Ray Price: The Honky-Tonk Poet

The Spark: Ray Price’s motivator was legacy. Growing up in Texas, he loved Hank Williams and the jukebox’s cry. Veterinary school didn’t stick—music was his calling, a way to honor the roots he’d plow into something new.

The Story: Born in ‘26, Ray hit Nashville in the ‘50s, rooming with Hank. Crazy Arms (1956) redefined honky-tonk—lush strings, big voice. I caught him late, ‘70s gigs, a gentleman in rhinestones. The Cherokee Cowboys bred stars—Willie Nelson, Roger Miller. He crossed to pop with For the Good Times (1970), but cancer took him in 2013. At 87, he left a trail of tears and twang.

Bands: Solo, led The Cherokee Cowboys.

Bandmates: Not a fixed band, but Willie Nelson, Johnny Paycheck, and Roger Miller passed through.

Relationships: Married twice—Lydia (divorced), Janie Mae since ‘70s. Close ties with Willie made news.

Screen Time: Honkytonk Man (1982) with Clint Eastwood.

Awards: Two Grammys, Country Music Hall of Fame (1996), ACM Pioneer Award.

Biggest Songs:

• “Crazy Arms” – Ralph Mooney, Chuck Seals.
• “For the Good Times” – Kris Kristofferson.
• “Heartaches by the Number” – Harlan Howard.
• “Release Me” – Eddie Miller, Robert Yount.

Controversy: His shift to pop irked purists, but Ray just smiled and sang on.

---

At Farm Aid in 2011, Ray Price had just finished “For the Good Times”, and I was standing a little to his right. With 25,000 people in the audience, he turned to look at me as if to say, “Well, Kid, how was that?” Fabulous, just like this once in a lifetime shot.