James McMurtry Wins Esky and Enters a Hall of Fame

Press release
Source: conqueroo / Cary Baker

The awards continue to pile up for roots rocker James McMurtry. McMurtry, the 2006 winner of the Americana Music Association's Song and Album of there year, has just been awarded Esquire's 2007 Esky Award for "Biggest Agitator" in the April issue of the magazine. The "Agitator" tag refers to McMurtry's recent musical commentaries on the current state of the union — "We Can't Make It Here" and "God Bless America." The annual Esky Awards recognize musical achievement in areas that aren't explored by typical music awards. The award itself features a mustachioed little man holding up the rock ‘n’ roll hand sign. Other winners of a 2007 Esky include LCD Soundsystem for "Best Soundtrack for Getting Off Your Ass" and Cold War Kids' Matt Maust for "Best Advertisement for Indie Rock Medical Insurance." Esquire Magazine has a circulation of over 700,000. See the full list of winners here.

In addition to his Esky, McMurtry was elected into the Austin Chronicle Music Poll Hall of Fame at the Austin Music Awards. The Awards were held last week in Austin, Texas, during the SXSW Music Conference. The rest of inductees included Paul Ray (of the Cobras), Lucinda Williams, Scratch Acid, Patrice Pike, DJ Casanova, Blues Boy Hubbard and Ernie Mae Miller.

James McMurtry is the son of acclaimed author Larry McMurtry. McMurtry grew up on a steady diet of Johnny Cash and Roy Acuff records. His first album, released in 1989, was produced by John Mellencamp and marked the beginning of a series of critically acclaimed projects for Columbia and Sugar Hill. In 2003, McMurtry joined forces with Houston's Compadre Records and together they released the universally lauded Live in Aught-Three. 2005's Childish Things garnered some of the highest critical praise of McMurtry's career and spent six weeks at number one on R&R's Americana Music Radio Chart in 2005 and 2006. Last September, Childish Things and "We Can't Make It Here" won the Americana Music Awards for album and song of the year respectively.

About Compadre Records:
Compadre Records is a Houston-based independent record label that specializes in roots music. Compadre's 30+ album catalog includes albums from James McMurtry, Billy Joe Shaver, Suzy Bogguss, Flaco Jimenez, Townes Van Zandt, and Hayes Carll, among others. Compadre has also released a successful series of compilations (Brewed in Texas; Texas Road Trip; Texas Outlaws; Brewed in Texas 2; and Let's Step Outside).

About Music World Entertainment:
Music World Entertainment (MWE) is one of the world's leading entertainment and music conglomerates dedicated to bringing quality entertainment to the world. MWE worldwide business includes record labels, artist and producer management, staff producers, artist development, Master catalog series, investment and property holdings, including offices in Houston, Los Angeles, New York and London. MWE is the brainchild of President and CEO Mathew Knowles, the powerhouse management behind the success of Grammy Award-winners Beyonce and global phenomenon Destiny's Child, the most successful "girl group" in the history of pop music. Music World is one of the most successful labels in the world with over 100 million records sold to date including releases by Destiny's Child, Beyonce, Solange Knowles, Michelle Williams, Sunshine Anderson, the "Dreamgirls" soundtrack and "Roll Bounce" soundtrack and the highly anticipated upcoming Music World Master Series releases, which includes Chaka Kahn and O'Jays.

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