Remembering Ralph Emery

• Ralph Emery, legendary radio and television broadcaster and best-selling author who has rightly been called “the Dick Clark of Country Music” and the dean of Country Music broadcasters, died Saturday, January 15. He was 88.

With a career that spanned more than half a century, Emery rose to fame during the late-night hours on Nashville’s WSM, where he allowed many new artists a chance to be heard for the first time. Throughout his career, Emery also hosted Pop! Goes The Country, Nashville Now, Ralph Emery Live, and Ralph Emery’s Memories.

“Ralph Emery was often better known than the stars he introduced to larger and larger audiences over the years as Country Music’s foremost ambassador,” said Sarah Trahern, CEO of the Country Music Association (CMA). “Our format had no better voice over the years than Ralph, who treated Country Music and its stars — many of whom went on to become his friend — with the kind of dignity and respect they deserved for decades.”

Trahern continued, “As a Country Music Hall of Famer, he will be remembered among so many of the artists he supported throughout his career. On a personal note, I worked with Ralph for many years, and I always looked forward to his lively stories when we sat down for lunch. My thoughts are with his family today.”

Emery was a 1989 inductee into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame and a 2010 inductee into the Radio Hall Of Fame. In 2007 Emery was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He’s pictured here (right) with fellow inductees Mel Tillis and Vince Gill. [Bottom photo credit: John Russell / CMA]