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Iconic Country Hitmaker Dead At 75

Iconic Country Hitmaker Dead At 75

Twitter / VIMBC, Blackburn News CK

A man who was known throughout the world of both rock and country music for handcrafting legendary songs has sadly passed away. The English-born Canadian first got his start on the streets of Liverpool but later chartered a songwriting career with surprise country hits, incredible success, and great recognition.

Ralph Murphy passed away on Tuesday, May 28th, 2019 after battling an unspecified illness.

His songwriting was recognized through hits from Jeannie C. Riley, Crystal Gayle, Ronnie Milsap, and others – but it was how he got into country music that really took him by surprise.

“I accidentally had a country hit – I was drawing on my roots – and I had a huge No. 2 hit with Jeannie C. Riley called ‘Good Enough to Be Your Wife,’” he recalled according to Variety. “I won an ASCAP Award for it in 1972, and flew down to Nashville because I had never been. I fell in love with the town. I was just having children and the kids were getting mugged in the playground [in early-1970s New York City]. Everyone and everything said, ‘Go to Nashville.’”

Later, he had hits other folks and even Randy Travis, Shania Twain, Don Williams, and Lynn Anderson cut a few of his songs.

In recent years, he was most active in the Nashville songwriting community, but he battled quite a few health problems. It was after a visit to Toronto this year that he contracted pneumonia and that eventually lead to his death.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. Truly, the world of country music is a darker place without him.

RIP Ralph.