Michael Martin Murphey is the best selling and well respected singer/songwriter of pop and Country Western music who graciously volunteered his talent to create the America’s Heartland theme song, Close to the Land. You may recall his biggest hit Wildfire about the mysterious dream horse on the vast American Heartland Prairie. Murphey is known throughout as a strong advocate for the study, preservation and respect of American culture which is apparent in his songwriting.

Murphey is a lifelong outdoorsman with a strong commitment to issues regarding farmers, ranchers and natural resource management. He was born in Dallas, Texas and began riding horses on his grandfather’s ranch when he was 6 years old and had his own Dallas TV show by the time he was 18. Murphey divides his time between residences in Texas, New Mexico and Wisconsin and currently performs at virtually every important Western event and festival.