After a delay, Michael Martin Murphey will finally be making his way back to Odessa.
The famous country music artist was originally supposed to perform at Ector Theatre earlier this year in June.
However, due to scheduling conflicts, that show was canceled.
Now, Murphey will finally get a chance to return to West Texas for a holiday show with his performance titled “Cowboy Christmas.”
It’ll be the first time in years that he has performed in Odessa.
“It feels like a victory,” Murphey said. “It feels like a real victory. We’re excited to come back to West Texas. West Texas is a perfect place to do a cowboy Christmas. The cowboy Christmas tradition started in West Texas. People have always really supported my show. Our tradition of Cowboy Christmas has always been well received in Odessa.”
For years, Murphey has been a genre-busting artist who’s had great success in pop, country, western and blue grass, all of which he’s had No. 1 songs, albums or chart-topping impact.
He can’t remember the last time he performed in Odessa, but he’s excited to see the recently renovated Ector Theatre.
“I haven’t been back in several years so it’s very great to get back,” Murphey said. “I’ve always thought Ector Theatre was a fun place to play, even before they did all the remodeling. I’ve heard it’s even more fun to play.”
His latest release “The Road Beyond the View” features a step into more genres with jazz elements.
He created and recorded the album with his son Ryan Murphey.
This tour will not only highlight songs from Michael Murphey’s more than 50-year touring career but also features some songs from the “Road Beyond the View.”
Michael’s musical journey has taken many unpredictable paths over the past 50 years but he continues to go strong, performing across the country.
In 2018, he released “Austinology,” celebrating his early days as a pioneer of the Austin Music Scene of the 70s with guest artists that included Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett and more.
“It was really sparked by the fact that the Country Music Hall of Fame got in touch with me back in 2016,” Murphey said. “They said ‘hey, we’re going to mount an exhibition called ‘Outlaws and Armadillos’ and it’s going to be about Austin and we want you to send us some artifacts and some pictures and things like that.’ … I’m not one to look back, I look forward. I started thinking about all the great people I’ve worked with. I thought about going back and redoing my songs that were the most sought after and some of my favorites from that era. … It was really fun doing that. … That was the last recording session that Jerry Jeff Walker ever did. It was a lot of fun getting people to do that.”
In 2019, Murphey was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Western Heritage Awards, which is their highest honor.
“I don’t have the words for that one,” Murphey said. “It was difficult to write a speech accepting the award because I had so many people to thank. I knew I was going to run out of time during the speech. But be that as it may, it was one of the most proud moments for me to accept that award by my peers in the western heritage world. It probably means more to me than any other award I’ve been given because my whole career has been dedicated to the American west.”
When looking at some of his favorite things about being on tour is being on the road and meeting different audiences.
“Well, I think the things that you appreciate the most is meeting a new audience and a group of people, everywhere you go,” Murphey said. “Sometimes, we play new places. We hadn’t played in Wichita (Ks.) in a long time but it was great to go there (last month) … What I love the most is getting back and meeting our family and friends around the country. We travel down the road with a band of brothers and sisters. We’re all close friends in this troop that goes down the road.”
For more information about the show and for tickets, go to tinyurl.com/yk47hztr.
If you go
>> What: Michael Martin Murphey’s “Cowboy Christmas.”
>> When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14.
>> Where: Ector Theatre.
>> Where to purchase tickets: tinyurl.com/yk47hztr
