Austin, TX - Country music legend Ray Price,
along with former Texas Lt. Governor Ben Barnes; Texas businessman, Jim Sharp; and former
Secretary and Board Member of the Academy of Country Music, Rose Waters; have collaborated
to launch a new record company, Texas Records, to be based in Austin, Texas.
The concept for the record company is based around the powerful song, “My Old
Friend,” written by Robert Segrest, Greta Shepherd and James Segrest of Montgomery,
Alabama; home of the legendary Hank Williams. Waters pitched the song to Ray, who
immediately loved the song and wanted to record it. From there, Waters brought the
high-profile Texas partners together to form Texas Records. Waters previously worked as
the business manager for another country legend, Merle Haggard. In his book, “My
House of Memories,” Haggard credits Waters with his financial salvation.
Price shared his vision of the song to Willie Nelson, who loved the idea. Soon after, the
My Old Friend session was recorded at his studio in Austin, Texas. “If this song
doesn’t receive any awards, then something is wrong with the ‘country
music’ of today,” commented several studio listeners. Willie will sing with Ray
on several cuts on the album, which is dedicated to the memory of many of their belated
friends in the business. The album will include one of each of these artists’ most
popular songs.
Price’s first album on the label, My Old Friend, will include such songs as:
Mama’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys (Waylon Jennings); King Of
The Road (Roger Miller); Hello Darlin’ (Conway Twitty); Sunday Morning Coming Down
(Johnny Cash); Take This Job And Shove It (Johnny Paycheck); Love Me Tender (Elvis
Presley); El Paso (Marty Robbins); Faded Love (Bob Wills); Blue Eyes Cryin’ In The
Rain (Roy Acuff); I Can’t Help It If I’m Still In Love With You (Hank Williams);
and Waltz Across Texas (Ernest Tubb).
The title cut will be released as the first single. The video for the single, which is
already in progress, will feature Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Jones and Buck
Owens; all appearing with Ray in a tribute to their ‘old friends.’ Harold
Bradley and Buddy Emmons, two well-known session musicians from Nashville, also played on
the project.
Already, several country music recording artists have expressed an interest in being a
part of TEXAS RECORDS. “Why heck, just the State of Texas could give you a gold album
if they like you,” one artist said with a laugh.
# # #
"Media Marketing Specialists to the Entertainment Industry"
Webster & Associates Public Relations
Nashville: 615.777.6995 / Hollywood: 323.822.0168 / www.websterpr.com
for information on Ray Price contact:
Kirt Webster 615-777-6995 x24
Jeremy Stroop 615-777-6995 x23
