Noble Ray Price, known as "The Cherokee Cowboy," was an influential American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist born on January 12, 1926, in Perryville, Texas. Price's career spanned over six decades, during which he became renowned for his rich baritone voice and innovative contributions to country music, including the introduction of the "Ray Price beat," a 4/4 shuffle rhythm that helped modernize the genre.

Price's early life was marked by his parents' divorce, leading him to split his time between his father's farm and his mother's residence in Dallas. Initially aspiring to become a veterinarian, he attended North Texas Agricultural College, but his studies were interrupted by World War II service in the U.S. Marine Corps. After the war, Price turned to music, performing on local radio in Texas before moving to Nashville in the early 1950s. There, he briefly roomed with Hank Williams and took over Williams' band, the Drifting Cowboys, after Williams' death.

In 1953, Price formed his own band, the Cherokee Cowboys, which included future stars like Willie Nelson and Roger Miller. He gained fame in the 1950s with hits like "Crazy Arms" and "Release Me," and further success in the 1960s with the Nashville sound, recording hits such as "For the Good Times," which earned him a Grammy Award in 1971.

Price continued to evolve artistically, collaborating with artists like Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard on projects such as the album "Last of the Breed" in 2007. Despite a decline in chart success after the 1980s, he continued to release music and perform, shifting towards gospel in his later years. Price was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996, and he remained active in music until his death on December 16, 2013, in Mount Pleasant, Texas. His legacy endures through his pioneering contributions to country music and his influence on subsequent generations of artists.