Ray Price was a legendary country singer, musician and songwriter whose smooth baritone was one of the finest that country music has ever known. Born in eastern Texas, Price began singing for an Abilene radio station upon his return from WWII. He moved to Nashville during the early ’50s and even roomed with Hank Williams for a bit. After managing Williams’ Drifting Cowboys, he formed the Cherokee Cowboys in 1953 – a group that at one point or another counted Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, Johnny Paycheck and Johnny Bush as its own. Over the years, Price scored iconic hits with “Release Me,” “For The Good Times,” and “Night Life,” to name just a few. He was recognized with two Grammys – for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1971, and for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals with Nelson in 2008. Price continued to record and perform well into his 80s and was even hoping to do upwards of 100 live dates after learning he had pancreatic cancer in November of 2012. Ray Price ultimately died from the cancer on December 16, 2013. He was 87.
Roddis “Pete” Drake
October 8, 1932 – July 29, 1988
L-R: Pete Drake, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Peter Frampton, Billy Preston
Pete Drake was an in-demand Nashville producer and pedal steel guitarist during the ’60s and ’70s. In 1950, Drake formed an Atlanta-based band that included Joe South, Doug Kershaw, Jerry Reed and Roger Miller. He later moved to Nashville where he played on hits by the likes of Bob Dylan, Lynn Anderson, Tammy Wynette, Joan Baez, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. While in Nashville he developed a unique device to play his guitar through – it was called a “talk box” and it would reach the masses in later recordings by Peter Frampton and Joe Walsh. Drake died of lung cancer on July 29, 1988.
Roger Miller was a popular country singer songwriter who landed several hits during the ’70s and ’80s. His most popular hits were “Dang Me,” “Old Friends” (with Willie Nelson), and “King of the Road.” As a songwriter, he’s penned hits for Brooks and Dunn, Ricky Van Shelton, and Alan Jackson. Over the course of his career, Miller has been awarded with an impressive 11 Grammys which was a record until Michael Jackson’sThriller came along. He also won a Tony for the lyrics he wrote for Broadway’s Big River. A longtime smoker, Roger Miller died of lung cancer at the age of 56.
Shelby Singleton
December 16, 1931 – October 7, 2009
Shelby Singleton’s music career began during the ’50s working at Mercury Records as a producer. While moving up in the ranks, he became instrumental in numerous hits and was eventually rewarded with his own imprint, Smash Records where he signed Jerry Lee Lewis, Roger Millerand Faron Young among others. During the early part of his career, he produced such hits as Brook Benton’s “The Boll Weevil Song,” Ray Stevens‘ “Ahab The Arab,” and Leroy Van Dyke’s “Walk On By.” But his biggest hit came in 1968 with Jeannie C. Riley’s recording of Tom T. Hall’s “Harper Valley P.T.A.” A shrewd businessman as well, Singleton went on to purchase Sam Phillips’ Sun Records including it’s stellar catalog of recordings. Shelby Singleton died of cancer on October 1, 2009. He was 77.
Danny Gatton was a guitar player’s guitar player. His playing was admired by no less than Slash, Eric Clapton, Les Paul and Willie Nelson. He’s been in the touring bands for Robert Gordon and Roger Miller, and he’s gone lick for lick on stage with the likes of Alvin Lee, Jimmie Vaughan and Roy Buchanan. And Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at #63 on their 2003 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. Sadly though, Danny Gatton ended his own life by shooting himself in his garage at the age of 49.
Ray Price was a legendary country singer, musician and songwriter whose smooth baritone was one of the finest that country music has ever known. Born in eastern Texas, Price began singing for an Abilene radio station upon his return from WWII. He moved to Nashville during the early ’50s and even roomed with Hank Williams for a bit. After managing Williams’ Drifting Cowboys, he formed the Cherokee Cowboys in 1953 – a group that at one point or another counted Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, Johnny Paycheck and Johnny Bush as its own. Over the years, Price scored iconic hits with “Release Me,” “For The Good Times,” and “Night Life,” to name just a few. He was recognized with two Grammys – for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1971, and for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals with Nelson in 2008. Price continued to record and perform well into his 80s and was even hoping to do upwards of 100 live dates after learning he had pancreatic cancer in November of 2012. Ray Price ultimately died from the cancer on December 16, 2013. He was 87.
Roger Miller was a popular country singer songwriter who landed several hits during the ’70s and ’80s. His most popular hits were “Dang Me,” “Old Friends” (with Willie Nelson), and “King of the Road.” As a songwriter, he’s penned hits for Brooks and Dunn, Ricky Van Shelton, and Alan Jackson. Over the course of his career, Miller has been awarded with an impressive 11 Grammys which was a record until 
Shelby Singleton’s music career began during the ’50s working at Mercury Records as a producer. While moving up in the ranks, he became instrumental in numerous hits and was eventually rewarded with his own imprint, Smash Records where he signed Jerry Lee Lewis, 
Danny Gatton was a guitar player’s guitar player. His playing was admired by no less than Slash, Eric Clapton, 