The Great Charley Pride: a Living Legend
76Here I want to showcase one of my favorite singer/musicians that really inspired me as a young man. December 1966, he made his debut on the Billboard magazine Hot Country singles chart with "Just Between You and Me." That song peaked in the top 10 less than three months later; two earlier singles had failed to chart. He had an amazingly smooth baritone voice with a talent to go falsetto, and from then on rose to the very top. In just a few years he was known by all that loved Country music.
Charley Pride (born 18 March 1938) was born in Sledge, Mississippi, one of fifteen children of poor sharecroppers. Pride began playing guitar in his early teens and was featured on thirty-six number-one hits on the Billboard Country charts. His claim to fame really began in the early-to-mid 1970s, when he was the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis Presley.
Charley is one of the few African-American country musicians to have had extensive success in the fundamentally white country music business and the only one to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
Many people may not realize that his first love was baseball. At only 14 years of age his dream was fulfilled as he pitched for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negor American League. His talent took him to the Boise Yankees, the Class C farm team of the New York Yankees by the time he was fifteen in 1953.
Alas it was during that season that he had an injury that caused him to fault on his fastball and he was sent to the Yankees' Class D team in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Later that season, while in the Negro Leagues with the Louisville Clippers, he and another player Jesse Mitchell, were traded to the Birmingham Black Barons for a used bus for the team. "Jesse and I may have the distinction of being the only players in history to be traded for a used motor vehicle," Pride jokingly said in his 1994 autobiography.
He was doing fine and his career of his dreams was being played out as he played for several other teams. But his dream of making it to the big league was cut short by the draft. He fulfilled his obligatory two years. He tried unsuccessfully to return to his first love and played for several teams hindered by an arm injury. By 1962 it was apparent that his baseball dream was gone, so he pursued his second love, music.
While he was still pursuing his baseball dream Red Sovine and Red Foley had both encouraged Charley to join the music business. They knew good talent. In 1958 Charley visited Sun Records and recorded a few songs. One of them was released in the UK and survived on tape, it is Walkin’ (the Stroll), the singer was listed as Country Charley Pride.
His greatest hit song
Chet Atkins (a powerhouse in Country music as both a maestro on guitar and a producer) discovered Charley Pride. He made many famous as Country singers and Charley soon became one too through RCA thanks to this amazing producer for RCA. In five short years Charley came out with his biggest hit ever, Kiss an Angel Good Morning, 1971.
In 1986 Charley split with RCA because he felt the company was favoring younger performers over the older performers who had been with them for so many years. He is in Branson, Missouri today and tours many places; soon to do Ireland. A feature film is being made about him and he is still a major part of baseball and annually joins the Texas Rangers for spring training. He is often seen at their games, as Dallas has been his home for many years. He married in 1956 and still has the same wife, Rozene and two sons and a daughter.
Charley Pride is still going strong and I do hope he has
many years left for us all to enjoy him. I now introduce you to some of his
music if you’ve never heard him before. Please listen, as I know you will enjoy
even if you’re not a fan of country music. He is a unique performer and I have
the fondest memories of him and greatest respect. In my opinion his recordings and tribute to Hank Williams is his finest ever and he out shined even Hank.
Amazing voice range here
My all time favorite, better than Hank's.
Kaw Liga is my second most favorite song of his. The little nuances he added with the Indian calls and purts is amazing.
Please remember the little green button below if you have enjoyed this hub. CC Riter: November 15, 2009
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Comments
OK Tatjana, see ya tomorrow then. thanks. xox
Good hub, I'm not a huge country music fan but I always did like his voice.
Nice hub. I love country music and Charlie Pride is amazing.
This is rather spooky, Ralwus. I've been humming around a song today and as I happened onto your hub, the words started coming to mind. I read your hub and begin to think about what my favorite Charlie Pride song might be. Then, like a big slap on the forehead, I realized the song I've been humming around today is a Charlie Pride song! What are the odds? It's not even my favorite of his...but it's "When I Stop Leaving, I'll Be Gone". I think my favorite is "Mountain of Love".
Charley Pride is a great artist of country music. I enjoy listening to him as does my wife. Great choice.
I loved this. My first memories of a country song was dancing to an old record of his with a not very well known song of Charlie Pride's on it...
"Piroe Joe" I think thats what it was called. It was a fun song and my older sister would pick me up and swing me around the room as we laughed hysterically to it. Wonderful memories and the very mention of his name makes me think of it. Thank you Charlie~ Good hub!
There is no doubting his range, pitch, and talent, Charles. Thanks for introducing me to him, as this is the first time I'm learning about him (hey, what do expect from a city guy like me, eh?). Thanks for sharing!
Don't know the man, not even his music. So I thank you for sharing this. Country music is I think the least popular music genre in the Philippines. Yeah there's Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood but they're just two of the how many? I guess little by little we'll get exposed to this kind of music. I mean now we have Darius Rucker who has metamorphosed from rock to R&B to country. :D
Very cool rawlus -never heard of him but wow - amazing - I love country music and I remembered the little green button, xo, Kimberly
Hi Susan, thanks, Yes he is a great singer.
Hello redsonja, thanks and so do I.
Well hello KCC, so glad to see ya. that's an amazing story and I so glad it worked out so nice for ya. I can't say I remember that song but Mountain of Love is a biggie. thanks darlin', I knew you'd enjoy him.
Hi JJ darlin'. That's a fun story and the correct spelling is Piroque. I could not find it and it is one of my faves too. thanks hun.
Hey Dohn. Country has many fans in NYC. Did you know Tony Bennet started with a country hit? This is American music all the way son. I'm happy to introduce you to him. thanks Dohn.
Well Cris I'm glad to showcase him for you as he is deserving and I knew a lot of you younger hubbers would not know him. George Jones just did a rant on Taylor and Carrie, I don't agree with him, but he is right to a point on the things he said. It's sad that this industry has no real respect for the Veterans the way Rock does. Country doesn't do well in the UK either anymore. Darius is a really smooth singer and I like him also. Thanks son.
Hi ya Kim! Well now ya know and he is so handsome isn't he? Glad to know ya love Country music, I know it is well loved up north. thanks for rating me. LOL love ya and thanks to everyone for reading remembering to rate this. CC
Wesley, I missed you. so sorry. I can't say I'm surprised. Thanks son for stopping by and commenting.
Always have been a fan of Charlie Pride. Great hub.
Oh! he has a great voice. I feel sorry that I do not know him sooner. My dad will love him too. I have to go out and look for his music now as a Christmas present for my dad. Thanks.
Nice to read about a survivor
Gteat voice - my grandmother loved him!
I remember Charley Pride ! He was a bit of an oddity back in those days for sure. I had never heard those songs on the video before . But I do remember " Kiss an Angel good morning " Thx for this one my friend !
I bookmarked this so that I can listen to the videos later and thanks for reminding me about the green button- I clicked it; but sometimes I do forget to do that.
Thank you Putz for stopping by.
Dao Hoa,so glad to meet you and that sounds like a great idea. I'm so glad to have inspired you with this hub. Thanks for stopping by now.
Ethel, hi darling. Yes, he is a survivor. Thanks hun.
Hello Gigi, grandma is a good woman then with great taste. Thanks
Hi ya Tony. He was at that time wasn't he? But that's one of the things that made me admire him so much. Back then I knew nothing of his early baseball career. You are quite welcome and I suppose he was really big in Bakersfield. Thanks Tony
Well 2uesday, that's fine and thanks for reading it, as low quality it is. I need to fix some errors in it as I was quite tired when I put it together. I will now edit my mistakes. thanks darlin'. CC
I respect your work and added blog to favorites
He has a nice voice, wow, I love it, plus his personality is remarkable too. Thanks ralwus for the post, you know it very well, i am a lover of music, old and new!
Hi slider, thanks. Nice to meet you.
Well hello Pretty. I am glad to introduce you to something new then darling. Yes, I knew you loved music and I'm so sorry it took me so long to respond as I have had a very long day. Love now honey. CC
Bon Jour Monseiur Charlie, I do so love country western music, have you heard the story that the advantage of country songs is if you play the music backwards your wife comes back, your house rebuilds and you find your favorite dog! Something like that, bon chance' I pressed you green button...ooooh lala!
oooo la la indeed! No, I never heard that before. It's a new one on me. Thanks for sharing that and I'm surprised you are a country fan too. If I play this last video backwards will I see more of you? LOL I'll press yer belly button if ya let me. hehe OOO I do love ya. bye now darling DeeDee
Charley Pride is one of my favourites too. I have an LP of his and I still sing his songs on karaoke nights. Is anybody goin' to San Antone and Me and Bobby Mcgee. Great stuff
Hello scary, so nice of you to stop by. are you a hubber? Thanks for the comment
I like Charlie Pride, too. When I was in high school many years ago I was a big country music fan. In fact one of my daughters is a musician and singer with a bluegrass band in Maine called "Windy Ridge." I enjoyed the videos very much.
Hello William, always good to see you. That is rally cool. I wish her all the best. Thanks now and Merry Christmas.
Tatjana-Mihaela says:
3 weeks ago
How can I ever forget "the little green one" while visiting your Hubs?
Will listen Charley tomorrow morning, now is too late, thanks and have a good night.