Yesterday the country music world (and the music world in general) lost a true gentleman and a humble man who, while he was in the Country Music Hall of Fame, was another one of those folks who probably few young people really know or recognize the impact that they had.
When he started, he was a contemporary of Hank Williams, Sr., who later created his own band which included Willie Nelson and Roger Miller. He gave them both their real starts. Disney fans will know Roger Miller for writing the soundtrack to Robin Hood (which included "Whistle-Stop," which was later sampled and sped up to be mostly known as the infectious internet song, "The Hampster Dance"). Roger Miller also wrote the Broadway play, "Big River," as well as his own fun country and pop songs.
According to another former bandmate interviewed on Nashville's WSM radio last night, Willie Nelson wrote "Crazy" for Patsy Cline while he was on the bus on tour with Ray Price. Willie was reported to have called him night before last and told him that he loved him.
Anyway, Ray Price himself hailed from Texas and popularized a four-quarter time shuffle style of country ("Crazy Arms") and also brought in full, lush orchestration in many of his songs (the most famous of which was "For the Good Times").
But more than all of that, according to those who knew him, he was among the most humble and giving artists in country music. He gave so many a start. And he publicly gave credit to the Lord for his blessings.
Take some time to look up some of his music on YouTube if you do not know it. If you already know Ray Price's music, I think you will agree we lost a true singer yesterday, although heaven gained a nice baritone.
One fun fact, though, was that when he was called in 1996 to be told he would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, he was reported to have said, "Well, it's about damn time!"
Now he has received another induction.
Ray Price died peacefully yesterday at around 4:45 at his home in Texas, with his wife by his side. He was 87.
When he started, he was a contemporary of Hank Williams, Sr., who later created his own band which included Willie Nelson and Roger Miller. He gave them both their real starts. Disney fans will know Roger Miller for writing the soundtrack to Robin Hood (which included "Whistle-Stop," which was later sampled and sped up to be mostly known as the infectious internet song, "The Hampster Dance"). Roger Miller also wrote the Broadway play, "Big River," as well as his own fun country and pop songs.
According to another former bandmate interviewed on Nashville's WSM radio last night, Willie Nelson wrote "Crazy" for Patsy Cline while he was on the bus on tour with Ray Price. Willie was reported to have called him night before last and told him that he loved him.
Anyway, Ray Price himself hailed from Texas and popularized a four-quarter time shuffle style of country ("Crazy Arms") and also brought in full, lush orchestration in many of his songs (the most famous of which was "For the Good Times").
But more than all of that, according to those who knew him, he was among the most humble and giving artists in country music. He gave so many a start. And he publicly gave credit to the Lord for his blessings.
Take some time to look up some of his music on YouTube if you do not know it. If you already know Ray Price's music, I think you will agree we lost a true singer yesterday, although heaven gained a nice baritone.
One fun fact, though, was that when he was called in 1996 to be told he would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, he was reported to have said, "Well, it's about damn time!"
Now he has received another induction.
Ray Price died peacefully yesterday at around 4:45 at his home in Texas, with his wife by his side. He was 87.
