James McMurtry, born in 1962 in Fort Worth, Texas, is a renowned American rock and folk-rock/americana singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader, and occasional actor. He performs with veteran bandmates Daren Hess, Cornbread, and Tim Holt. McMurtry received his first guitar from his novelist father, Larry McMurtry, at age seven and learned to play from his English professor mother.
Raised primarily in Leesburg, Virginia, McMurtry began performing in his teens and later played at a beer garden while studying at the University of Arizona. After a stint in Alaska, he returned to Texas and eventually settled in San Antonio, working various jobs and performing at open-mic events. In 1987, McMurtry won the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk songwriter contest and caught the attention of John Mellencamp, who co-produced his debut album, Too Long in the Wasteland (1989). McMurtry also appeared on the soundtrack of the film Falling from Grace with Mellencamp, John Prine, Joe Ely, and Dwight Yoakam as Buzzin' Cousins.
Subsequent albums included Candyland (1992), Where'd You Hide the Body (1995), Walk Between the Raindrops (1998), and St. Mary of the Woods (2002). His 2004 tour album, Live in Aught-Three, featured popular song "Choctaw Bingo." McMurtry's 2005 studio album, Childish Things, won song and album of the year at the 5th Annual Americana Music Awards and showcased his political side with the working-class anthem "We Can't Make It Here."
In 2008, Just Us Kids continued the political themes, including the critical song "Cheney's Toy." His ninth album, Complicated Game (2015), received critical acclaim with an 87 score on Metacritic. McMurtry also contributed to various tribute albums and performed at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in 2018.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, McMurtry streamed live acoustic performances on Facebook and YouTube. His album, The Horses and the Hounds, was announced in June 2021 and released in August, receiving positive reviews with an 81 score on Metacritic.
McMurtry resides in Lockhart, Texas, and frequently performs in Austin with his band, The Heartless Bastards. His son, Curtis, is also a singer-songwriter and has performed alongside his father.
