Mike August
Special to The View
When last we left the “Cosmic Cowboys” they were still in L.A. But when record deals for both Michael Murphey and Bob Livingston fell through, they decided to head back to their home state of Texas.
“We weren’t going to move to Dallas, which is where Murphey was from, so we chose that town with streets full of musicians and poets and artists and actors and dancers — Austin, Texas,” Livingston said.
Later, Walker headed to Red River and joined up with the rest of the group which grew to include drummer Michael McGarry, guitarist Craig Hills and a onetime pharmacy major, Gary P. Nunn.
Livingston continues, “Jerry Jeff says, hey man, I got all these songs – ‘Charlie Dunn,’ ‘Hill Country Rain’ and ‘That Old Beat Up Guitar.’ He also found this Guy Clark song, ‘L.A. Freeway.’” The musicians traveled to New York where they began recording an album.
According to Livingston, the Cosmic Cowboy movement was well underway by the time Willie Nelson arrived. “Willie came to town and we were playing this place called Mother Earth and it was a double concert with Jerry Jeff and Murphey and the band, which became the ‘Lost Gonzo Band,’ was playing with both of them. Eddie Wilson of the Armadillo brought Willie to see the show. There were rednecks and the hippies all in the same room liking the same music, smoking joints or whatever, and Willie went, ‘Man, this is the place!’” Around the same time they met Bob Johnston, a producer from Nashville originally from Texas, who loved their sound. He had produced records for Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Johnny Cash. Three days later, Murphey and the band were in Nashville’s Co- lumbia Studio A recording Murphey’s album “Geronimo’s Cadillac.”
After the recording session, the band returned to Austin and started playing gigs with Jerry Jeff Walker. Everyone except Gary P. Nunn wrote a song on the album. Murphey took Nunn to England to the Abbey Road Studios where the album was being mixed. It was the worst winter in 20 years. Nunn didn’t bring any warm clothes and in the cold flat where he stayed he saw a guitar and picked it up. The first words out of his mouth were, “It’s cold over here and I swear I wish they’d turned the heat on.” From such a dismal beginning would spring forth one of the quintessential Texas anthems of all time, “London Homesick Blues.” The story is legendary in the music business.
The Cosmic Cowboy movement represented a departure from the polished, formulaic approach of mainstream country music, emphasizing authenticity, creativity and a connection to the audience.
While the genre’s heyday was relatively short-lived, its influence can still be felt in the “Outlaw Country” movement led by artists like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, as well as in the broader Americana genre.
Jerry Jeff Walker, Michael Martin Murphey, Gary P. Nunn and Ray Wylie Hubbard were instrumental in defining the sound and spirit of Cosmic Cowboy music. Their work celebrated individuality, storytelling and a deep connection to Texas culture, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire musicians and audiences alike.
Mike August climbed his first mountain – Old Baldy – and rode his first horse as a youngster in Wimberley. He has an extensive background in nonprofits, including public broadcasting, youth services and other charitable organizations. He has served in management, Board and volunteer positions for Wimberley Valley Radio, The Wimberley Players and WimberleyArts. He is a member of WimberleyArts. org
