Judy Wray

Capitol-EMI Records, CBS Records

A native Nashvillian, Judy attended Howard School for 12 years, graduating in 1961, and attended
Belmont College. In 1967 she was hired as an engineering clerk at Columbia Recording Studios where many lasting friendships began. Soon she was transferred to a new position in
the company as secretary to Columbia's national C&W promotion manager Gene Ferguson, with whom she worked for nine years. The Columbia roster included legendary artists Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Lefty Frizzell, Flatt &

Scruggs, Carl Smith, Roger Miller, Sonny James, Connie Smith and newcomers Tanya Tucker, Lynn Anderson and Barbara Mandrell,

among others. She remained with CBS Records for 17 years, during which time she made the rounds in several other departments under the CBS umbrella, including a revisit with Columbia Studios and stints with Columbia Record Productions and the Columbia/Epic A&R department. Judy left CBS in 1984 for a position with Capitol-EMI Records as senior staff assistant to label president Jim Foglesong, who signed such artists as Dan Seals, Dobie Gray, New Grass Revival, Suzy Bogguss, Tanya Tucker, Kix Brooks, T. Graham Brown, and newcomer Garth Brooks. In 1990, she joined EMI Music Publishing as Administrative Assistant and was later named Associate Director of Administration, working primarily in copyright administration. She spent 19 years at EMI, retiring in 2009. According to Judy, working in music publishing with Music Row notables Celia Froehlig, Bob Mather and, later, Gary Overton at EMI topped off a memorable 42 year career on Music Row.