Ray Price has Passed Away at Age 87!

[bamajohn1]

I was really sad to hear the news that Ray Price passed away. In my mind's vision of him, he was the country gentlemen who crooned as smoothly as a Sinatra such as on his classic cover of Kris Kristofferson's 'For the Good Times'. But, Ray was one of the original honky tonk heroes and in fact, after Hank Williams Sr. passed away in 1953, his band the Drifting Cowboys began backing ole Ray Price! I know his buddy Willie Nelson must be shook up right now! I wish I'd caught their last show together here a few years ago!

I saw something on tv recently about how our World War II veterans are beginning to all pass away. I did not think about how few veterans who became entertainers were still around. I would have thought of Ray but wouldn't have been sure he served. 60 plus years in the entertainment business makes him another kind of veteran of the highest order!

RIP

music.yahoo.com/news/influential-country-singer-ray-price-dead-87-235302469.html

[martin53]

Sad News indeed!

RIP Ray Price!

[HollyH]

Such a loss. He was one of the stalwarts of that generation. There was an interesting quote from Price in the NY Times obituary: "My voice is my instrument. I've worked all my life to make sure I enunciate properly. I try to make the melody true -- I can't stand an off note." Old-school virtues that I deeply admire.

Even when he turned countrypolitan crooner, he never got too schmaltzy. Compare his original hit "Release Me" to most of the turgid covers released in later years -- they just drip with saccharinity, while his is full of upbeat determination. (Kudos to Lyle Lovett for restoring the original spirit in his recent cover.)

My favorite Price tune is "Heartaches By the Number," though I'm also partial to his version of "Funny How Time Slips Away."

[uncleson]

Very sad news.