Michael Martin Murphey Concert

 

We had such a fun time recently! Mike and I went to Red River, NM to attend a Michael Martin Murphey Concert and it was great! He sings at the Rocking 3M Chuckwagon 2 nights a week every July and August. His warm-up singer was Carin Mari; she was also a very talented songwriter and singer.

The venue is beautiful. It is on private property a few miles out of Red River, in the mountains by a pond. We were first fed a nice meal under a big tent structure. Even with the show being sold out, it was still a small, intimate setting. We were in the 2nd row, right in the middle. Perfect!

Let me back up a bit...like over 50 years. My brother was a fan of Michael Murphey (back then he didn't use his middle name). Through exposure to the music my brother played, I also became a fan. I loved "Wildfire" and "Carolina in the Pines". Since then, he has just kept cranking out great songs.

Over 30 years ago, Mike and I took Maria and Ben along the first time we heard him in concert. It was at the fairgrounds in Lewistown, MT. Ben, age 4 at the time, heard that Michael was giving autographs afterward. I didn't want to wait, as many were crowding around, but for Ben, I did it. It was just a mess, no particular line. It was hard to get his attention. But when I said that I was a Murphey, too, also spelled MurphEy, his attention turned to me. He asked a lot of questions about where my Murphey side of the family came from. Then, he signed on the piece of paper I was holding, "To the Murpheys! Michael Martin Murphey."  I guess I hadn't quite got around to telling him I had a different last name now. 

I have to tell you the best part of this story, though, occurred as we walked away. It became apparent that Ben didn't know what an autograph was, just that if this guy was giving something away, he wanted it. When I handed the paper to Ben he said, "What good is that? It is just a stupid piece of paper that's wroted on!"  He didn't want it, but I still have it.

The 2nd time we saw Michael Martin Murphey in concert was in Casper, WY. It was also a small, intimate setting and we got to visit with him afterward. That was at a time when we had our first cell phone. I wanted a photo to send to my brother so Mike took one with the cell phone, with Michael Martin Murphey's arm around me.  When we got out to our car I opened the cell phone to see it. It wasn't there. Back then, if you didn't hit SAVE before closing the flip phone, no photo was saved. I was bummed.

I was ready this time! We bought one of his t-shirts before his concert, just for my brother. Afterward, when I went for the autograph, I also had pulled up the screenshot from my brother's Facebook page that included his name. I asked Michael Martin Murphey to sign the shirt for my brother and showed him the screenshot, making some dumb comment about wanting to be sure he spelled it correctly. It took him a second, but then he realized what he was looking at and he laughed. For those of you who don't know, my brother's name is... Michael Murphey. There are many Murphys in the world, but it is rare to meet another spelled with the "E".

 Michael (singer) again asked a few questions and we agree we could be related, but didn't have enough information to know. He then graciously agreed to another photo. Mike (husband) was ready but Michael's road manager had Mike also get in the photo and he took several for us. We didn't lose them this time!

I will publish this post, hopefully, about the time my brother gets an unexpected package in the mail.

Thanks for reading!

John Denver Tribute

Last night was fun! Mike recently received a sweet gift of two tickets to a John Denver tribute concert by singer, Jim Curry.  This man is not an impersonator but he did seem like he could have been a brother to John Denver. He sounded so much like him!

A special bonus to the evening was the addition of John Summers, who sang with John Denver in the past and was the songwriter of 5 songs recorded by John Denver. He is the one who wrote "Thank God I'm a Country Boy!"  

The best part for me was this smile! I realize this is a grainy photo but I took it on the sly, in the dark. It still makes me happy, grainy or not.

Building 429: "Where I Belong" Official Music Video

Do you remember when I told you about my Life's Theme Song?

Well, by the time you read this I will be listening to this group, Building 429, singing it live! We will be having supper together and then they promise to sing it to me!

Can you believe that?

Really?

Hmmm...I didn't think you would be quite that gullible.

It is all true, in a sort of kind of way. I will be seeing them at the state fair and I will likely grab something to eat while there and I bet they will be eating while there as well (that's the supper together part.) Then, they will be singing to me and to all the other people who purchased tickets for their show.



I wish you could come along!

Chicago!

We had a fun night Wednesday! We went to Chicago!  No, not THAT Chicago.

This Chicago...

OK, I realize that is not a great photograph. That was the best I could do. Oh, that is not true. I could have been like some people and just walk right up to the stage to click photos. That's really not my style, though. Too bad for you guys!

I was vaguely aware of Chicago (the band) when I was in high school. I'm sure some of you are gasping, wondering if I lived under a rock or what. Here's the deal. We did not get good radio reception and often not even good television reception. I just wasn't really exposed to a lot of the music. So now, I'm a bit of a late bloomer.

When I heard they were coming here, though, I purchased tickets as a birthday gift to Mike. As I was finishing up my workday on the Wednesday before last, I mentioned that I was going to the concert that evening. Thank goodness I made that statement to a friend who also had tickets to it. She was able to tell  me that I was a week early! I guess that is better than a week late but good grief!

Anyway, THIS Wednesday we went. We don't live in a big city so when we do get such performances here, it is in the middle of the week when the bands are on their way from somewhere to somewhere else. We like to support them when we can, even if it means we're going to be tired for work the next day.

Here's the sad truth about me though. I didn't even know what this group sang. A few days before, though, Mike started singing some songs to me and I knew them! I guess they've been part of the background music of my life.

The concert was really fun. I was stunned by the amount of talent on that stage! Man, those guys could play just about anything, and play it well! When we left, I wanted to know more about them so I laid in bed that night, long after Mike was sleeping, and Googled them. I learned that they formed in 1967 and that 5 of them are still the original guys! Isn't that amazing? I can't imagine how many times they've sung each of those songs, yet they still managed to act as though they were really enjoying themselves.

Take a look at this... it was filmed when I was in the 6th grade! They've now been making music together for over 40 years! Listen to this for a few minutes or all the way through if you'd like. Even if it isn't your favorite kind of music, I think you will agree that they are very talented people.

Who were your favorite musicians when you were in high school?

Gordo

Do you know or remember Gordon Lightfoot? Mike first took me to one of his concerts in 1976 or 1977 in Fargo, North Dakota. It was my first big concert and it was a bit scary. For some reason they didn't sell reserved seating and they kept the doors closed until close to show time. When the doors opened, the crowds pushed forward with frightening force. I remember Mike trying to keep hold of my hand as people were trying to push through. We managed to stay together and my arm eventually healed (kidding). 

Mike has remained a Gordo fan since the 1970's. I am a Gordo fan by marriage. Our children grew up hearing John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot and other pop/folk singer's voices in the background of our family life. So, whenever Gordon Lightfoot is performing nearby, and sometimes when he isn't really that nearby, we go to hear him.  Over the years we have purchased tickets to Gordo concerts in 5 different states. Hmmm.... that doesn't make us groupies, does it?

(Gordon Lightfoot in Wyoming September 20, 2013)

Back then, Gordon Lightfoot was a really big deal. Here's what Wikipedia has to say...

"Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr. CC OOnt (born November 17, 1938) is a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s.^[1] He has been referred to as Canada's greatest songwriter^[2] and internationally as a folk-rock legend.^[3][4]

Lightfoot's songs, including "For Lovin' Me", "Early Morning Rain", "Steel Rail Blues", "Ribbon of Darkness"—a number one hit on the U.S. country charts^[5] with Marty Robbins' cover in 1965— and the 1967 Detroit riot-generated "Black Day In July" brought him international recognition in the 1960s. He experienced chart success in Canada with his own recordings, beginning in 1962 with the Number 3 hit "(Remember Me) I'm the One". Lightfoot's recordings then made an impact on the international music charts as well in the 1970s, with songs such as "If You Could Read My Mind" (1970) (Number 5 on the US charts), "Sundown" (1974), "Carefree Highway" (1974), "Rainy Day People" (1975), all reaching number 1, and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" (1976) (reaching number 2).^[6]

Some of Lightfoot's albums have achieved gold and multi-platinum status internationally. His songs have been recorded by some of the world's most renowned recording artists, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Jr., The Kingston Trio, Marty Robbins, George Hamilton IV, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Viola Wills, Richie Havens, The Replacements, Harry Belafonte, Tony Rice,Sandy Denny (with Fotheringay), The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Scott Walker, Sarah McLachlan, John Mellencamp, Toby Keith, Peter, Paul and Mary, Glen Campbell, Anne Murray, The Irish Rovers and Olivia Newton-John. "

Gordon Lightfoot was once pretty much a household name. He was a denim kind of guy, just like Mike. 

A little more than a decade ago Gordo suffered a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm just before a concert in his hometown. That is often deadly and it very nearly was for him. He spent a long time in a coma. They had to put a tracheostomy in him and do abdominal surgery, damaging his diaphragm. These are not actions that improve a person's voice. Essentially he had to learn to breathe again. He still has problems filling his lungs with the amount of air necessary to sing. Nevertheless, he is now doing a 50 year tour. Think of that! 50 years of touring!

When we watched Gordon Lightfoot's Concert last week, I sat there thinking a lot about the aging process. He doesn't look too much like the guy I saw at that first concert. I wondered if he felt like that same guy. I suppose he does. As I age, I realize more and more that we are not the body we are living in. The essence of who we are comes from something much more substantial. I'm pretty sure I just said something profound there but this post is about a concert, so let's move on.

We enjoyed the concert. Gordon Lightfoot seemed to be enjoying himself and that makes everyone else enjoy themselves. The auditorium we were in held over 900 people and I believe it was sold out. Although he was used to singing to many thousands at a time, I liked that he didn't seem to mind entertaining a smaller group in a small town in Wyoming. I expect it was a walk down memory lane for many of those in the crowd, just as it was for us. I think we all appreciated his work, his songwriting talent and his love of entertaining. 



Do you have any entertainers that have stood the test of time for you? Any you'd go see in 5 different states?

It was a pleasant evening. The best part for me was this... after more than three decades, the same guy was holding my hand on the way into the concert. Yes, that was my favorite part. Oh, and I also liked that my arm wasn't in danger of breakage this time.

A Bassoon Concert

Have you ever heard a Bassoon?  They are beautiful instruments!  They are beautiful to look at and really cool to hear.  My niece is an amazing musician and plays many different instruments.  I think the bassoon is her favorite, though, and we convinced her last night to lets us hear her play.  I wish I would have recorded it but you can hear someone else play a bassoon if you click here.

We also just learned that Stephanie has been chosen to be the concert contralto bassoonist for a symphony.  Congratulations to Stephanie!