#1 for Michael Martin Murphey's Tall Grass & cool Water

Jan. 26, 2012 - PRLog -- MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY’s album, TALL GRASS & COOL WATER, Cowboy Songs Volume 6 / Buckaroo Bluegrass 3 hit #1 this month on the Top 20 Western Music Albums Chart of the Western Music Association. Previously, the album hit #4 on Billboard’s Top 10 Bluegrass Album Chart.

TALL GRASS & COOL WATER continues the connection between Cowboy and Bluegrass music that began with his Grammy® nominated BUCKAROO BLUE GRASS album and continued with BUCKAROO BLUE GRASS II.  The third of the series, TALL GRASS & COOL WATER is a collection of songs that are cowboy in theme yet played in a style that is compatible with the sterling bluegrass musicians he's brought together including: Sam Bush, Ronnie McCoury, Pat Flynn, Charlie Cushman, Andy Hall, Andy Leftwich, Troy Engle, Mike Bub and Craig Nelson.

Music critics certainly have applauded the album saying:

"TALL GRASS & COOL WATER is a musical tribute to the culture, history, intrigue and stories of the west. Every buckaroo with some nostalgia for the prairie needs to corral a copy of this album. The bluegrass instrumentation is as blue and big as the Texas sky, and the cowboy songs are perfect for listening to around the campfire after a long day on the trail.” Joe Ross (CD Insight, Roots Music Report).

“Once again, Murphey has released an album that serves as a history lesson, but one that you’ll look forward to taking!” - Music News Nashville

“Michael Martin Murphey has created a sub-genre of bluegrass that he calls Buckaroo Bluegrass.  Basically, it is cowboy music with a bluegrass beat.  If you like both cowboy music and bluegrass, you should really like this.” - Owensboro-Messenger Inquirer

“The Smithsonian should create a medal for artists like Michael Martin Murphey. He has earned himself a distinct place in country music history with his albums that almost singlehandedly keep the cowboy song alive. The music he makes, the stories and language that music preserves, and the true spirit of the cowboy culture that he carries on, is an achievement as great as any in modern times.  With his new release Tall Grass & Cool Water, he continues to explore the connection between cowboy and bluegrass music; these songs are cowboy in theme, yet played in a bluegrass style.” Parcbench

“Tall Grass & Cool Water is a marriage made in heaven.” - Post Gazette (MA)

“On TALL GRASS & COOL WATER, Michael Martin Murphey proves again that he is one of the original stars.   His bluegrass sound is at once gradiose, warm and optimistic.  One of the best albums of the year!” - John Shelton Ivany – JS Top 21

MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY just wrapped up his annual Cowboy Christmas tour, selling out 18 of 20 halls in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Colorado.  Upcoming performances include the Victoria Fine Arts Center (Victoria, TX), Western Folklife Center (Elko, NV), Central Washington University Music Center (Ellensburg, WA) and many more.  For more information on MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY including additional tour dates, please visit:  MichaelMartinMurphey.com

For more information on Rural Rhythm Records, please visit RuralRhythm.com