| Preserving rare old tapes... |
| Recently, I've been going through old reel-to-reel tapes I recorded ages ago, and among my finds was the only known recording of the RALPH EMERY SHOW from March 6th, 1963. This was the famous and legendary show Ralph dedicated to PATSY CLINE, HAWKSHAW HAWKINS, COWBOY COPAS and RANDY HUGHES following the untimely plane crash that killed them all. At the time, I was a young disc jockey studying the recording business and anything to do with Nashville, Tennessee. |
| Other tapes I am in the process of preserving include speeches by President John F. Kennedy, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, Senator Dale Bumpers, then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, plus many local band and music recordings. |
| Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas tape found! |
| x x x |
| After hearing news reports of the plane crash, I decided that night to listen to Ralph's show on WSM radio out of Nashville. About 15 minutes into the show I grabbed my recorder and shoved the microphone in front of the speaker and recorded until after 2:00 in the morning. Ralph told anecdotes and stories about Patsy, Hawkshaw and Cowboy Copas, and played lots of mournful and inspirational songs, as well as the star's recordings. I have lovingly restored and transferred this tape to digital with my computer, and now await some way of sharing this memorable night with the world. I realize it would take a tremendous effort, and much more than I am capable of to get this out to the public, but there must be a way! I would be most happy if it could be of benefit to helping preserve important things having to do with these country music stars and their legacy. |
| Charles Okle, Jr. 307 W. 26th Ave. Pine Bluff, AR 71601 |