Legend of Western music to play sold-out show in Steamboat

Michael Martin Murphey comes from what he’s named the campfire theory — “If it doesn’t sound good with only one guitar, it might not be a good song.” Murphey’s first job was working as a camp counselor, often writing and playing campfire music for the kids. Now, half a century, 40-some albums and multiple Grammy nominations later, he feels his career has come full circle. “When I do my acoustic shows, I’m back around a campfire, telling stories,” he said. Murphey will play his sold-out, solo acoustic show at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the Chief Theater. It’s part of a tour he does twice per year. He’ll play mostly guitar and mountain-style banjo. Murphey is often called the leading voice and number-one selling artist of American cowboy music, but his material ranges from country to pop to bluegrass to Western to soft rock — he’s even done albums of Christmas songs. The singer-songwriter is similarly adaptable in his musicianship. Besides guitar and banjo, he plays ukulele, piano, mandolin and harmonica and is self-taught on them all. Murphey’s 1990 release of “Cowboy Songs” sold shockingly well, earning Gold status — despite the genre of cowboy music’s having faded from the mainstream two decades prior. He’s earned a place in Texas, Colorado and Nebraska’s country music halls of fame. He played on the David Letterman Show and at John Wayne’s 100th birthday celebration...more