James McMurtry

James McMurtry

James McMurtry is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, bandleader and occasional actor from Fort Worth, Texas. His work sits across americana, blues, folk rock, rock, alt-country and Texas country. He is the son of author Larry McMurtry, and he grows up listening to Johnny Cash and Roy Acuff records.

Career

McMurtry performs with his band as James McMurtry And The Heartless Bastards, with veteran players including Darren Hess and Ronnie Johnson. He is also associated with Tim Holt, and later live recordings feature guests such as Ian McLagan and Jon Dee Graham. He tours regularly and is noted for his live performances and his electric guitar playing as well as his lyrics.

Albums and releases

His first album, Too Long in the Wasteland, appears in 1989 and is produced by John Mellencamp. It begins a run of acclaimed releases for Columbia and Sugar Hill. It Had To Happen appears in 1997 and wins the American Indie Award for Best Americana Album. Live in Aught-Three appears in 2004 on Compadre Records, and Childish Things appears in 2005 and spends six weeks at number one on the Americana Music Radio Chart. Just Us Kids follows and brings further Americana Music Award nominations.

Awards and recognition

McMurtry receives a Grammy nomination in 1996 for the longform music video Where'd You Hide The Body. In 2006, Childish Things and its song We Can't Make It Here win Americana Music Awards for Album of the Year and Song of the Year. We Can't Make It Here is later cited among the best protest songs by The Nation.

Film and live recordings

McMurtry also appears as an actor in Daisy Miller and Lonesome Dove. A live release, Live in Europe, documents his first European tour and includes recordings from Amsterdam and Geislingen, together with a bonus DVD.