Ray Price was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996, a recognition many felt was overdue not due to his career longevity or hit records, but because of his profound impact on country music. Price pioneered a rhythmic honky-tonk sound in the late 1950s that reshaped the genre and influenced generations of musicians. Raised in East Texas, Price initially aimed to become a veterinarian but found success in music after serving in the Marines during World War II. His breakthrough came with Columbia Records in 1951, marking the beginning of his influential career in country music.