“With this record, Vince Gill and Paul Franklin have taken their admiration for Ray Price to the next level, with one of the finest true-country tributes of all time,” states country music icon Bill Anderson in the liner notes for Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys.

Now, 10 years after the release of Bakersfield, their ringing homage to the music created by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard and their bands, Gill and steel guitar wizard Franklin are back in the re-discovery lane with Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys, now available everywhere.

LISTEN TO Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys | HERE

“It’s a kind of magic when (Vince) Gill and (Paul) Franklin apply their talents to the great American country music songbook,” states Cowboys & Indians. “Paul and I are in no way trying to say we can make these records better than the original,” Gill stresses. “I don’t think any of these songs sound comparable to the original. Paul didn’t play the same solos. Part of the reasoning behind this record was to feature not only Paul as a steel guitarist but me as a vocalist,” he adds.

“I think Vince’s singing on this album is maybe his Mount Everest of performances,” Franklin says. “I’m excited this music is getting out there and in a way that we feel brings new life and new ideas to it.

What we hope to do is introduce it to a new generation of fans and musicians that might not take the time to look back into the ’50s and ’60s. If you have great songs and you interpret them through improvisations, you’re going to get something good. And that was our mission,” Franklin adds.

The entire album contains material that might be surprising to even the most die-hard of Price’s fans. “We started looking through the sheer volume of Ray’s music,” Franklin explains. “We looked for obscure songs, ones even Ray’s fans might not know as well.” As No Depression noted, “Sweet Memories is a labor of love, introducing Price and his music to a new generation.”

Gill and Franklin discuss the making of Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys in a series of YouTube videos on Gill’s channel. You can watch them HERE.

Last night, Gill and Franklin previewed a few selections from the project, for the first time live on the Grand Ole Opry, performing “Kissing Your Picture (Is So Cold),” “You Wouldn’t Know Love,” “Danny Boy,” and “Your Old Love Letters.” The performance will air on Circle All Access TV on August 12.

The album is now available on all streaming services. It is also available on limited edition autographed milky clear vinyl, as well as special exclusive autographed box sets that include the CD, an autographed art card, and a limited-edition T-Shirt on Gill’s website HERE.

There is also a special exclusive tan vinyl that is only available at all Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores©.

Photo Credit: John Shearer

Track Listing – Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys

  1. One More Time

Written by Mel Tillis

  1. I’d Fight The World

Written by Hank Cochran and Joe Allison

  1. You Wouldn’t Know Love

Written by Hank Cochran and Dave Kirby

  1. Walkin’ Slow (And Thinking ‘Bout Her)

Written by Bobby Bare and Lance Guynes

  1. The Same Two Lips

Written by Marty Robbins

  1. Weary Blues From Waitin’

Written by Hank Williams Sr.

  1. Kissing Your Picture (Is So Cold)

Written by Mel Tillis, Ray Price and Wayne Walker

  1. Sweet Memories

Written by Mickey Newbury

  1. Danny Boy

Written by Fred E. Weatherly

  1. Your Old Love Letters

Written by Ray Price

  1. Healing Hands Of Time

Written by Willie Nelson

ABOUT VINCE GILL:  One of the most popular artists in modern country music, Vince Gill is famous for his top-notch songwriting, world-class guitar playing and warm, soaring tenor, all wrapped up in a quick and easy wit. Gill achieved his big breakthrough in 1990 with “When I Call Your Name,” which won both the Country Music Association’s (CMA) Single and Song of the Year awards as well as a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male. In total, Gill has won 18 CMA Awards, 22 Grammy Awards, and 8 Academy of Country Music Awards. In 1991, Gill was invited to become a member of The Grand Ole Opry, and in 2007 was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2012 he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A gifted songwriter, Gill’s compositions earned him entry into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and was awarded the prestigious BMI Icon award in 2014. Throughout his career he has released 20 albums, sold over 30 million albums, and charted 45 singles. Always considering himself a musician above all else, Gill has over the years been a part of some iconic bands including Pure Prairie League, The Notorious Cherry Bombs, and The Time Jumpers. In 2022, Gill was inducted into the Musician’s Hall of Fame.  In 2017 Gill was asked to join the Eagles on the road and continues to be a part of that historic band’s tour.

ABOUT PAUL FRANKLIN:  A native of Detroit, Paul Franklin moved to Nashville in 1972. He immediately began touring with some of country’s most legendary artists of the time including Barbara Mandrell, Jerry Reed and Mel Tillis. In the early 80’s, after so many years of being on the road, Franklin decided to take a hiatus from touring to focus primarily on recording session work. He has become one of the most iconic pedal steel players in the world playing behind such legendary artists as Sting, Mark Knopfler, Vince Gill, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, Barbra Streisand and Megadeth. Franklin is a member of the Grammy Award-winning band The Time Jumpers. His ability to create music outside of the country field has taken him well beyond the stereotype by which the pedal steel guitar has often been limited. His soulful playing on this uniquely voiced instrument is clearly from the heart and makes him one of the most in-demand musicians in Nashville. Franklin is currently touring with Chris Stapleton.

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“With this record, Vince Gill and Paul Franklin have taken their admiration for Ray Price to the next level, with one of the finest true-country tributes of all time,” states country music icon Bill Anderson in the liner notes for Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price & The...