James McMurtry has gained a reputation as a "songwriter's songwriter".  This is well-deserved praise for an artist whose songs are short stories put to music.  He creates scenes and evokes nuanced moods, but the message is clear - he is a master craftsman.

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   James learned to play guitar from his mother and started writing songs in his teens.  He won a songwriting contest at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 1987 and caught the attention of John Mellencamp.  Mellencamp co-porduced his debut albums and won many awards, but he may be best known for recent red dress performances to protest anti-LGBTQ legislation:  another story, another message, fun package!