While his musical influences and associations are varied, ranging from the records of the 20's artists his uncle shared with him - Vernon Dalhart, Carson Robinson and the earliest singing cowboys, Carl T. Sprague and Jules Verne Allen - to his artist friends who recorded his songs, such as John Denver and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, his lyrics are steeped in the plainspoken tradition of Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost, and Walt Whitman, displaying purpose and intent. His social awareness and concern is apparent as he addresses such issues as the attempt to destroy the American Indian culture, the extinction of the cowboy life, wildlife freedom and the conservation of healthy environment as a personal challenge to responsibility.

His fondness for the outdoors began at an early age. Born in Dallas, Texas, Murphey began riding horses on his grandfather's and uncle's ranches when he was six years old. He recalls sleeping on the screened-in porch under the stars while listening to stories, and hearing cowboy songs hummed and sung by the men who loved their land. In junior high, he began to perform wherever he could, finally graduating to the Texas Coffeehouse scene, where original material was accepted. In his high school years he formed "The Lost River Trio" with Owens "Boomer" Castleman and Bob Jacobs. He went solo in his senior year, and had his own television show in Dallas at age 18. After briefly attending North Texas State College, Murphey moved to California to go to UCLA, where he studied classical literature, medieval and renaissance history and literature, with an emphasis on poetry and creative writing. He remained almost completely self-taught as a musician, and by 1964, he had not only become a folk club favorite in California, he had signed a songwriting contract with Sparrow Music. It was around that time when Murphey and pal Castleman (also now a California college student) hooked up with other musicians they had known in Texas - John London (bass player for James Taylor's first album), and Michael Nesmith. They formed a band called the New Survivors. They recorded one album that never saw the light of day, but the association with Michael Nesmith proved to be fortunate when Nesmith became one of the hugely successful Monkees and recorded one of Murphey's songs, "What Am I Doing Hangin' Around?". This led to a lifelong career as a songwriter whose songs are recorded by others, from the Monkees to John Denver to Lyle Lovett.

  Murphey has been a guest of honor and performer at virtually every important Western event and festival of his time: Grand Marshal of Cheyenne Frontier Days, the Reno Rodeo, the San Antonio Livestock Show, and many others. He has performed while singing on horseback at many prestigious Western Events: seven years at The National Western Stock Show of Denver, Colorado; the San Antonio Livestock Show in Texas; The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; The New Mexico State Fair; and the American Quarter Horse World Show in Oklahoma City. Murphey has appeared at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Calgary Stampede, Rodeo Finals in Oklahoma City, The Colorado State Fair and Rodeo, The Utah State Fair and Rodeo, the National Festival of the West, the Festival of the American West, and many others. Michael currently divides his time between residences in Texas, New Mexico, and Wisconsin. He continues to perform concerts in some of America's finest performing arts centers and venues. He's seen worldwide in movies and television, heard on radio, and in print in magazines and newspapers. His wife Karen and his step-daughters Morgan, Sarah and Jessica are horse trainers, his oldest son Ryan has written songs with him, produced several of his albums and played in his band. His son Brennan is a musician, and a scholar at St.John's University of Santa Fe. His daughter Laura has performed on his albums, and is currently in school and working in the snowboard/ski/fashion industry in California. His granddaughter, Fiona, is a spokesperson for Easter Seals at an early age, and is showing signs of being a musician already. His father, P.L. Murphey, is the business manager of Michael's entertainment companies.

  Michael Martin Murphey remains the same wandering cowboy poet he started out to be. He's never allowed anyone to look down their nose at the culture of the outdoorsman, farmer and rancher. He's been a strong advocate for the study, preservation, and respect of American culture-especially the elements that the world loves about Americans: individualism, outdoor adventure, Cowboys, Indians, and the songwriting traditions of popular and "roots" American Music. He is a witness for Christianity as a faith and philosophy of life, with respect for other world religions.