Ray Price, a pioneer of country music, and Country Music Hall of Famer, passed away on Monday. He had several chart-topping hits throughout his career, a musical time that lasted over 65 years.

The legendary country musician died on Monday afternoon at home outside of Mount Pleasant, Texas. He was born near Perryville, Texas, in 1926 and was raised in Dallas.

He has a number of hit songs to his name, and also won several Grammy Awards throughout his lengthy career.

He was recently hospitalized in Texas after a fierce battle with pancreatic cancer that started in 2011. The cancer had recently spread to his liver, intestines and lungs, according East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. After stopping the aggressive treatments, he returned home for hospice care.

On Thursday, the classic country singer entered hospice leaving a message to his fans, and stated ” love my fans and have devoted my life to reaching out to them. I appreciate their support all these years, and I hope I haven’t let them down. I am at peace. I love Jesus. I’m going to be just fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ll see you again one day.”

Ray Price was an accomplished, and well-known musician among the country genre particularly with hit songs such as “Heartaches By The Number” and may be most well-known for his cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “For The Good Times.” His musical style ranged from honky-tonk to western swing to a more lush sound that emerged in the 1960s, giving him some of the biggest hits of his career.

We are sad beyond words at the passing of our good friend, the legendary Ray Price. >> http://t.co/d0cHMMmS2E

— Willie Nelson (@willienelson) December 17, 2013

Odd and sweet to think of Peter O'Toole and Ray Price walking together into the next world.

— rosanne cash (@rosannecash) December 17, 2013

Rest in Peace, Ray Price. Country music legend. Thanks for the amazing music.

— Kelly Willis (@KellyWRobison) December 15, 2013

He was one of the most popular and influential singers, while also one of the last connections to the legendary Hank Wiliams. The two of them became good friends while touring together, and even shared a house together in Nashville.

Ray Price also reached the Billboard Hot 100 eight times from 1958-73 and had seven No. 1 hits and more than 100 titles on the Billboard country chart from 1952 to 1989. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1996, long after he had abandoned country music and moved back to his home state of Texas.

Just heard about Ray Price's passing. The world has lost one of its most talented stars. We've received our invitation to the blues

— Keifer Storm (@KiwiAndStorm) December 17, 2013

so many celebrities have died recently its insane now Ray Price a huge country singer in america, #restinpeace

— tommy brading (@TommyBrading) December 17, 2013

The legendary singer Ray Price will be remembered for his chart-topping hits, while also becoming an innovator in the country music genre, influentially many others that have come after him.

Image via Wikimedia Commons