Ray Price Texas Culture Endowment
Before Ray Price became a household name in country music, he wanted to be a veterinarian. Higher education was something he had always aspired to; two generations of his family had already received college degrees, many from Texas A&M University-Commerce. He planned to follow in their footsteps. In 1943, Price did just that when he enrolled at the North Texas Agricultural College, now known as the University of Texas-Arlington. When World War II broke out however, he was called to leave school and serve in the Pacific with the U.S. Marine Corps. Life changed quickly for Price when he returned. He began singing at local night clubs before joining Abilene’s KRBC “Hillbilly Circus” and appearing on Dallas’ “Big D Jamboree” in 1949 where a music representative heard him sing and pitched his talents to Columbia Records executive Don Law. Price was signed on March 15, 1951. Later that year, Price appeared on the Grand Ole Opry’s “Friday Night Frolics” radio show where he met Hank Williams.
Williams helped Price secure a place on the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in January 1952, and the two soon began touring together until Williams’ death in 1953. With a sound similar to Williams’, Price dug into his Texas roots for fresh, new sounds and formed the band, “Cherokee Cowboys.” He began using twin fiddles, acoustic and steel guitars, stand-up bass and electric bass on the successful “Crazy Arms,” which became known as the “Ray Price Beat.” The song spent 20 weeks at No. 1 and became one of the longest-running hits in country music history.
Price’s multitude of country classics in the late 1950s helped country music during a time when rock and roll was king. He worked with country legends Willie Nelson, Roger Miller and many others on his way to producing eight No. 1 hits and another top-10 hit from 1960-82. His musical accomplishments are numerous including 62 albums as well as Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association and Grammy Awards. His latest release entitled “Last of the Breed” came out in March 2007. In 1996, Price was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, a testament to the lasting impact of his talent.
“Ray Price’s music has touched the lives of generations of people around the world,” said Jim Anderson, department head of the mass media, communications and theatre department at A&M-Commerce. “He is generous with his time and talent, going out of his way to help young people.” For his contributions to the state, region and country, as well as his accomplishments throughout his career, Price will be receiving an honorary doctorate from A&M-Commerce on Dec. 19, 2009. “This is the highest honor a university can bestow on an individual,” Anderson said. “There have been only a handful of honorary doctorates given by the entire Texas A&M University System. I can think of no other person more deserving of this honor than Ray Price.”
(Taken from the Fall 2009 edition of the Pride Alumni Magazine)