When Ray Price died on Dec. 16, 2013, he had one more gift for his legacy and his legion of fans. That gift is "Beauty Is...the final sessions." Price's final album showcases the artist's undeniably beautiful voice and unforgettable style that made him a music legend. There's even two duets, one with Martina McBride, the other with Vince Gill.
Price and McBride make "An Affair to Remember" a truly memorable experience. "I was so honored and surprised to be asked to sing with him," McBride recalls. "Ray carried himself so well and still had this amazing voice. That's the voice we all loved."
Gill, who traded lines with Price on "Beauty Lies In The Eyes Of The Beholder" recently told "Rolling Stone," "Ray was one of those guys who never lost a step with his voice – even well into the end of his life, he was still singing great. You can hear that on the record. It's not manipulated, it's the real deal. Very few singers keep their voice intact like that their whole lives."
Even artists who didn't participate in the recording are adding their words of praise for "Beauty Is...the final sessions." Merle Haggard, who recorded previously with Price, sums up his thoughts on Price and the album: "Excellence personified from the beginning to the end."
Of the album, Lynn Anderson declares it, "A fitting encore for those of us who want more from the Tony Bennett of country music," adding, "Among the beautiful string-laden ballads is an old-timey shuffle with a steel guitar, a fiddle and perfectly understated harmony. Sensitively produced by Fred Foster, timeless songs sung by the best. Classic country."
Asleep At The Wheel's Ray Benson calls the album "an amazing record." He adds, "Ray was one of my musical heroes and it's so wonderful to hear his voice again. He proved that we can get better with age."
Best known for his iconic rendering of the Kris Kristofferson smash "For The Good Times," Price had nine No. 1 singles and 46 Top 10 hits. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, Ray enjoyed gold and platinum album sales, won two Grammys, took home a CMA trophy, earned two ACM awards – and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
