Charley Pride, one of the very few African-American artists to find great success in country music, passed away on December 12th. The eighty-six year old singer died from complications of COVID-19 and he had recently made his last appearance performing during this year's Country Music Awards on November 11th where he was finally honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Pride was born in Sledge, Mississippi, one of eleven children to poor sharecroppers. When he was fourteen, Pride was given his first guitar by his mother and self-taught himself how to play. And while he loved music, baseball was his first passion. Following his older brother, Mack, Pride played in the Negro American League as a pitcher. After being drafted in to the US Army in 1956, he tried to return to baseball but an injury that occurred while he served prevented him from pitching at his best.
Pride soon turned to music, performing country music around the Memphis area when his demos got in the hands of musician, Chet Atkins. He helped get Pride signed to RCA Records in 1966. His first few singles failed to chart but he finally hit with the song, "Just Between You and Me", which reached the top-ten on the Billboard Hot Country chart in 1967. His race certainly created some initial resistance by some audience members at the time but eventually his talent won them over.
Pride would become the second African-American singer to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, following founding member, DeFord Bailey who last appeared in 1941. During his career, Pride went on to have fifty-two Billboard top-ten country hits with thirty reaching the top spot. Some of his hits include "I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me", "I'd Rather Love You", "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone", "Wonder Could I Live There Anymore", "I'm Just Me", and "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" with this number one song in 1971 has since become his signature tune.
Pride is survived by his wife, Rozene who he married in 1956. They had two sons, Kraig and Dion, and a daughter, Angela.
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