DIAMOND BAR CATTLE COMPANY

Legendary Cowboy Singer-Songwriter To Headline Laney Benefit Concert

Delk Band Joins In For Historic Night Of Music

Contact: Joe Delk 1-505-644-3082

(Las Cruces, N.M. 4/26/04) The nation’s leading cowboy singer, Michael Martin Murphey, will bring his special musical show to Truth or Consequences May 22, 2004 in an effort to raise funds for the "Kit and Sherry Laney Legal Defense Fund." The Laney’s have been battling to maintain their Diamond Bar Ranch in the Gila Forest for two decades and Kit Laney is now facing federal charges resulting from an alleged incident during the confiscation of his cattle by the government. The original ranching unit was established in the 1880's.

The event is being sponsored by the Paragon Foundation, an organization of individuals and groups who use the court system to protect the private property, water and constitutional rights of agricultural producers.

Also slated for the show is the legendary Delk Band, a recording and dance hall act that has 70 years of family musical tradition in New Mexico and across the West.

"Michael Martin Murphey is doing more to protect our western way of life than anyone in this nation. He is the leading advocate for the protection of property rights and he uses his prominent position in the entertainment world to further the causes of the ranchers and farmers of America," said G.B. Oliver, Executive Director of the Paragon Foundation.

The concert and dance will begin at 8:45 p.m. Saturday, May 22 at the Civic Center in Truth or Consequences. Murphey will open the show and following his performance the Delk Band will play for an old fashioned country dance. Murphey will be on hand following the concert for a "meet and greet" with fans and the media.

Tickets will be available at the door or through the Paragon Foundation. The toll free number is 877-847-3443. The minimum contribution for the concert is $25 per person, $50 per family (three or more) and $15 per person ages 15 through 20. All proceeds above minimum expenses will go to the Laney Legal Defense Fund.

During his career Murphey has received numerous "gold" records and is currently the best selling singer of cowboy music in the world. He also has many pop hits including the standards Wildfire and Carolina In The Pines.

Murphey is one of the founders of the country music "Outlaw" movement out of Austin, Texas along with friends Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Jerry Jeff Walker.

Following a string of hit songs in the 1980's and 1990's Murphey single handedly revived the genre of western music in the vein of classic trail songs, and the music styles made famous by singers like Roy Rogers and Marty Robbins.

His now gold "Cowboy Songs" album resulted in five awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and his annual music and culture gathering "Westfest" has been called the best festival in the U.S.

The concert also marks the first time two New Mexico music legends will play on the same stage as Murphey and the Delks team up to raise funds and awareness about the current plight of ranchers in the American West.

Singer Lyle Lovett says, "Michael Martin Murphey is one of the main influences on my career. He is among America’s best songwriters."

"This will be a historic night of music and fellowship in the tradition of a barn raising," Oliver said. "This show will be a landmark in our efforts to protect our rights. Noting the issues involved and the players on stage this will be an event folks will want to be a part of against the backdrop of the story of New Mexico and the West."

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