Country music legend Ray Price, who was inducted into the genre’s hall of fame in 1996, has died. Price, 87, had been battling pancreatic cancer since last year and had just recently entered a hospice.
The news was confirmed by representatives for his wife, Janie, reports the Houston Chronicle. According to Billboard, it was also confirmed on Facebook by Bill Mack, a country music radio veteran, after he spoke with Janie.
Mack wrote that Price died at 4:43 p.m. Monday and that the services were held in Dallas. “I must mention once again the fact that Ray was aware of your strong concern, love and prayers,” Mack added. “I have never received more emails, telephone calls and ‘postings’ on the Facebook page than I have since the announcement was made that he was rapidly fading.”
Price’s death was prematurely reported on Sunday, but his wife said that he was still alive as of Sunday night.
Price was a key figure in Country music and between 1952 and 1989, he scored 109 charting singles. He had 46 Top 10 singles on the Billboard charts, eight of which hit No. 1. His first big hit was “Crazy Arms,” but among his best-known hits is his version of “For The Good Times.”
During his career, he was close friends with Hank Williams. His band, the Cherokee Cowboys, help develop country legends like Willie Nelson and Roger Miller.
“I just like what I've done and how it's worked out, and it's been great,” Price told Rolling Stone in his last interview last month. “I haven't lost my voice, thank God for that."
image: Wikimedia Commons
