Posted on 11/06/2012 7:02:17 PM PST by smalltownslick
Ray Price has revealed he's battling pancreatic cancer, but the 86-year-old country legend refuses to let the disease stop him from entertaining his adoring fans.
"The doctor said that every man will have cancer if he lives to be old enough," the singer tells the San Antonio Express-News. "I don't know why I got it -- I ain't old."
This is Price's second cancer scare. In 2009, he underwent surgery to remove polyps from his colon. The music icon's latest diagnosis came after gallbladder surgery revealed a tumor. He endured six months of chemotherapy and is happy to report the tumor has not grown and he feels fine. In fact, he headlined a concert in Floresville, Texas, just this past weekend.
But the "Heartaches by the Number" singer isn't out of the woods yet. Doctors informed him that the only possible cure will come from a nine-hour surgery during which his pancreas and part of his liver and stomach would be removed. Price is opting out of the surgery.
"They said that if you live through that, you run straight to the nursing home. That's not very much of an option for me. God knows I want to live as long as I can, but I don't want to live like that."
And he has plenty of living left to do. The Country Music Hall of Famer will hit the studio later this month to record a new album called Love Songs. He also insists he's determined to perform at least 100 shows in 2013.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjvV37t5UIU
Ray Price - Night Life
Ray’s early Honky Tonkin’ music was his best. When he got involved with Chet, who’s guitar playing I love, and got into trying to be a “Crossover” singer, well,,,, I lost interest completely. But it was all about money. Best wishes to him, and prayers for him. Here’s Ray, before Chet, with fiddles and steel guitar;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuOvllD8Baw
My Dad and I went to see Ray this past May. His son opened the show and mentioned that Ray had not been well, but we couldn’t tell that from his performance. He put on a great show.
Yeah, Cliff (his son) is a gem, too - going all out for his dad. I think Ray was just on the Opry a week or two ago and everyone who heard him said the same thing, he still sounded like he always did.
My sister brings me many clippings weekly, brought me one this week about Chuck Berry - headline was “Chuck Berry Wary of the Future.” He is also 86. My gut said, “well, when you’re 86, you ARE wary of the future.” I hope things go well for both of them. They have given so much to all of us.
Don’t think Ray was ever involved with Chet. Ray was a Columbia guy, Chet was RCA.
I love that Ray went through three or four different incarnations, but always came out on top because very few can sing like him. He has that amazing voice that can do anything, and why shouldn’t he? There’s very little he’s done that I don’t love.
Not sure I agree that his early stuff was his best, simply because his voice hadn’t developed yet. If he had stayed there, he would have been one of many, but he would never have become RAY.
And Chet did a lot of good, so let’s not trash him - but I don’t think he was ever involved with Ray.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hft0JfGPszE
Ray Price - City Lights
Yeah, Chet did a lot of good,,,, and a lot of bad. He was responsible for “The Nashville Sound.” An attempt to crossover. No more fiddles, no more steel guitars. String sections and the disgusting Anita Kerr Singers. He knew how to make money! I play a lot of his guitar stuff, but his contributions to “Country Music” are laughed, and cursed, at these days. He was involved with Ray.
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