Born in Illinois, David Lee Murphy released his first album in 1994 and not only was it the best selling album by any new male singer that year. The gold album also yielded several chart entries including "Dust On The Bottle" and "Party Crowd", the latter being the most played song on US Country Radio in 1995. David Lee is also a writer and was involved in writing all the songs on all his 3 albums "Out With A Bang" "Gettin' Out The Good Stuff" and "We Can't All Be Angels". For up-to-date information about David Lee and his music then pay a visit to his website.

CMF:- Singer, songwriter and you also play the guitar. Which one came first and is one more satisfying than the others, and if so, why?
DAVID LEE:- I always loved making and listening to music. As a kid I realized I had to learn to play guitar after watching all those Elvis movies. Then, after I learned a few chords on the guitar I realized all I could play was "Home On the Range". After a couple of hundred times of playing that and a few others out of the Big Note Song Book, I realized I was gonna have to learn to write songs 'cause I couldn't play nothing else. One of the most satisfying things though is playing a song you've written and somebody somewhere, in another part of the world, knows all the words to it.

CMF:- Although you came to the public's attention in 1994 following your song "Just Once" which was used in the film "8 seconds", you had been involved in business for several years prior. Were you actively involved in music, while you were still living in Herrin, Illinois?
DAVID LEE:- I moved to Nashville in 1982/83 and worked as a songwriter. I had a few songs recorded by other artists at that time by people like Reba, Doug Stone and Dobie Gray. I also had a few odd jobs just to keep the lights on.

CMF:- Presumably you had been travelling to Nashville prior to your decision to move there. What was the 'trigger' for the move and was it a difficult decision to make?
DAVID LEE:- No, my mind was made up. I loved making music and was into music like Waylon and the "Outlaws" of that time. Also I was a big Skynyrd fan.

CMF:- After the move in 1983, you started writing in earnest along with such people as Steve Earle, Bill Lloyd and Jimbeau Hinson. It was with the latter you co-wrote "Red Roses (Won't Work Now)" which was included on Reba McEntire's 1985 album "Have I Got A Deal For You". What were your feelings seeing one of your songs included on an album?
DAVID LEE:- At the time I probably had two beers, a half pound of bologna and a bottle of tabasco sauce in my refrigerator. So you can imagine I was in a pretty good mood at that point. Little did I know at that time that my next cut wouldn't come until five years later.

CMF:- During the 80's Country music went through some changes with the 'urban cowboy' - 'country-pop' and then what came to be known as 'new country' styles. As someone who was writing and performing through that period how did you perceive the changes to the music?
DAVID LEE:- As a writer, I wrote songs to get cut by other people. As an artist, I tried to write songs and record demo's totally different from what everybody else was doing. Similar to my last record "We Can't All Be Angels", which you'll be lucky to find....lol...I tried to take chances. Obviously, somebody in a suit somewhere figured it was too different.

CMF:- What style were you performing with your band - 'The Blue Tick Hounds' and where did you get that name?
DAVID LEE:- Loud rocking fun Country music. Pretty much the same thing I still do. It was "The Fantastic Blue Tick Hounds"...and the name came from the Charlie Daniels Band song "Long Haired Country Boy".

CMF:- As mentioned earlier it was "Just Once" that really gave your career the boost you had been waiting for and the result was your debut album "Out With A Bang". As a 'new' artist, how much input were you allowed on the album?
DAVID LEE:- A lot. We totally copped my demo's. Tony Brown, the producer, wanted to capture the essence and rawness of what I did. It wasn't a typical Nashville record. Since I wrote and co-wrote all the songs, it had a definite sound and Tony gave me a lot of artistic freedom in the studio of which I'm very grateful.

CMF:- The first cut off the album, which became the best selling debut album by a male country singer in 1995, was "Fish Ain't Bitin'" and made the lower reaches of the charts. The next single - "Party Crowd" - became the most played single on US Country radio followed later in the year by your first No 1 "Dust On The Bottle". You must have felt on top of the world by the end of the year.
DAVID LEE:- I felt really fortunate to be doing something I had worked so long and hard for. It really is rewarding to have a #1 record, a gold album and then a song like "Party Crowd". Even though all that was going on though, I think the industry still perceived me as some sort of outsider.

CMF:- "Getting' Out The Good Stuff", your second album, yielded some more hits notably "Everytime I Get Around You" and the beautiful and thought provoking "The Road You Leave Behind", with a very poignant video. Where did you get the idea from for this song?
DAVID LEE:- It was just one of those songwriter things. It just popped into my head. Although my dad was that kind of man to stop and help somebody in need. I guess it probably soaked from my past somewhere.

CMF:- Do you have a set pattern to your writing - like writing at a certain time or, is it when the inspiration comes to you? Also do you draw upon your own experiences for subject matter?
DAVID LEE:- I usually like to write in the morning when my mind is fresh. So in my case, I have to work fast. No, I sometimes write at night or in the afternoon. Yes, I draw on experiences, things people say or do, you name it. I guess a little warped imagination doesn't hurt either.

CMF:- The latter half of the 90's saw Country music became very commercialised. The success of a single and artist became very dependant upon the amount of airplay received on the radio which, in turn, affected the sales. Many artists, like yourself, were not being included on radio play-lists and subsequently didn't attain the commercial success they had previously. How frustrating is it, knowing your music is as good as or, better than some that is receiving commercial success due to airplay?
DAVID LEE:- Did you ever see the movie "Falling Down"?

CMF:- Even though you are without a record deal at present, you are still performing, writing and touring. Are you able to enjoy life more not having the stress of whether your records are attaining commercial success?
DAVID LEE:- Right now I have a song, "People Like Us" that Aaron Tippin has set to be his next single. It is the title track to his new Lyric Street CD. Brooks and Dunn have recorded one of my songs which should be on their next CD. I'm having a great time writing songs with my regular writing partners. Also I've had the opportunity to write about a half dozen songs with Waylon Jennings, one of my all-time favorites and a living legend in Country Music. We're getting ready to go in the studio to record those songs. Commercial success just means some guys in designer suits with a bunch of laptop computers are making a shitload of money off you. I'm writing with Waylon...Hell with those guys.

CMF:- Thanks David Lee for taking the time to chat with us. Good luck with your future writing and music.

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