SYDNEY, Jan 25 AAP -

He's from Nashville, he's a country music star and he's mates with Russell Crowe.

Currently in Australia for Tamworth's Country Music festival, US crooner David Lee Murphy says he looks forward to catching up with Crowe.

The pair met last year when the Oscar-winning actor went to two of Murphy's concerts, one in Sydney and the other in Coffs Harbour.

Murphy says they hit it off immediately and he hopes he can do some song-writing with his Aussie pal.

"I was trying not to name drop but we are talking about getting together with Russell to do some writing while I am here," the 47-year-old musician said.

"He came to two of my shows when I was here last year. We had a great time hanging out and he is going to be in Tamworth so it will be great to catch up. He's got a cool thing going on. He's an actor, but also a talented artist."

Tall, dark and ruggedly handsome, Murphy admits to having already been a huge fan of Crowe, who also fronts his own band, the Ordinary Fear of God.

"I had worn the Gladiator video out!" he said.

"My kids have worn it out. When I told my three boys I had met Russell Crowe they were like 'oh man that's cool'."

Murphy will play two gigs in Tamworth before heading to Sydney, the Gold Coast and then back to Sydney in a whirlwind two-week visit.

A prominent fixture in the country music mecca of Nashville, Murphy says he would love to one day move to Australia. That is mainly because his Aussie country pals, including Adam Brand, Adam Harvey, Melinda Schneider and Lee Kernaghan, always brag about their homeland when they visit him overseas.

"There is something really cool about Australia," he said.

"When my buddies come over I can tell they are missing being away from home. It's fun for them to travel but I am sure they miss being there. When I wrote with Adam Harvey the first time he said he loved my country but home was better. When I came here I knew what he meant."

Murphy has released four albums and has written or co-written every song featured.

Living in Fast Forward, the song he penned for actress Renee Zellweger's ex-husband Kenny Chesney, is currently playing all over the US.

"Song writing just comes to me," Murphy said.

"It's my life - performing, singing, playing guitar and writing. It's all I know and all I will ever do."

(c) 2006 Australian Associated Press Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved
Australian Associated Press General News

Thanks, Anne S