flute. He graduated in 1991 from Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas and is currently a substitute teacher. Beginning in 1987, Dennis dedicated his teaching career thru American Indian "Music, Songs and Dances". He is a Champion pow-wow style dancer and has performed twice in Japan and six tours of the United Kingdom. He’s performed in 38 out of 50 United States and his passion as a solo artist is apparent by those who witness his programs. Such performances include 5 times at FARM AID concerts with Willie Nelson and Neil Young. WESTFEST in Minnesota with John Anderson and since 2003 he has toured with BlackHawk as their "SpiritDancer". In 2015-16 he was recognized as the Native American "Educator of the Year" in the State of Kansas. Let's show our appreciation with a warm round of applause and welcome Mr. Roger's to WESTFEST.