THE PAINTER PICASSO has been described as creating, during his boyhood in Barcelona, works that display both impressive artistic technique and a depth of psychological insight not often seen in one so young.
     Savannah singer-songwriter, poet and 12-year-old Jamison Murphy has an inspired touch of those same qualities in his work but without a hint of somber introversion.   In fact, ideas in fully formed sentences seem to tumble out of Jamison in an orderly and exuberant torrent.
     His native ability to combine poetry and music won Jamison the 2008 Savannah Folk Music Society Youth Songwriting Competition for his song “Happy, Healthy, Normal and Strong,” a sung poem of love and encouragement for his infant nephew with Down Syndrome.
     Jamison performed his prize-winning song before a large crowd at Grayson Stadium during the Oct. 12 concert, the festival’s signature event.
     He was the youngest of four Youth Competition finalists seeking the top prize, and his victory was particularly sweet because he had finished last among the top four festival finalists the previous year.
    
A PRAYER AND A SONG
     The title of Jamison’s winning entry comes from a prayer that his father, Dennis Murphy, recites before the birth of every child in the family, but as to the source of Jamison’s musical talent, his mom and dad haven’t a clue. Dennis, an associate vice president for academic affairs at Armstrong Atlantic State University, says:   “There are no musicians in the family as far back as we can go.” Jamison’s poet genes may come in part from his mother, Carol Jamison, a professor of literature at Armstrong.
     As for inspiration, Jamison finds a lot in the stories of figures from Savannah’s historic past.
     “I like to imagine what would go on inside their heads,” he said. He also credits his music teacher, Nathalee “Cookie” Drayton, for helping him to find his voice, both literally and spiritually.
    
ON DYLAN AND PINK FLOYD
     Jamison’s inspiration also lies in the work of poet-songwriter Bob Dylan and, perhaps surprisingly, Pink Floyd’s complex music and deep lyrics on their album “Dark Side of the Moon.” He jots down ideas for songs and poems on any handy bit of paper whenever inspiration hits, and he has a bureau drawer filled with scraps of songs and lyrics.
     And as for future goals, Jamison, a whiz in geography, has mapped those out thoroughly.  After completing his courses at Charles Ellis Montessori, he hopes to enter Savannah Arts Academy and eventually attend Duke University, all the while continuing to tell stories in poetry and music. 
     In a line from his award-winning ballad, Jamison urges his young nephew to ignore the negative energy sent out by others and boldly shape his own destiny. Jamison seems well on his way to that goal, too. n
 
THREE QUESTIONS
Q. What do you like best about Savannah?
A: Its beauty and history inspire poetry.
 
Q. What are your plans for the future?
A: Win a national geography bee.
 
Q. Who is your inspiration?
A: My parents and teachers.