Price quickly realized that he had no personality as a lead singer, so he decided he needed to learn to play the instrument. He picked up a guitar and began his self-study.
It was 1966 and 12-year-old Price was influenced by artists such as Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Neil Young and began learning how to play their music. His older brother was a guitarist and helped him out.
“I was never afraid to ask questions,” Price said. “I just kept getting better and better.”
While attending high school in Colonel White, Price began performing for patrons at the neighborhood bar “The Dugout” on nearby Salem Avenue. He had plans to become a musician and take it as long as he could. But his father had other plans for his son.
“My father convinced me that I would be better off staying in school and learning the trade,” Price said. “He made a huge impact on my life.”
Price moved to Denver, Colorado when he was 19, following his older brother, who moved to Denver, Colorado six months earlier. He moved to the mountains and found his place to live and his job as a construction worker working in underground mines. Eventually, he learned carpentry while working on construction sites building houses.
“I started carpentry myself when I was 25,” Price said.
Continuing his passion for music, Price performed at local clubs in Denver. He lived briefly in Fort Collins to attend Colorado State University, where he met his first wife.
“I loved the idea of creating a little utopia on the farm for my family,” Price said. “We decided it was time to get closer to home.”
The couple moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where their daughter Amanda was born. He returned to Dayton with his family and was employed as a construction engineer, working at the then-new Dayton Correctional Facility.
“There was something I really enjoyed and missed about being my own boss,” Price said. “I started Stillwater Builders in 1987.”
Price’s first marriage ended in divorce in 1988. After another member left the band, Price became single again and joined Fried Her Potatoes. The group changed their name to The Flies, and eventually to The Fries Band, and began playing regional concerts and local venues on weekends.
In 1999, Price met his second wife, Laura, and the couple moved to Oakwood. By 2018 he had sold his business and finally had time to fully focus on his music career.
“My goal was to dedicate myself to the music that I love,” said Price. “But then COVID hit and all the shows were cancelled.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Price devoted himself to writing new original songs. His one of those songs, “Before I Go,” was recorded in Nashville by his friend James Mills. Price fell in love with the process of writing and recording music. In September 2021, Price recorded six of his original songs and invited talented musicians to Dayton to perform with them. His friends and Fries Band members Steve Phelps, Matt Scholpe, Henry Mays and Gary Knight also performed with him on two tracks. release.
“I decided I wanted to do this first class,” said Price. “I wasn’t going to worry about the results or be disappointed if it didn’t go anywhere. I just did it for myself.
He is working on his second album of original material and is excited to be back in the studio.
“I love this process and every morning I sit down with my guitar and play whatever comes to my mind,” Price said. “People really like my music. I’m surprised and very happy.”
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