Ray Price, whose trademark ”shuffle” became synonymous with country music, has died of pancreatic at age 87.

He began singing while in veterinary school after returning to Texas following World War II.

His first records didn’t attract much attention, but he caught the ear of Hank Williams, who took Price on tour with him in 1951 and brought him to Nashville, where he began to sing with the Grand Ole Opry.

His 1956 single ”Crazy Arms” spent 20 weeks atop the country charts, introducing a bass-driven rhythm that became known as the ”Ray Price beat”.

Other hits included ”Heartaches by the Number” in 1959 and ”For the Good Times” in 1970.