"I was raised on a strict diet of folk, country and bluegrass. The Centre Streeters were my mentors. Every Thursday night they would gather in circle in a living room in Dover, MA and evoke every damn lost, drunk, and brokenhearted song known to man... in four part harmony of course. Always harmonies. That was the constant. Each rehearsal that I witnessed brought me closer and closer... to the point of knowing no other way of life. Doesn't every family or circle of friends act like this? Well it seems this is my bio. It is nowhere near finished, but I have been gifted with humility. Sitting in a circle, playing songs is where the real music exists."
Putnam Murdock got his start as a professional musician touring with the successful rock and roll band Chief Broom. With Murdock as front man, the group achieved a slot on the 1997 H.O.R.D.E. tour, appeared in festivals at Red Rocks Amphitheater and sold out venues throughout the western U.S. Upon completion of this type of "music school of life" in 1999, Murdock attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he graduated with a songwriting degree in 2002. Since then, Murdock has been performing across the country with artists such as Reed Foehl (of Acoustic Junction), Ben Taylor, Martin Sexton, Gregory Alan Isakov, William Topley, and Kaki King.
In addition to his live performances, he has also established his songwriting career by co-writing songs that have been featured in the television shows "Joan of Arcadia," "Dawsons Creek," "MTV's Made," and "The Biggest Loser." The song "When it Comes Around" appeared in the motion picture "Just Friends" and is also included on the soundtrack. In 2009, the song "Jersey Whiskey" won an Honorable Mention in the Americana category of the International Songwriting Competition and his debut album, Fiction, along with the track "Bright Future" were placed on the Official Ballot for the Grammy Awards in five categories. Recently, the song "When I Die," off his record Brand New Widow, was selected as the winner of the 2012 We Are Listening Singer/Songwriter Awards.
After a stint in Brooklyn, where Murdock performed and co-produced the debut records for Kenny Cambre The Guy You Cheer For, and Kara Suzanne Aumsville, he now resides in southern Massachusetts. Currently, he is recording music for several documentary films by Ken Burns as well as touring the northeastern U.S. in support of his recent release, Brand New Widow, recorded and co-produced by Bryan Pugh at Dreamland Recording Studios in West Hurley, NY.
In addition to his live performances, he has also established his songwriting career by co-writing songs that have been featured in the television shows "Joan of Arcadia," "Dawsons Creek," "MTV's Made," and "The Biggest Loser." The song "When it Comes Around" appeared in the motion picture "Just Friends" and is also included on the soundtrack. In 2009, the song "Jersey Whiskey" won an Honorable Mention in the Americana category of the International Songwriting Competition and his debut album, Fiction, along with the track "Bright Future" were placed on the Official Ballot for the Grammy Awards in five categories. Recently, the song "When I Die," off his record Brand New Widow, was selected as the winner of the 2012 We Are Listening Singer/Songwriter Awards.
After a stint in Brooklyn, where Murdock performed and co-produced the debut records for Kenny Cambre The Guy You Cheer For, and Kara Suzanne Aumsville, he now resides in southern Massachusetts. Currently, he is recording music for several documentary films by Ken Burns as well as touring the northeastern U.S. in support of his recent release, Brand New Widow, recorded and co-produced by Bryan Pugh at Dreamland Recording Studios in West Hurley, NY.
