Ralph Emery: The Man Who Changed Country Music

Ralph Emery is a legendary figure in country music. He is a singer, songwriter, and producer who has helped to shape the sound and style of country music for over five decades.

Introduction

Ralph Emery is a country music legend. He is a three-time Grammy Award winner, an inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Country Music. He is also a New York Times bestselling author.

Emery was born in 1935 in Nashville, Tennessee. He began his career as a DJ at Nashville’s WSM radio station in 1957. In 1971, he began hosting The Ralph Emery Show on WSM-TV, which became one of the most popular country music television shows of all time.

Emery has been credited with changing the sound and style of country music. He was one of the first country DJs to play music from different genres on his show, including rock and roll, pop, and R&B. He also championed the careers of many up-and-coming country artists, such as Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and Shania Twain.

In addition to his work in radio and television, Emery has also written several books about country music and its history. His most recent book, Ralph Emery: The Autobiography, was released in 2016.

Early Life and Career

Ralph Emery was born on March 10, 1933 in Shirley, Massachusetts. His father, George Emery, was a country music fan and had a large collection of records. Ralph began playing the guitar at an early age and by the time he was thirteen he was performing on a local radio station. He later joined the Navy and while stationed in Great Lakes, Illinois he worked as a deejay on the Armed Forces Radio station.

After his discharge from the Navy, Ralph moved to Nashville where he landed a job as a staff announcer at WSM. It was here that he developed his trademark style of talking to the listeners as if they were friends. In 1964 he became the host of the Midnight Jamboree, a live country music show that aired after the Grand Ole Opry. The show became so popular that it was eventually syndicated to over 500 radio stations across the United States.

In addition to his work on radio, Ralph also hosted several television shows including Nashville Now and The Ralph Emery Show. He is also well-known for his work as a journalist and has written two books about country music; Friends, I Remember You and Goodnight Sweetheart, I’ll See You in My Dreams.

Ralph Emery has been inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He is considered one of the most important figures in country music history and has helped to shape the sound and style of modern country music

The Grand Ole Opry

Ralph Emery is a country music legend. He is best known for his work on the Grand Ole Opry, where he was a DJ for many years. He is also known for his work on the television show Hee Haw.

Emery was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1935. He began his career in country music as a musician, playing guitar and singing in clubs and on radio shows. In the early 1950s, he began working as a DJ at WSM-AM, the home of the Grand Ole Opry. He continued to work as a DJ until 1971, when he left to focus on his television career.

Emery’s work on television began in 1968, when he hosted a short-lived country music variety show called The Ralph Emery Show. In 1969, he began working on Hee Haw, which became one of the most popular shows in country music history. Emery continued to work on Hee Haw until 1986, when the show was cancelled.

After Hee Haw ended, Emery returned to radio, hosting a syndicated country music radio show called The Ralph Emery Show. He continued to host this show until 2011, when he retired from broadcasting.

Emery has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2018, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump.

Later Career

In the 1990s, Emery was lured back to Nashville to host a morning show on WSM-AM. The Ralph Emery Show became one of the highest-rated radio programs in Nashville. In 2003, the Country Music Association honored Emery with a lifetime achievement award for his radio work. In 2005, he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.

Emery continued to host his morning show on WSM until his retirement in 2011. He continued to make occasional appearances on television and was a regular panelist on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” morning show. In 2014, he published his memoir, “Ralph Emery: Goodnight Music City,” which detailed his long career in country music.

Death and Legacy

Ralph Emery died on March 27, 2018, at the age of 82. Immediately after his death, tributes began to pour in from all over the world of country music. Emery was not only respected for his work in radio and television, but also for his work as a historian and promoter of the country music industry.

In addition to his work on radio and television, Emery was also a successful author. He wrote several books about country music, including his autobiography, Memories: Why I Love Country Music, which was published in 2009.

Emery’s death marked the end of an era in country music. He was one of the last links to the early days of country music radio and television. He was also one of the few people who had a successful career in both mediums. Ralph Emery will be remembered as a giant in the world of country music.