Fans are No. 1 on Ray Price's hit list

Famed singer/songwriter/guitarist Ray Price usually spends hours after every performance signing autographs, shaking hands, kissing babies and posing for pictures with fans.

"After all, they are my customers and I have to treat them right or they won't come back," Price said. "That's part of the deal with me when you come and see me."

The other part of the deal is that Price, who will turn 83 in January, will perform his greatest hits twice at Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino this Sunday, Oct. 26. Tickets for the 2 and 6 p.m. shows are $27.50 and can be purchased in the Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino gift shop, by calling 888-512-SHOW or at akchin.frontgatetickets.com.

Price, who was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996, recently celebrated his 60th anniversary in show business. His musical career started in the late 1940s and took off when he roomed for a short time with country legend Hank Williams.

"Hank was a good friend and he was a once-in-a-lifetime artist," Price said. "He showed me that just writing a song isn't good enough - it has to be a dandy."

Price wrote and recorded a few dandies in his day, including "Release Me," "Crazy Arms," Heartaches by the Number," "Invitation to the Blues," "Night Life," "City Lights," "For The Good Times" and "You're The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me."

Those songs, however, are rarely heard on the radio these days, Price said in regards to Clear Channel's stranglehold on today's listening audience, which boasts approximately 1,200 stations nationwide.

"It's no secret they don't play classic country on Clear Channel stations. They are going after a certain demographic and my music clearly doesn't fit into their plans," Price said. "I'm not crying sour grapes, but I just want to have a chance to do my thing."

Perhaps that is why audiences continue to flock to Price's concerts, who still performs about 100 times a year.

"Last year I played a series of concerts with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, and we showed audiences a thing or two," Price said. "I've been around a long time, but I'm not out of tricks."

Marshall Terrill is a freelance journalist who resides in the Phoenix area. He can be reached at marshzoe@aol.com.