When Katie Ray Murray’s grandfather, former Falls Mayor Jack Murray, died last summer, she coped with the loss by writing a song about his life and what the man who wore International Falls on his sleeve meant to her. She shared the song with her family at Jack Murray’s funeral and now, she will share her music with the community from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday as she takes the stage at the Coffee Landing Cafe.

The 16-year-old singer and songwriter from Osseo brings to the microphone “a pretty big variety of music.”

“I try to have a little something for everyone,” Murray said. “Old, new, country, pop — it’s quite the mix. I try to interact with the audience to find out what everyone wants to hear.”

Murray started performing as a child in her hometown of Baudette. She said her parents and brother all sing, and because she has grown up around music, her admiration of the art has come naturally.

“My parents have always loved music, so I guess they passed that on to me,” she said. “I can’t remember having not loved music.”

Murray, a junior at Osseo High School where she is a straight-A student, has developed her guitar performance style and acoustic cover act, while establishing a song-writing talent. The songstress noted that it is in the past five years that she has become serious about a career in music.

“I’m graduating next year, and I hope to go to Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.,” she said. “I would also like to build a professional country music career there in Nashville.”

Saturday’s performance won’t be Murray’s first in the Falls — where, she notes, her parents, David and Rayetta, are both from. She has performed twice in Smokey Bear Park for the Fourth of July as well as a 2008 benefit concert at Backus Community Center.

Murray explained her acoustic show is “pretty relaxed” and her audience will be treated to some songs she has written herself.

“Being a teenage girl, most of (my songs) tend to be inspired by most of the things teenage girls experience,” she said. “I also have a few inspired by my family, since they’re such a big part of my life.”

Last year, Murray released her first CD entitled “Take Me With You,” which is available at her shows and on iTunes.

“When I’m performing, I get to do exactly what I would do if I was just sitting alone at home, except that I have an audience, and I think that’s what I like best,” she summed up. “Playing music is what I love to do, and it makes it even better when I see that other people enjoy it, too.”

For more information on Murray, or to hear a clip of her songs, visit www.katie-ray.com.