2009.65: Patty Loveless and the Morse Code
Although I'm not a country music fan in any stretch of the imagination, I was introduced to the music of Patty Loveless through her husband and producer Emery Gordy, Jr.
Emery was the kind of talented person I respect most, someone who is deeply professional, yet totally humble. He produced Patty's later work after a long career as a sideman with Elvis, Neil Diamond, John Denver, Emmy Lou Harris and a bunch of country stars too numerous to mention. He also did a great Jimmy Carter imitation.
I know that Patty had throat surgery and that her husband was a ham radio operator. For the nine weeks after her operation, she could not speak or talk. Emery tried to teach her Morse Code, as well as using pen and paper with yellow Post-It notes. According to the Wikipedia article, "after this her interest in Amateur Radio developed and she was eventually licensed with the callsign KD4WUJ".
Though I never met Patty, I did spend some good times with Emery in L.A. and later in Paris when he flew over in Denver's jet for a gig. I had also heard that Emery nearly died of an illness but I believe he has recovered. At least I hope so because he was one of the nicest people I've ever known in the music business.
