Price, born in Perryville, Texas, served with the U.S. Marines from 1944–1946, and began singing for KRBC in Abilene, Texas during 1948. He joined the Big D Jamboree in Dallas in 1949. He relocated to Nashville in the early 1950s, rooming for a brief time with Hank Williams. When Williams died, Price managed his band, the Drifting Cowboys, and had minor success. He was the first artist to have a success with the song "Release Me" (1954), a top five popular music hit for Engelbert Humperdinck in 1967.
In 1953, Price formed his band, the Cherokee Cowboys. Among its members during the late 1950s and early 1960s were; Roger Miller, Willie Nelson, Darrell McCall, Van Howard, Johnny Paycheck and Johnny Bush, Buddy Emmons, Pete Wade, Jan Kurtis, Shorty Lavender and Buddy Spicher. Miller wrote one of Ray Price's classics in 1958, "Invitation to the Blues", and sang harmony on the recording. Additionally, Nelson composed the Ray Price song "Night Life".
Price became one of the stalwarts of 1950s honky tonk music, with hit songs such as "Talk To Your Heart" (1952) and "Release Me". He later developed the famous "Ray Price Shuffle," a 4/4 arrangement of honky tonk music with a walking bassline, which can be heard on "Crazy Arms" (1956) and many of his other recordings from the late 1950s.
During the 1960s, Ray experimented increasingly with the so-called Nashville sound, singing slow ballads and utilizing lush arrangements of strings and backing singers. Examples include his 1967 rendition of "Danny Boy", and "For the Good Times" in 1970 which was Price's first country music chart No. 1 hit since "The Same Old Me" in 1959. Written by Kris Kristofferson, the song also scored No. 11 on the popular music chart and featured a mellower Price backed by sophisticated musical sounds, quite in contrast to the honky tonk sounds Price had pioneered two decades before. Price had three more No. 1 country music successes during the 1970s: "I Won't Mention It Again", "She's Got To Be A Saint", and "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me." His final top ten hit was "Diamonds In The Stars" in early 1982. Price continued to have songs on the country music chart through 1989. Later, he sang gospel music and recorded such songs as "Amazing Grace", "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", "Farther Along" and "Rock of Ages."
In 2006, Price was living near Mount Pleasant, Texas and still performing in concerts throughout the country. In 2009, Price made two performances for the Fox News show Huckabee. The first was with the Cherokee Cowboys and host Mike Huckabee, and he performed "Crazy Arms" and "Heartaches By The Number". Weeks later he performed with the Cherokee Cowboys and Willie Nelson (again with Huckabee playing bass guitar). This time they performed duets of "Faded Love" and "Crazy."
Price worked on his latest album, Last of the Breed, with fellow country music singers Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. This album was released on March 20, 2007 by the company Lost Highway Records. The two-disc set features 20 country classics as well as a pair of new compositions. The trio toured the U.S. from March 9 until March 25 starting in Arizona and finishing in Illinois. This was Price's third album with Nelson and first album with Haggard. After the tour, Haggard remarked, "I told Willie when it was over, 'That old man gave us a goddamn singing lesson.' He really did. He just sang so good. He sat there with the mic against his chest. And me and Willie are all over the microphone trying to find it, and he found it."
On November 6, 2012, Ray Price confirmed that he was fighting pancreatic cancer. Price told the San Antonio Express-News that he had been receiving chemotherapy for the past six months. An alternative to the chemo would have been surgery that involved removing the pancreas along with portions of the stomach and liver, which would have meant a long recovery and stay in a nursing home. Said Price, "That's not very much an option for me. God knows I want to live as long as I can but I don't want to live like that." The 87-year-old Country Music Hall of Famer also told the newspaper, "The doctor said that every man will get cancer if he lives to be old enough. I don't know why I got it – I ain't old!" Price retained a positive outlook and hoped to play as many as a hundred concert dates in 2013.
As of early February 2013, the cancer appeared to be in remission. Sometime in May 2013, Price was hospitalized with severe dehydration. On December 2, 2013, Price entered a Tyler, Texas, hospital in the final stages of pancreatic cancer, according to his son, then left on December 12 for home hospice care. Price died at his home in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, on December 16, 2013.
The Old Rugged Cross
Ray Price Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of sufferin' and shame
And I love that old cross
Where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it someday for a crown
Oh, that old rugged cross
So despised by the world
Has a wondrous attraction for me
For the dear Lamb of God
Left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
'Til my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it someday for a crown
These lyrics are a testament to the singer's deep affection for the old rugged cross mentioned in the song. The cross, which is typically associated with suffering and shame, serves as a symbol of hope and salvation for the singer. The song emphasizes the significance of the cross in the Christian faith as it tells the story of Jesus, who was crucified on the cross for the sins of humanity. In reflecting on the cross and its symbolism, the singer expresses their willingness to cherish it until they can lay down all their trophies and exchange it someday for a crown.
The lyrics convey a message of hope and redemption, highlighting the power of the cross to bring salvation to humanity. The old rugged cross may be despised by the world, but it holds a special significance for Christians, who see it as a symbol of their faith. The song evokes a sense of reverence and devotion, emphasizing the importance of the cross to the Christian faith and encouraging believers to cherish it always.
Line by Line Meaning
On a hill far away
The cross was located on a distant hill.
Stood an old rugged cross
The cross was rough and not ornate.
The emblem of sufferin' and shame
The cross represented the pain and shame of Jesus' crucifixion.
And I love that old cross
The singer has a deep affection for the cross.
Where the Dearest and Best
Jesus, who is revered by believers, was crucified on the cross.
For a world of lost sinners was slain
Jesus was crucified to redeem lost sinners.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
The singer will hold the cross with high regard.
'Til my trophies at last I lay down
The singer vows to hold the cross until he dies.
I will cling to the old rugged cross
The singer will hold onto the cross tightly.
And exchange it someday for a crown
The singer looks forward to being rewarded in heaven.
Oh, that old rugged cross
The singer continues to express his love for the cross.
So despised by the world
The world does not see the value of the cross.
Has a wondrous attraction for me
The singer sees the cross as something wonderful.
For the dear Lamb of God
Jesus is the 'dear Lamb of God.'
Left His glory above
Jesus left his place in heaven to come to earth.
To bear it to dark Calvary
Jesus carried the cross to the place where he was crucified.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Bennard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Belinda Fernandez - Canadian - Zimbabwe Girl
One of my favorite hymns.
Shirley Evans
Oh my what a voice singing one of my all time favorite gospels.
Raymond Faron
Aw Ray, your singing brings tears to my eyes
Matthew Fein
I used to sing this song all the time, (when I was little.)
David Downes
ray Charles the best of the best
Matt Talsma
That old rugged cross
Amado Tolimao
i wish i was 18 agaiñ