R.I.P.: Charlie Monk, Beloved 'Mayor of Music Row'

(1938-2022)

Country Radio Hall of Fame member who was affectionately known as “The Mayor of Music Row,” Charlie Monk, died peacefully at his home in Nashville on Dec. 19. 

He was 84, according to Music Row.

Born Charles Franklin Monk on Oct, 29, 1938 in Geneva, Alabama, Monk’s career in entertainment began in high school, when he began sweeping floors at his hometown radio station WGEA before landing a gig as a disc jockey on the weekends.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Monk came back to radio through a job as a DJ on WTBF radio while attending Troy State University. Then he was on WKRG radio and television in Mobile. Monk eventually became Program Director and afternoon personality at WACT in Tuscaloosa before returning to Mobile as PD at WUNI. He guided WUNI to become the number one position in the market, and while there, Monk was invited to appear as a guest announcer on WSM’s Grand Ole Opry.

Age 10

Monk moved to Tennessee in 1968 and joined WMTS in Murfreesboro. His music and talk show became the first daily radio broadcast from Nashville’s iconic Music Row.

In 1970, Monk joined the ASCAP staff, immersing himself in learning more about the music business. 

A year earlier he helped form Country Radio Seminar. He produced and hosted the annual New Faces Show for 40 years, helping launch the careers of stars including Taylor Swift, Crystal Gayle, Eddie Rabbitt, Larry Gatlin, Reba McEntire, Alabama, Steve Wariner, George Strait, Randy Travis, Marty Stuart, Lyle Lovett, Dwight Yoakam, Patty Loveless, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Lady A and Vince Gill.

Monk became the Nashville chief of CBS Songs in 1977 and formed his own music publishing company, Monk Family Music Group, in 1983. In 1988, Monk focused his talents on returning legendary publisher Acuff-Rose Music to its former glory. With his help, the company became the first publisher to win both ASCAP and BMI Most Performed Song of the Year in the same year.

2017

In addition to publishing songwriters’ work and playing it on the radio, Monk had success as a songwriter himself. His songs were recorded by Jerry Reed, Eddy Arnold, Pat Boone, Louise Mandrell, Jimmy Dean, Charley Pride, Angelo Badalamenti, Randy Travis and Charlie Chase.

After a 35-year absence, Monk returned to radio in 2004 to help launch SiriusXM in Nashville. He hosted the morning show on Willie’s Roadhouse and a weekend music and interview show on SiriusXM’s Prime Country until 2022.

In addition to his career achievements, Monk gave back to the community. He was an alumnus and Board member of Leadership Music, lifetime Director of the Country Radio Broadcasters, a member of the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, and the Gospel Music Association. He served as Vice President of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Vice President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, Vice President of the Gospel Music Association and local President of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.