Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 2, 1993 TAG: 9310020088
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Reviewed by JAY EUBANK LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
\ Country music today is the province of Billy Ray, Garth, Clint, Reba and Wynonna.
Ask most listeners to one of the fastest growing styles of music if they've heard of Stringbean or Porter Waggoner or Marty Robbins - even Patsy Cline - and you'll likely get a blank stare.
It's like there's two ages in country music, B.G. and A.G. - Before Garth and After Garth.
That's why "More Memories" by Ralph Emery is insightful, particularly for new fans of country music.
And what better person to go to than Ralph Emery? His face and easy-going demeanor are easily recognizable by millions who tune in to The Nashville Network. Every weeknight, Emery's "Nashville Now" show serves up conversation and music for country fans, much as Johnny Carson did for so many years for late-night audiences.
But even before Emery signed on to do "Nashville Now" he was a household name to many in country's capital city and to others who tuned in to clear-channel WSM, the flagship station of the Grand Ole Opry.
Emery is a bridge between country's first real commercial beginnings in the 1950s and the mega-popularity of country today dominated by stars like Garth Brooks.
And it's from that time when Emery began as a broadcaster that country music began inching away from its hillbilly roots in the rural South to winning mass acceptance. From Cline to Webb Pierce to Roy Acuff to Merle Haggard to Loretta Lynn to Roger Miller, Emery was right there.
More Memories is exactly that - memories of a variety of country music stars and situations. Emery doesn't serve up anything earth- shattering, but still the tales he tells are interesting. Sample just a few:
Nashville was in the world's entertainment spotlight in 1973 when it hosted the Grammy Awards, a huge undertaking for that city at the time. Artificial smoke, for instance, would be needed for a number by rhythm-and-blues singer Curtis Mayfield.
Today that would pose no problem, but in 1973, Nashville production people hadn't dealt with such a need so they improvised. They used bug spray and the results were not good. The Grammy's haven't been broadcast in Nashville since.
Garth Brooks created a national stir with his video to the song "The Thunder Rolls." The song decries family violence and in the video, a battered wife shoots her husband after being beaten up again.
The Nashville Network was queasy about the video's violence but agreed to show it if Brooks would assent to attaching a public service announcement after the video giving people a number to call to seek help.
Brooks refused - a fact not played up in the mainstream press - and the video was banned from The Nashville Network and Country Music Television.
Country music has come a long way, and Emery has let us in on some of the inside stories that occurred along the way. And by the way, Stringbean was a Grand Ole Opry comedian - if you didn't know.
by CNB