PRESS RELEASE - IMMEDIATE

Michael Martin Murphey’s “Buckaroo Blue Grass” CD Set for Release 
on Rural Rhythm Records

November 25, 2008 (Nashville, TN):  Rural Rhythm Records is very proud to announce the upcoming new album release by one of the world's most respected singer-songwriters in the Pop and Country as well as,  today’s No. 1 Selling Cowboy Music Singer, Michael Martin Murphey.  The new album, “Buckaroo Blue Grass” is scheduled for release on February 10, 2009.  Michael’s son, Ryan Murphey produced the album, wrote all arrangements, sang harmony vocals and played rhythm guitar.  The CD includes several new songs and many Michael Martin Murphey classics performed with some of music’s top bluegrass and acoustic pickers, Sam Bush, Rob Ickes, Ronnie McCoury, Andy Leftwich, Pat Flynn, Charlie Cushman with background vocals by Rhonda Vincent.  "Michael is an amazing writer and we all enjoyed making acoustic versions of these incredible hit songs.  I congratulate him on the new album,” said Rob Ickes.

The new song “Lone Cowboy” which truly defines the album’s title “Buckaroo Blue Grass” and Murphey’s classic song, “Carolina in the Pines” are set for a bluegrass radio release on Rural Rhythm Records’ Fresh Cuts & Key Tracks No. 3 radio compilation CD the last week in November. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Special Consensus, Country Gentlemen, Bluegrass Cardinals have all recorded this classic song that led to a BMI Award for airplay.  “Carolina in the Pines” was loved by millions who owned Murphey’s "Blue Sky, Night Thunder" album that included another classic hit and Billboard Pop hit song, "Wildfire" thus introducing a new generation of "hip" music fans to Bluegrass music.  Terry Herd of the Into the Blue program on Bluegrass Radio Network said, “This album is every bit as magical to me as the moment I first dropped the needle on my brand new vinyl copy of Blue Sky - Night Thunder in 1975 and heard Wildfire, Carolina in the Pines and Wild Bird for the first time.  If you liked Michael Martin Murphy then, you will love him now and you will love this album.”

Murphey received a very warm bluegrass welcome at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s FanFest held during IBMA’s World of Bluegrass convention last month in Nashville.  Blue Highways TV Executive and legendary bluegrass artist, Ronnie Reno said, “Michael sounds right at home with this great bluegrass band and his voice blends just right with acoustic and bluegrass music. He is a great song writer and a soulful singer which we need more of in the bluegrass industry. Congrats on a great project Buckaroo Blue Grass and I know bluegrass fans and friends alike will welcome you into the World of Bluegrass.”

Murphey’s huge connection with rural America and the heartland coupled with his constant touring across the country has made him America’s #1 Cowboy singer as he promotes and preserves the “Cowboy” culture and music heritage. He wrote the forward for the brand new book, America ’s Farmer written by Katrina Fried and photographed by Paul Mobley.  Murphey also produced a music video based on the pictorial content of the book for the song “Close to the Land” which is on the album and is currently the theme song for the RFD-TV cable show AMERICA’S HEARTLAND.

Cowboy music fans are huge fans of acoustic music, bluegrass and old-time music as it is a perfect fit with their love of the old west and the western lifestyle.  “Murph and I really connected since we were doing the same thing in different genres.  He is helping preserve cowboy and western music and our successful Sound Traditions series focuses on preserving bluegrass and old-time country music.  Now we have joined forces together with 'Buckaroo Blue Grass' which intertwines both genres and we have plans for developing many more albums together,” said Sam Passamano, President of Rural Rhythm Records.

Michael Martin Murphey plays hundreds of concerts per year to audiences around the country including the recent “Heber City Cowboy Gathering” that was sold out in advance.  His “Cowboy Christmas Tour,” began November 22 and continues through December 22, 2008 covering 30 cities and selling out Performing Arts Centers such as Bass Hall in Forth Worth and the Juanita K. Hammons Performing Arts Center in Springfield.

For more information on Michael Martin Murphey including a complete tour schedule, please visit: www.michaelmartinmurpheymusic.com

www.ruralrhythm.com