David Lee Murphy : ACountry exclusive interview
November 19, 2004
by Jarrod Vrazel
David Lee Murphy appeared at the KILT Ten Man Jam in Houston on November 18, 2004. This annual event showcases fine country music in an intimate setting. The 2004 version of the Ten Man Jam also featured Joe Nichols, Billy Dean, LeAnn Rimes, Tracy Byrd, Blake Shelton, Tracy Lawrence, Kevin Fowler, Travis Tritt, and Pat Green. I spoke with David Lee the following afternoon regarding the Ten Man Jam and his current projects. ACountry: How was your evening after the show last night?
David Lee: It was late. We had a heck of a time. Iíve got a bunch of friends down in the Houston area that have a barbecue cooking team ñ theyíre a grilling team. They were all there. These guys are big time barbecue pros ñ theyíre like barbecue jedis. I hung out with these guys last night, and they kept me out until about 4:30 in the morning. Iím trying to bounce back from that. I had a great time.
ACountry: That sounds like it was a great after-party. At the end of the show, there was definitely a party crowd on the stage.
David Lee: Yes that was pretty fun. That was a fun night. Itís great to see a lot of those guys that I have crossed paths with. I donít know if you caught the portion of the show when I was on with Tracy ByrdÖ
ACountry: Yes, I caught the whole show.
David Lee: Tracy and I go have toured a bunch together. I go way, way back with Travis Tritt ñ back prior to him having a record deal. Tracy Lawrence and Blake Shelton ñ all those guys – Iíve crossed a lot of paths with over the years, so we had a good time. And Billy Dean, too.
ACountry: It was a great time for the fans as well. Itís very nice of KILT to continue to do those type events. In this day and age, itís hard to see that many qualified musicians all in one place in one night in such an intimate setting.
David Lee: You know, as far as those kinds of things, thatís one of the best ones Iíve been to.
ACountry: It seemed like everybody got along. It was really fitting that they ended the night with ìFamily Traditionî – from start to finish, it seemed like one big family reunion around a campfire.
David Lee: That kind of guitar pull ñ all of those guys have done that a bunch of times in various places. When you move to Nashville, thatís one of the things that you get to do. You get up with a guitar, sit there in front of a crowd, and play your songs like your wrote ëem. Itís always fun to do that. I didnít really get into telling a lot of the stories behind the songs this time, just because they were on a time schedule.
ACountry: There were a couple moments when it seemed like the stories were longer than the songs. But sometimes itís important for people to know the story behind the song or what it means to the artist.
David Lee: Yes, it really does. A lot of the guys there were doing songs that maybe they didnít write. A lot of times, when thatís the case, you get a song as an artist, and just the way the songs gets to you is a story in itself. Thatís kind of cool to hear, too. Tracy Byrd told me one time he almost cut ìLocoî and I was like ìhow did you get it?î He had heard a version of Loco that was snuck out by one of my songwriting partners and publishing people. They had played it for Tracy and he wanted to cut it. That was pretty funny. I didnít even know about that.
ACountry: It was good that he told you he thought about it, rather than have you hear it riding down the road.
David Lee: Iíd been raising some hell.
ACountry: Speaking of ìLocoî and the latest album you have out, Tryin’ To Get There, howís that been treating you so far?
David Lee: Itís been great. I was talking back stage ñ I forgot that we only had three songs. I forgot, and I didnít do ìInspiration,î my new single, which KILT has been playing. Theyíve been great to me, by the way. Thereís been so many records released in the last month and a half or so, that weíre having a hard time competing with all of the other kind of ballad type songs out there ñ and itís a power ballad. For me thatís even a curve ball for a lot of the guys. For so many records, Iíve had songs that were about partying or drinking, or some kind of bottle, or going out with a bang, or getting crazy. This is a special relationship type of song. To the listener, it could be about anybody from your wife or your girlfriend or your mother. You can interpret it in a lot of different ways. Itís about a special person in your life that gives you inspiration. Itís been a nice song for me to do ñ a different type of song for my show. Itís a nice element of change for the show. And Lee Roy Parnell came in and played slide.
ACountry: Sometimes when various artists introduce a new dimension to their music, something a little different than what the fans are used to, it both enables the fans to see a different side of the musician as well as the songwriter, and also opens doors to new fans that may not have heard the earlier songs or the party songs, but are touched by songs such as ìInspiration.î
David Lee: I hope thatís what happens to ìInspiration.î I hope it plays well. Iíve been getting a lot of emails from people at our website going ìthis is just a new side of you that we havenít seen before.î The hard-core fans have seen that side ñ Iíve done it on other albums. The people outside the folks that have bought my last few records ñ if they havenít owned one of my records, they donít know that side is there. The other records have something like that on them, but they just havenít been released.
ACountry: Itís always nice when you can get more exposure for some of the different sides such as that ñ there are a lot of true gems on a lot of albums that most of the public never hears.
David Lee: Yes, thatís true. Itís really tough to decide what single to put out. As a songwriter, Iím in love with all of them in a different way. When we picked ìLocoî it just seemed like a natural single to come with it ñ that just seemed like a natural song for me to come back with to have a new album. It had been awhile since Iíd had a song out there at radio. It was a natural progression to go with ìLoco.î The next song that we came out with, we tried to decide if we wanted to try to do something different this time, or play it safe and go with whatís worked all these years, which is the rowdy rocking stuff. We decided to take a little chance and go with ìInspiration.î We actually researched ìInspirationî and it tested higher than ìLoco,î so we were like ìmaybe we need to put that one out for sure.î
ACountry: Iíve seen some of the feedback coming in from various markets across the country. Pe
ople donít throw out these types of comments to everybody.
David Lee: Itís nice when people respond. Have you received some feedback on ìInspiration?î
ACountry: Yes, Iíve received feedback on it. Thereís a lot of stuff on the radio today in almost all genres that people are hip to one day, and the next day it’s already forgotten. Thereís really no grass roots support for the project.
David Lee: Was the feedback stuff that we sent you?
ACountry: No, itís feedback received through our website. When I saw the feedback coming in from the single, I knew it was something we should support. The fans are starving for good musicians. I think theyíre tired of the song and dance and they want more of the song.
David Lee: Iím with you. I agree. Like last night. They really get a kick out of seeing somebody that can really get up there and sing. I was really knocked out over everybody I was out there with. LeAnn Rimes. Sheís so cute. Sheís a doll. And she can sing like an angel. I tell you what – everybody I thought did a great job. Joe Nichols did a really great job with ìBrokenheartsville.î
ACountry: There were several moments throughout the night that were classical musical experiences, especially for the fans. But the musicians seemed to be having the time of their lives as well.
David Lee: Billy Dean is a guy that can get out there and play guitar by himself and do it. Heís really good. And so is Tracy. Tracyís really good, too.
ACountry: It was solid true musicianship from start to finish last night.
David Lee: It was a fun night.
ACountry: It was a fun night and definitely a nice treat for the fans.
David Lee: They really were great ñ the people that came to that show were really cool. They were appreciative. They were really nice. I made a comment about the Texas hospitality. It really was great. Everybody there was bending over backwards being nice. It was really cool.
ACountry: Speaking of Texas, you filmed the ìParty Crowdî video on Sixth Street in Austin.
David Lee: I sure did. Thatís right.
ACountry: I used to have an office on Sixth Street about a block from the front entrance where you were standing in the video.
David Lee: I knew we could find a party crowd in Austin on Sixth Street. Whatís funny is Iíve run in to so many people who are in that video. Tommy Shane Steiner, whoís from Austin, is one of the guys in the video. One of the guys that work at a radio station in San Antonio is in the video. Iíve run into various people that have different roles in the video. Itís kind of cool running into all these people that were in the video.
ACountry: When you were introduced at the show last night, they mentioned your work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Country Cares.
David Lee: Yes, we did that last spring. They raised over $700,000. Those guys are really great. Thatís a great place for kids. Iíve been down there two or three times. For the kids to go down there, itís free. Really, itís heartbreaking to go down there and see little kids who are in a fight for their lives and you see their parents and they are just scared to death. But the kids are little soldiers ñ theyíre tough. The cure rate for all that stuff these days is just unbelievable. You have people donate in Houston, Texas and Denver, Colorado, and places like that. They donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, but kids from all over the country go there and get treatment.
ACountry: Itís definitely a great cause, especially since a couple of dollars from a lot of people can make a big difference.
David Lee: Thatís right. Thatís exactly right.
ACountry: I commend you for your work with Country Cares and the St. Jude kids. Iím sure that the kids and their parents really appreciate your support.
David Lee: Well, you know, there are a lot of people who spend a lot more time there than I do and a lot harder work than I do. There are certain things that you just do a little bit to help in a certain way. I know that there are a lot of people that itís their life to see that thing succeed. There are a lot of country artists like Charlie Daniels and Alabama ñ Randy Owens especially ñ that have been there from the beginning. Just whatever little bit we can do to help.
ACountry: Every little bit helps. Which direction will you be heading now? Will you be on the road for a while?
David Lee: No, Iím going to do some songwriting for the next couple of weeks. Iím holed up here at the farm in the woodshed trying to do some songwriting. Iíve been missing it lately because Iíve been on the road and so busy. Iím off for a couple of weeks, so I think Iím going to go down in my basement and fire up the coffee pot and, starting next week, just start writing songs.
ACountry: That, my friend, sounds like a great plan.
David Lee: Itís getting to be the holiday season, so Iím getting ready for all that stuff and making some music.
ACountry: I appreciate everything that you do for the country music industry ñ the songs that youíve written have definitely touched a lot of people. Have a wonderful holiday season.
David Lee: I appreciate it.
ACountry: Thanks for your time and thanks for putting on a great show last night at the KILT Ten Man Jam.
David Lee: Thanks, Jarrod.
ACountry: Take care. Weíll be talking to you soon and looking forward to seeing you on the road again.
: : : : :
listen to David Lee Murphy free samples / download from iTunes
Leave a Reply