Songspeak - Conversations on the Art and Craft of Songwriting - Ralph Murphy.
Tennessee MTSU Recording Industry professor Hal Newman, and occasional guest hosts, interview ASCAP songwriters.
Topics include the process of writing songs, how one becomes a songwriter, tips for being a successful songwriter in the music industry. Songwriters also perform a few of their songs. The programs are recorded in front of MTSU students enrolled in Recording Industry courses. A question and answer session follows each discussion.
Hals' guest this episode is the richly talented Ralph Murphy. Ralph brings a wealth of experience on the nuts and bolts of successful songwriting to the show, as well as some great stories! Born in England and raised in Canada, the well-traveled Ralph has worked extensively on both sides of the Atlantic. His first #1 song in Europe was "Call My Name" by James Royal (1966). Ralph moved to New York in 1969 to produce the band April Wine (two gold albums; one platinum). In 1971, Ralph had his first Country hit in Nashville with "Good Enough To Be Your Wife" for Jeannie C. Riley. Other hits include the classics "He Got You" for Ronnie Milsap, and "Half The Way" for Crystal Gayle. Ralph is currently serving as Vice President for ASCAP Nashville.
To paraphrase Ralph, "I never want it to be 'my' song. I want the lady singing it behind me in the grocery store. I want it piped over the store speaker by the Living Strings. I want it played by the Holiday Inn band...badly. I want people to use it at their wedding. Once people weave a song into their lives it becomes 'their' song, and I know I've done my job as a songwriter."