Gene Price
Encyclopedia
Gene Price also credited as Willard Eugene Price and Willard E. Price, is an American songwriter, primarily noted for his songwriting association with Buck Owens
.
His initial success was through his association with the "Bakersfield sound
". Price was a bass player for Merle Haggard
and a songwriter with Buck Owens. He was particularly successful as a recorded songwriter on various Capitol Records
releases in the early 1970s. One of his best known songs is "In The Arms of Love", co-written with Owens and recorded by Merle Haggard, Susan Raye
, Wynn Stewart
and Freddie Hart
, among others.
Other songs for which Price is known include "Let's Keep The Memories Warm", solely written by Price and recorded by Terry Stafford
in 1973, for inclusion on Stafford's album Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose (Atlantic
, 1973) Other songs written with Owens include "The Biggest Storm of All", "Natural Born Loser", "Across This Town and Gone","Something's Wrong", "I'll Be All Right Tomorrow" and "I've Carried This Torch Much Too Long".
Later in his career, Price had a degree of pop music
success with some of his songs. For example, his song "Come To Me", solely written by Price, was recorded twice by Aretha Franklin
within a ten year period.
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
.
History
Price is a musician and vocalist, in addition to being a songwriter. He was born in Shamrock, TexasShamrock, Texas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,029 people, 852 households, and 550 families residing in the city. The population density was 979.7 people per square mile . There were 1,072 housing units at an average density of 517.6 per square mile...
His initial success was through his association with the "Bakersfield sound
Bakersfield sound
The Bakersfield sound was a genre of country music developed in the mid- to late 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California. The many hit singles were largely produced by Capitol Records country music head, Ken Nelson. Bakersfield country was a reaction against the slickly produced, string...
". Price was a bass player for Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
and a songwriter with Buck Owens. He was particularly successful as a recorded songwriter on various Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
releases in the early 1970s. One of his best known songs is "In The Arms of Love", co-written with Owens and recorded by Merle Haggard, Susan Raye
Susan Raye
Susan Raye is an American country music singer. She enjoyed great popularity during the early and mid 1970's and chalked up seven top 10 and nineteen top 40 country hits Susan Raye discography, most notably the song "L.A...
, Wynn Stewart
Wynn Stewart
Winford Lindsey Stewart , better known as Wynn Stewart, was an American country music performer. He was one of the progenitors of the Bakersfield sound...
and Freddie Hart
Freddie Hart (musician)
Frederick Segrest , known professionally as Freddie Hart, is an American country musician and songwriter best-known for his No. 1 hit "Easy Loving," which won the Country Music Association Song of the Year award in 1971 and 1972....
, among others.
Other songs for which Price is known include "Let's Keep The Memories Warm", solely written by Price and recorded by Terry Stafford
Terry Stafford
Terry LaVerne Stafford was an American singer and songwriter, best known for his 1964 U.S. Top 10 hit, "Suspicion", and the 1973 country music hit, "Amarillo by Morning".-Biography:...
in 1973, for inclusion on Stafford's album Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose (Atlantic
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, 1973) Other songs written with Owens include "The Biggest Storm of All", "Natural Born Loser", "Across This Town and Gone","Something's Wrong", "I'll Be All Right Tomorrow" and "I've Carried This Torch Much Too Long".
Later in his career, Price had a degree of pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
success with some of his songs. For example, his song "Come To Me", solely written by Price, was recorded twice by Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
within a ten year period.