Can you name this Texas legend....?

I was born February 17, 1935 in Houston, Texas, I am a country music singer, songwriter, and drummer. I Started out as a solo act in 1952 in San Antonio, Texas. I switched to drums, and in the 1960s began working with Willie Nelson's band, The Record Men, afterwards, I joined Ray Price's Cherokee Cowboys. While with the band,I wanted a record deal, but record executives felt I sounded too similar to Ray Price to be marketable. Instead,My friend Willie paid for my first album, "Sound of a Heartache", which was popular locally. My first Top 40 hit came with "What A Way To Live" in 1968. "Undo The Right" became my first Top 10 later that year... Who am I?