Country Music Hall of Famer, Radio HOFer Ralph Emery dead at 88
Jan 15, 2022 | 4:26 PM
Country Aircheck
Chronicle: Ralph Emery Country Music Hall of Famer and National Radio Hall of Famer Ralph Emery passed away today (1/15) at the age of 88. Emery was born March 10, 1933 in McEwen, TN and began his career in small-market stations within the state before going on to become one of only six current country-related members of the NRHoF. According to his biographical information at the Country Music Hall of Fame, “In one industry poll, Emery was voted Country radio’s greatest personality of the century, [and] he has been called ‘the Dick Clark of country music’ and ‘the Johnny Carson of cable television.’” Emery launched his career in 1951 with a 15-minute newscast at WTPR/Paris, TN before moving on to WNAH/Nashville and WAGG/Franklin. He joined WSM-AM/Nashville in 1957 as host of Opry Star Spotlight. During his 25-year tenure with WSM, Emery found his niche combining an open-door policy with relaxed and informal studio atmosphere. In 1961, Emery became an announcer for the Grand Ole Opry, and in 1972, he began producing and hosting The Ralph Emery Show – a syndicated program of music and conversation – which ran in various forms until 1995. Emery became a fixture on television, including a decade-long stint as host of the TNN series Nashville Now, which brought musicians together to talk and play. From 2007-2015, Emery returned to host RFD-TV’s Ralph Emery Live. “Ralph Emery’s impact in expanding country music’s audience is incalculable,” says CMHoF CEO Kyle Young. “On radio and on television, he allowed fans to get to know the people behind the songs. Ralph was more a grand conversationalist than a calculated interviewer, and it was his conversations that revealed the humor and humanity of Tom T. Hall, Barbara Mandrell, Tex Ritter, Marty Robbins and many more. Above all, he believed in music and in the people who make it.” Emery was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 1989, Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007 and the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2010.
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