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Charley Pride

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Charley Pride
Pride performing at the Capital Centreon the 1981 Inauguration DayBackground information Birth name Charley Frank Pride Also known as "Country Charley Pride" Born March 18, 1938(1938-03-18) (age 70) Origin Sledge, Mississippi, USAGenre(s)Country MusicOccupation(s) Country MusicArtist
Former Professional Baseball PlayerInstrument(s)Guitar, vocals Years active 1966– PresentLabel(s)RCA Records
(1966– 1986)
16th Avenue Records
(1987– 1990)
Music City Records
(2001– Present) Website http://www.charleypride.com/

Charley Frank Pride (born March 18, 1938) is a country music artist. During his career, he has had thirty-six number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. He was one of the few African-American country musicians to have considerable success in the largely white country music industry.

Contents

Early life and career

Pride was born in Sledge, Mississippi, one of eleven children of poor sharecroppers. His father named him "Charl Frank Pride", but because of a typing error on his birth certificate, he was legally born as Charley Frank Pride.[1] In his early teens, Pride began to play the guitar.

Though he also loved music, one of Pride's life-long dreams was to become a professional baseball player. In 1952, he pitched for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League. He pitched well, and, in 1953, he signed a contract with the Boise Yankees, the Class C farm team of the New York Yankees. During that season, an injury caused him to lose the "mustard" on his fastball, and he was sent down to the Yankees' Class D team in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Later on that season, while back in the Negro Leagues with the Louisville Clippers, he and another player (Jesse Mitchell), were traded to the Birmingham Black Barons for a team bus. "Jesse and I may have the distinction of being the only players in history to be traded for a used motor vehicle," Pride mused in his 1994 autobiography.[2]

He pitched for several other minor league teams, his hopes of eventually making it to the big leagues still alive. Pride appeared to be on his way to a career in baseball, but the U.S. Army had other plans for him. After serving two years in the military, he tried to return to baseball.[3] Though hindered by an injury to his throwing arm, Pride briefly played for the Missoula Timberjacks of the Pioneer League (a farm club of the Cincinnati Reds) in 1960, and had tryouts with the New York Mets and California Angels organizations. When it became apparent that he was not destined for greatness on the baseball diamond, Pride turned his attentions to pursuing a music career. [4]

On June 5, 2008, Charley, his brother, Mack "The Knife" Pride, and 28 other former living Negro League players were "drafted" by each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams in a recognition of the on-field achievements and historical relevance of 30 mostly forgotten Negro Leaguer stars. Charley was picked by the Texas Rangers while his brother was taken by the Colorado Rockies.[2]

Rise to music fame

While he was still trying to make it in baseball, Pride had heard much encouragement to join the music business from country stars such as Red Sovine and Red Foley. Soon, he was working towards this career. In 1958, in Memphis, Tennessee, Pride visited Sun Studios and recorded some songs.[5] One song has survived on tape, and has been released in the United Kingdom as part of an LP-box. The song is a slow stroll in walking tempo called "Walkin' (the Stroll)." [6]

After struggling to get a contract with a record company, he finally caught the ear of record producer Chet Atkins. Atkins was the longtime producer of RCA Records, and made stars out of country singers like Jim Reeves, Skeeter Davis and others. Pride was signed to RCA in 1966. In 1966, he released his first single with RCA, "Snakes Crawl at Night". When the song was promoted to radio stations, the label called Pride "Country Charley Pride". At this time, country music was a white medium.

Soon after the release of "Snakes Crawl at Night", Pride released another single called "Before I Met You". Soon after, Pride's third single, "Just Between You and Me", was released. This song was what finally brought Pride success on the Country charts. The song reached #9.

Height of his career

The success of "Just Between You and Me" was enormous. He won a Grammy Award for the song the next year.

In 1967, he became the first black performer to appear at the Grand Ole Opry since harmonica player DeFord Bailey in 1925.[7] He also appeared in 1967 on the American Broadcasting Company's "The Lawrence Welk Show".[8] Between 1969 and 1971, he had six number-one hits. These hits were "All I Have to Offer You Is Me", "I'm So Afraid of Losing You Again", "I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Lovin' Me" and "I'd Rather Love You". All of these singles reached the lower region of the pop charts, showing the country/pop crossover sound that was reaching Country music in the 1960s and early 1970s, known as "Countrypolitan".

"Kiss an Angel Good Morning"

In 1971, he would release what would become his biggest hit and signature song. It was called "Kiss an Angel Good Morning", a million-selling crossover single that helped Pride land the Country Music Association's prestigious Entertainer of the Year award, as well as Top Male Vocalist, both in 1971. [9] He won the CMA's Top Male Vocalist award in 1972, as well. [10]

"Kiss an Angel Good Morning" not only made Pride a lot of money, but it is also one of his signature tunes. Besides being a country #1 in 1971, the song was also his first that reached the pop charts, reaching #21, and it went into the Top Ten of the Adult Contemporary charts.

Pride during the 1970s and 1980s

During the rest of the 1970s and into the 1980s, Charley Pride continued to rack up country music hits. Other Pride standards of the 1970s and 1980s include "Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone?", "Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town," "Someone Loves You, Honey," "When I Stop Leaving, I'll Be Gone," "Burgers and Fries", "I Don't Think She's In Love Anymore", "Roll On Mississippi", "Never Been So Loved In (All My Life)" and "You're So Good When You're Bad." Like many other country performers, he has paid tribute to Hank Williams, with top-sellers of Williams' classics "Kaw-Liga," "Honky Tonk Blues" and "You Win Again".

Pride has sold over 70 million records (singles, albums, compilation included).[citation needed]

He stayed with RCA Records until 1986. At that point, he grew angry over the fact that the record company began to promote newer artists and not older artists that had been with the company for many years.[citation needed] He moved on to 16th Avenue Records, where Pride bounced back with the #5 hit, "Shouldn't it be Easier Than This." He had a few minor hits with 16th Avenue, as well.

Charley Pride's lifelong passion for baseball continues; he has an annual tradition of joining the Texas Rangers for workouts during Spring Training. A big Rangers fan, (Dallas has been his home for many years), Pride is often seen at their games.[citation needed]

In 2008, Pride received the Mississippi Arts Commission's lifetime achievement award during the organization's Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts.[3][4]

Chronology

  • December 1966 – Makes his debut on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart with "Just Between You and Me." The song would peak in the top 10 less than three months later; two earlier singles had failed to chart.
  • August 9, 1969 – Scores his first Billboard No. 1 hit with "All I Have to Offer You Is Me."
  • September 6, 1969 – Pride appears on national television on The Johnny Cash Show to perform a medley of Hank Williams songs with Cash. Pride's medley with Cash can be seen here.
  • 1971 – Enjoys the biggest hit of his career with the million-seller "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'." The song was his eighth No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, and spent five weeks atop the chart.
  • September 17, 1983 – Scores his 29th and final No. 1 hit on Billboard with "Night Games." He still remains sixth on the all-time list of most No. 1 hits on the Billboard country charts.
  • 1950s, Pride lived in Helena, MT and played legion baseball for the Helena Smelterites.
  • May 1, 1993 – Pride accepted an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry, in the process becoming the first black Opry regular in the show's more than 70-year history.
  • 1994 – Pride released his autobiography, Pride: The Charley Pride Story (published by William Morrow).
  • June 1994 – Pride was honored by the Academy of Country Music with its prestigious Pioneer Award.
  • January 1996 – Pride was honored with a Trumpet Award by Turner Broadcasting, marking outstanding African-American Achievement. His 1981 hit, "Roll On Mississippi", is considered the official song of his home state[citation needed], a stretch of Mississippi highway was named for him[citation needed] and he headlined a special Christmas performance for President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton at the White House.[citation needed]
  • July 1999 – Pride received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[citation needed]
  • October 4, 2000 – Pride was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. His name was announced by Brenda Lee.
  • March 28, 2003 - Ranked #18 on CMT's 40 Greatest Men in Country Music.
  • May 20, 2003 – Pride's album, Comfort of Her Wings, was released on Music City Records.
  • November 7, 2006 – Pride's album, Pride & Joy: A Gospel Music Collection, was released on Music City Records.
  • January 8, 2008 - Received the Mississippi Arts Commission's lifetime achievement award during the organization's Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts.

Famous quote

  • "I don't have no skin hang-ups. I'm no color. I'm just Charley Pride, the man."[citation needed]

Trivia

  • Pride returned to his hometown of Sledge and purchased the cotton farm where he had been born.[citation needed]
  • Pride resides in Dallas, Texas on a $2M estate located in North Dallas Source: DCAD. Upon first moving to Dallas, Pride was asked about his indoor swimming pool to which he reportedly replied, "Well, I don't wanna get sunburned..."
  • Pride is a long time season ticket holder to the Texas Rangers.

Discography

Albums

Year Album US CountryUSLabel RIAACertification 1966Country 16 RCAGold1967Pride Of Country Music 33 RCA1967Country Way 1 199 RCAGold 1968Make Mine Country 4 RCA1968Songs Of Pride...Charley That Is 6 RCA1969In Person (Live) 2 62 RCAGold 1969Sensational 2 44 RCAGold 1969The Best Of Charley Pride (Compilation with 1 new song) 1 24 RCAGold 1970Just Plain Charley 1 22 RCAGold 1970Charley Pride's 10th Album 1 30 RCAGold 1970Christmas In My Hometown 5 RCA1970From Me To You 2 42 RCAGold 1971Did You Think To Pray 1 76 RCAGold 1971I'm Just Me 1 50 RCA1971Sings Heart Songs 1 38 RCAGold 1972The Best Of Charley Pride Vol. 2 (Compilation Album) 1 50 RCAGold 1972Sunshiny Day 1 115 RCA1972Incomparable (Compilation Album) 16 189 RCA1972Songs Of Love 1 149 RCA1973Sweet Country 3 166 RCA1973Charley Pride Presents The Pridesmen (Instrumental Album) RCA1973Amazing Love 1 RCA1974Country Feelin' 15 RCA1974Pride Of America 4 RCA1975Charley 5 RCA1975The Pridesmen (Instrumental Album) RCA1975Happiness Of Having You 2 RCA1975Sunday Morning 15 RCA1976The Best Of Charley Pride Vol. 3 (Compilation Album) 3 188 RCA1977She's Just An Old Love Turned Memory 6 RCA1978Someone Loves You Honey 4 RCA1978Burgers And Fries 7 RCA1979You're My Jamaica 11 RCA1980There's A Little Bit Of Hank In Me 1 RCA1981Roll On Mississippi 18 RCA1981Greatest Hits (Compilation Album with 1 new song) 8 185 RCA1982Everybody's Choice 10 RCA1982Charley Pride Live 62 RCA1983Country Classics 36 RCA1983Night Games 20 RCA1984Power Of Love 49 RCA1985Greatest Hits 2 (Compilation Album) 60 RCA1985Collector's Series (Compilation Album) RCA1986Back To The Country RCA1986Best There Is RCA1987After All This Time 18 16th Avenue1988I'm Gonna Love Her On The Radio 36 16th Avenue1989Moody Woman 51 16th Avenue1994My Six Latest and Six Greatest (Re-recordings plus 6 new songs) Honest1996Classics With Pride Honest1997The Essential Charley Pride (Compilation Album with 1 previously unreleased song) RCA2000RCA Country Legends (Compilation Album) RCA2001Tribute To Jim Reeves Music City2003Comfort Of Her Wings Music City2003Anthology (Compilation Album) RCA2003The Very Best Of Charley Pride 1987-1989 (Compilation of 16th Avenue recordings plus 4 previously unreleased songs) Varese200322 All-Time Greatest Hits (Re-recordings) 64 TeeVee200516 Biggest Hits (Compilation Album) RCA2005Greatest Songs (Re-recordings) Curb2006The Essential Charley Pride (Compilation Album different from 1997 version) RCA2006Pride And Joy: A Gospel Music Collection Music City

Singles

Year Single US CountryUS Hot 100US ACAlbum 1967"Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger?" 4 - - The Pride of Country Music 1967"Just Between You and Me" 9 - - The Pride of Country Music 1967"I Know One" 6 - - The Pride of Country Music 1968"The Day the World Stood Still" 4 - - The Country Way 1968"The Easy Part's Over" 2 - - Songs of Pride..Charley That Is 1968"Let The Chips Fall" 4 - - The Sensational Charley Pride 1969"Kaw-Liga" 3 - - In Person 1969"All I Have to Offer You Is Me" 1 91 - Best of Charley Pride 1969"I'm So Afraid of Losing You Again" 1 74 - Just Plain Charley 1970"I Can't Believe That You Stopped Lovin' Me" 1 71 - From Me to You 1970"Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone?" 1 70 - Charley Pride's 10th Album 1970"Wonder I Could Live There Anymore" 1 87 - From Me to You 1971"Did You Think To Pray?" 70 - - Did You Think To Pray? 1971"I'd Rather Love You" 1 79 - I'm Just Me 1971"I'm Just Me" 1 94 - I'm Just Me 1971"Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'" 1 21 7 Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs 1971"Let Me Live" 21 - - Did You Think To Pray? 1972"All His Children" 2 92 - Sometimes a Great Nation 1972"It's Gonna Take a Little Bit Longer" 1 - - A Sunshine Day With Charley Pride 1972"She's Too Good to Be True" 1 - - Songs of Love by Charley Pride 1973"Amazing Love" 1 - - Amazing Love 1973"Don't Fight the Feelings of Love" 1 - - Sweet Country 1973"A Shoulder to Cry On" 1 - - Sweet Country 1974"We Could" 3 - - Country Feelings 1974"Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town" 3 70 - Pride of America 1975"I Ain't All Bad" 6 - - Charley 1975"Hope You're Feelin' Me Like I'm Feelin' You" 1 - - Charley 1975"Then Who Am I?" 1 - - Pride of America 1976"My Eyes Can Only See As Far As You" 1 - - The Happiness of Having You 1976"A Whole Lotta Things to Sing About" 2 - - She's Just An Old Love Turned Memory 1976"The Happiness of Having You" 3 - - The Happiness of Having You 1977"I'll Be Leavin' Alone" 1 - - She's Just An Old Love Turned Memory 1977"More to Me" 1 - - Someone Loves You Honey 1977"She's Just An Old Love Turned Memory" 1 - - She's Just An Old Love Turned Memory 1978"Burgers and Fries" 2 - - Burgers and Fries 1978"Someone Loves You Honey" 1 - - Someone Loves You Honey 1978"When I Stop Leaving (I'll Be Gone)" 3 - - Burgers and Fries 1979"Where Do I Put Her Memory" 1 - - Burgers and Fries 1979"You're My Jamaica" 1 - - You're My Jamaica 1980"Missin' You" 2 - - You're My Jamaica 1980"Honky Tonk Blues" 1 - - There's A Little Bit Of Hank In Me 1980"You Win Again" 1 - - There's A Little Bit Of Hank In Me 1980"You Almost Slipped My Mind" 4 - - Roll On Mississippi 1981"Roll On Mississippi" 7 - - Roll On Mississippi 1981"Never Been So Loved (In All My Life)" 1 - - Greatest Hits Vol. 1 1982"I Don't Think She's In Love Anymore" 2 - - Everybody's Choice 1982"Mountain of Love" 1 - - Everybody's Choice 1982"You're So Good When You're Bad" 1 - - Everybody's Choice 1983"Why Baby Why" 1 - - Charley Pride Sings Country Classics 1983"More and More" 7 - - Charley Pride Sings Country Classics 1983"Night Games" 1 - - Night Games 1984"Ev'ry Heart Should Have One" 2 - - Night Games 1984"The Power Of Love" 9 - - The Power Of Love 1984"Missin' Mississippi" 32 - - The Power Of Love 1985"Down On The Farm" 25 - - Greatest Hits Vol. 2 1985"Let A Little Love Come In" 34 - - Greatest Hits Vol. 2 1986"The Best There Is" 75 - - The Best There Is 1986"Love On A Blue Rainy Day" 74 - - The Best There Is 1987"Have I Got Some Blues For You" 14 - - After All This Time 1987"If You Still Want A Fool Around" 31 - - After All This Time 1988"Shouldn't It Be Easier Than This" 5 - - I'm Gonna Love Her On The Radio 1988"I'm Gonna Love Her On The Radio" 13 - - I'm Gonna Love Her On The Radio 1990"Amy's Eyes" 28 - - Moody Woman

Sources

  • Country Music: The Rough Guide; Wolff, Kurt; Penguin Publishing
  • All Music Guide.com

See also

References

  1. ^ Country Music Hall of Fame
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ CMT.com: Charley Pride to Receive Mississippi Honor
  4. ^ The ClarionLedger: The Pride of Miss.: Gov.'s Awards for Excellence in the Arts recipients

External links

Categories: 1934 births | Living people | American country musicians | American country singers | African American musicians | Hollywood Walk of Fame | Negro League baseball players | Memphis Red Sox players | Mississippi musicians | People from Mississippi | Musicians from Dallas | Grammy Award winners | African American singers | Grand Ole Opry members | People from MontanaHidden categories: Articles needing additional references from June 2007 | Wikipedia introduction cleanup | All pages needing cleanup | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since July 2007 | Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007

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