The Canadian country music industry, particularly Canadian songwriters, has lost one of its best friends. Songwriter Ralph Murphy has died at the age of 77.

Long before Canadian artist/writers like Deric Ruttan, Tebey and Charlie Major landed some of their songs with major American stars, there was Ralph. Jeannie C. Riley, of “Harper Valley P.T.A.” fame, had a top 10 country hit in 1971 with the Murphy-penned song “Good Enough to Be Your Wife.” He shared co-writing credits on such huge hits as Crystal Gayle’s “Half the Way” and Ronnie Milsap’s 1982 chart-topper “He Got You.” In a statement to CelebrityAccess, Crystal said, “I am so saddened that we have lost our wonderful friend, Ralph Murphy. Ralph was a great songwriter and a fun, warm-hearted person. I was very fortunate to have met him early in my life and to have shared the success of his song, ‘Half the Way.’ Ralph definitely stood above the crowd.”

Born in England, he emigrated to Canada at the age of six with his mother, settling in Wallaceburg, Ont. Even though he lived in Nashville, he still called Wallaceburg home. Just over two weeks ago, over 100 friends gathered in the southern Ontario town to honor and pay respect to Ralph, with performances from artist/writers Jamie Warren and Thomas Wade on the bill. It was in Wallaceburg seven years ago that I first met Ralph and it was at a songwriters’ showcase. The next time I saw him at an industry event, he remembered me and commented, “You sure do get around.”

His remarkable career saw him travel from Los Angeles to New York City, pursuing his music career as a teenager in the early 1960’s, working with several of the artists of the day, including a stint as producer of rock band April Wine, among others as the years went by.

The 1970’s saw the start of his Nashville songwriting career, a career that later saw him become an indispensable mentor, advisor and friend to just about anyone who expressed an interest in songwriting. Ralph hosted countless songwriting workshops and, in the last few years, MC’ed the Canadian Country Music Association’s last big Songwriters’ Session series during Canadian Country Music Week. He served on the board of the CCMA and many other national and international songwriting organizations, including as past president of the Nashville Songwriters Association and was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012.

Ralph put together his tips on songwriting in book form, “Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting: How to Write a Hit Song,” and made many of those tips available on his website. While few become as successful as Ralph, even fewer offer their advice the way he did, with insight and passion for the craft and never with even the slightest hint of malice. A check of his Twitter feed in the past year or so shows Ralph Murphy’s other important role: cheering on and encouraging others to be the best they can be, while elevating the craft and the music industry. What a wonderful legacy…a legacy deserving to be honored and even imitated.

The loss to the industry and Canadian country music in particular is incalculable. But in our grief, we should also give thanks that Ralph Murphy came our way, leading by such selfless example.

Ralph passed away yesterday in Nashville from pneumonia, while recovering from cancer radiation treatment. Sincere condolences to his family, friends and fans.