David Lee Murphy Remembers the Car He Was Driving When He First Heard Himself on the Radio
David Lee Murphy broke into the country music mainstream in the 1990s, putting out hits such as "Party Crowd," "The Road You Leave Behind" and, of course, the classic "Dust on the Bottle." The singer released three studio albums between 1994 and 1998, finding both success at country radio and a legion of devoted fans.
Twenty-three years after "Dust on the Bottle" went to No. 1, Murphy was back at the top of the country charts again with "Everything's Gonna Be Alright," a duet with Kenny Chesney that Murphy included on his 2018 album No Zip Code. Despite having taken a hiatus from recording that had lasted over a decade, Murphy returned seamlessly to country radio with his new hit.
The first time the singer ever heard himself on the radio, however, happened about 24 years prior, in 1994. His debut song, "Just Once," enjoyed some airplay and went on to be a part of the soundtrack to the movie 8 Seconds. Where was Murphy and what was he doing the first time he ever heard "Just Once" on country radio? Read on for the story, told in Murphy's own words.
I was living in Ashland City, Tenn., and I was driving -- about -- a 1982 Mercury Marquis. I was driving the old Highway 12, coming into town. It was around Country Radio Seminar time, and I heard "Just Once" on the radio for the first time.
You hear people say, "Well, I had to pull the car over to listen to my song," and I literally did the same thing. I had to pull my car over and listen to it, and kinda soak it in.