Ray Price, one of country music’s most popular and influential singers and bandleaders who had more than 100 hits and was one of the last living connections to Hank Williams, died Monday. He was 87.
Price died Monday afternoon at his ranch outside Mount Pleasant, Texas, said Billy Mack Jr., who was acting as a family spokesman.
Price was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2011 and it had recently spread to his liver, intestines and lungs, according EastTexasMedicalCenter in Tyler. He stopped aggressive treatments and left the hospital last Thursday to receive hospice care at home.
At the time, his wife, Janie Price, relayed what she called her husband’s “final message” to his fans: “I love my fans and have devoted my life to reaching out to them. I appreciate their support all these years, and I hope I haven’t let them down. I am at peace. I love Jesus. I’m going to be just fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ll see you again one day.”
Price is best known for his version of the Kris Kristofferson song “For the Good Times,” a pop and country hit in 1970.
Bob Connell, Ray Price and David Grimes backstage at Melbourne
