“Ray Price is a man of singular and enduring artistic vision whose role as an architect and savior of country music is too little appreciated,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “The ‘Ray Price beat’ is elemental. Without it, country music would certainly be incomplete. He is a central figure in the 20th Century history of American popular music.”

Following a tour of duty in the U. S. Marines during World War II, Price aimed for a veterinary career and enrolled at North Texas Agricultural College. Supplementing his formal education with a little nightlife singing in a local establishment, and with encouragement from Dallas recording entrepreneur Jim Beck, the young Texan made his first record, “Jealous Lies,” for the Bullet label in January1950.

His singing on Dallas radio programs earned the notice of Troy Martin, an executive at the powerful publishing house Peer-Southern Music, who guided him to a contract with Columbia Records in 1951. His first Columbia release, “If You’re Ever Lonely, Darling,” written by his chart-topping label mate Lefty Frizzell, didn’t make any money and failed to chart.