A "Price"less treasure lost in the fire.

Richard Damron · Post by **Richard Damron** » 16 Dec 2013 4:53 pm

As most know, our house burned down to the ground on June 14th.

Back up some 35-40 years.

Managed to see Ray Price in concert 3 or 4 times in north Georgia. Emmons was with him at the time. On one occasion, Ray had just cut a new album "San Antonio Rose" with Willie Nelson. After the show, we went out to the bus for an autograph and found that ray was selling the aforementioned album. Didn't hesitate - bought it on the spot and Ray graciously put a long autograph on it.

Fast forward to 2006. Saw Ray at the Acuff Theater in September of that year. Not sure why, but I brought that old Ray-Willie album with me hoping to get it autographed a second time. As was Ray's practice, he would sign autographs as long as people would come to the table. Must have been 200 people total with me in the middle of the pack. When it was my turn I simply said "It's been a long time."
Ray smiled and said "It sure has been". He then autographed the album for the second time.

Much is said regarding the irreplaceable items lost to a fire. The album was one of them.

May God bless and keep you, Ray.

Richard

Ted Emmons · Post by **Ted Emmons** » 17 Dec 2013 7:09 am

I bought that same album by Ray and Willie, I think that was the very last vinyl record I ever bought. It remains one of my very favorites. Ray will be missed

Will Houston · Post by **Will Houston** » 17 Dec 2013 4:27 pm

Good story Richard, except for the fire part.

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 18 Dec 2013 8:28 am

Richard, that is sad. But I'm sure you keep the memories in your heart forever.

Lee Barber · Post by **Lee Barber** » 19 Dec 2013 8:36 pm

Richard, Hate to hear you lost all in the fire. As for the memories they cant be taken away.
Sorry for your lost.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 20 Dec 2013 7:56 am

Richard I have that particular 33 album in Mint condition. I have transferred all to CD and if you you would like a copy I'd gladly give you one. PS I have everyone of Rays Albums including the ones he did on Step One by himself and with Faron. The three singers who most influenced me in my career are Ray and of course Merle Haggard and Faron. I have all theres too.

Glen Derksen · Post by **Glen Derksen** » 26 Jul 2014 12:00 am

Sorry about that loss, Richard. I enjoy any Ray Price album even if it doesn't have steel guitar on it.

bob drawbaugh · Post by **bob drawbaugh** » 27 Jul 2014 4:20 pm

Richard, Man That's a bummer. No something insurance can replace, for sure. I hope things are looking up for you and your family.

J.C. Norris · Post by **J.C. Norris** » 6 Nov 2014 2:05 am

Richard: Very sorry for your loss. I only got to see Ray in concert 3 times, but everyone was great. The older Ray got, the better he sang. Ray, Hag, & Jones are country music's finest. All are National Treasures as far as I'm concerned. Hope things are going much, much better for you. J.C. Norris

Emmons Push-pull Peavey Nashville 112, 400, 1000
Hilton, Dodd delay, George L's, Custom built 5 string banjo, Flinthill 5 String, 3 guitars.

Ford Cole · Post by **Ford Cole** » 6 Nov 2014 7:18 am

Just as with the album, Ray Price is irreplaceable.
Am so grateful for the recorded material from this giant of a communicator. He truly let us "touch his heart."

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 7 Nov 2014 6:03 pm

Boy, I do sympathize with your feelings, having myself lost some precious, historical, and irreplaceable items connected to my career during the 67 years I've been on this earth.

And then I think of two friends of mine, Tom Morrell and forumite Fred Jack, longtime country and western swing musicians, who lost their entire possessions to fire. What's an autographed photo of you and Bob Wills worth? How about a Bigsby steel and L-5 Gibson? Memorabilia from being in Billy Gray's band, or working with Ralph Mooney and Jimmy Bryant in California, or with Wynn Stewart in Las Vegas? Scrapbook after scrapbook, 8x10 after 8x10.

My point is, it's just STUFF. A material possession and a memory, You don't have the album anymore, but it can be replaced in a second right here, You DO still have the memory of meeting Ray Price those times and getting close to him. Your kids won't have that memory and the record won't mean quite as much after we're gone.

Hey, I envy you! In 42 years of playing music in Texas, including 14 years as one of Johnny Bush's Bandoleros, I only spoke to Ray Price once, and I think he was annoyed by me.

Al Risbeck · Post by **Al Risbeck** » 8 Nov 2014 7:50 am

Herb I think Fred did save Moon's Old Sho Bud and a few other things including an add about he & I playing a gig in Boone, Iowa (about 1965) where they were selling five cent beer otherwise he lost about everything except his family and his good sense of humor. I hate to see thing like this and can only imagine the hurt.

Paul Norman (RIP) · Post by **Paul Norman (RIP)** » 1 Jan 2015 4:18 pm

I emailed you Richard.

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A "Price"less treasure lost in the fire.

A "Price"less treasure lost in the fire.

Fire