tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post2506131919004567950..comments2024-03-26T23:59:24.053-04:00Comments on Fayfare's Opry Blog: Cowboy Copasfayfarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00173166778978335059noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-40699528896301271842011-07-18T18:03:14.281-04:002011-07-18T18:03:14.281-04:00Fred again. Skeeter was a true screwball whose ina...Fred again. Skeeter was a true screwball whose inane prattle was about the only thing that could make me turn Ralph off at night. Little did I realize that one of the reasons for those endless conversations was a budding romance!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-18373184190455013492011-07-18T09:51:52.679-04:002011-07-18T09:51:52.679-04:00Agree on Ralph. His all night show was great, but ...Agree on Ralph. His all night show was great, but I think like any person, he had his favorites and made sure that they were taken care of. I think it was in Skeeter Davis's book, "Bus Fare To Kentucky", that she made very critical statements about Ralph and how he decided to play different records. God rest her soul, but that account might not be the most accurate<br /><br />Ralph has done a lot for country music and deserves his place in the Hall of Fame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-63796180875721444342011-07-16T22:49:07.314-04:002011-07-16T22:49:07.314-04:00Fred, I agree. Ralph could have done a lot more w...Fred, I agree. Ralph could have done a lot more with that, although I detected that he seemed not to want to demonstrate how powerful he was--and he was stronger, as his friend Jimmy C. Newman would say, than a garlic milkshake. I believe he also buried a couple of careers, too, by not playing some records because he didn't like them or didn't like the artist. That isn't to knock Ralph--he's entitled to his opinions! But I remember him saying in his book that some celebrities clearly liked him for his time slot and power, but two who stood out as true friends were Ferlin Husky and Marty Robbins.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-11333598769796929082011-07-16T19:14:59.687-04:002011-07-16T19:14:59.687-04:00Fred in Bismarck again.
I also remember how Cope ...Fred in Bismarck again.<br /><br />I also remember how Cope really owed the success of 'Alabam' to Ralph Emery. I was a nightly listener to 'Opry Star Spotlight' in those days, and remember that 'Alabam' was only a cut in a new album by Cope.<br /><br />But Emery really liked it and played the dickens out of it ... nightly. Cope was even on with him one night, and Emery said, "This needs to be a single."<br /><br />Cope kind of demurred, said Starday had chosen another cut from the album for the first 45. But Emery kept playing 'Alabam,' and eventually Starday saw the light and brought it out.<br /><br />I was disappointed when Emery didn't tell this story -- and many others he could have told from those days -- in his autobiographical books. He seemed to favor stories of his association with newer and bigger stars that might be more recognizable to his readers. Or he just didn't remember some of the old ones.<br /><br />Too bad! He had some wild and crazy nights on the air 50 years ago with people like Ferlin Husky and Roger Miller.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-46787202263888912782011-07-16T18:10:56.418-04:002011-07-16T18:10:56.418-04:00Thanks, Byron. Fred in Bismarck here. What richnes...Thanks, Byron. Fred in Bismarck here. What richness! What variety! Country music in all its manifestations!<br /><br />I note that Hawk's last appearance introduced his brand-new single, which went on to become his own career record.<br /><br />I'll never forget sitting up with the radio all night (Opry Star Spotlight, Ralph Emery) as first the plane was reported missing, then down. Just heartbreaking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com