Country Music Veteran Songwriter Ralph Murphy Dies at 75

Ralph Murphy, the veteran songwriter, musician, and producer who wrote lyrics for Shania Twain and Randy Travis, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee.

The man died on May 28 of pneumonia during the recovery process from radiation therapy associated with cancer treatment. Soon before his passing, Murphy had been hospitalized after suffering from different health issues.

He was born in England but moved to Canada when he was very young. One of the first hit songs he wrote was Jeannie C. Riley’s “Good Enough to be Your Wife.”

Apart from that, Murphy worked with April Wine with songs like “You Could Have Been a Lady” and “Bad Side of The Moon.” He also wrote Billy Fury’s “Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt” and James Royal’s “Call My Name.”

Due to his outstanding career, he was inducted in the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012, won the SOCAN Special Achievement Award earlier this year, and also won an award inspired in himself, the Ralph Murphy Songwriters Inspiration Award.

Murphy is survived by his two children and wife, who were by his side when he died.