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Charley Frank Pride was born on 18 Mar 1934 in Sledge, Quitman, Mississippi, United States. He was a son of Fowler McArthur Pride Sr. (1907 - 1996) and Tessie Bell (Stewart) Pride (1908 - 1956). He was an American singer, musician, guitarist, business owner, and professional baseball player. His father had wanted to name him "Charl," but his birth certificate was written with the first name of "Charley."[1]
Charley's first career choice was to be a player in baseball in the Negro American League. Pride was a pitcher for the Memphis Red Sox and Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro League. He played from 1953 to 1958 and bounced around a few times -- legend has it he and another teammate were once traded for a used bus. Pride says he had a "pretty good little curve," but it was never good enough to earn a contract in the Major Leagues.
At 16, he left home to play for the Memphis Red Sox, and a New York Yankees affiliate team. In 1956, He married Rozene Cohran (1935 - living) and was subsequently drafted into the Army. This interrupted his baseball career, which had already suffered a setback when he was injured while pitching for Boise.
After his discharge from the service, he relocated to Helena, Montana after, several unsuccessful tryouts with the California Angels and the New York Mets. The highlight of Charley Pride's baseball career was probably the four innings of an all-star game he pitched, during which he got a chance to stare down the likes of Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Ultimately, professional ball didn't work out for him, but those long bus rides gave him a chance to entertain teammates and hone his guitar skills.
He then worked at the local smelting plant, and started a family with Rozene. In addition to daughter Angela Pride, two sons became musicians: reggae musician Carlton Pride, and country singer Dion Pride. He also played both semipro baseball and music at social events.
In 1962 Country stars Red Sovine and Red Foley discovered Pride in Helena, Montana and eventually helped him come to Nashville, where he hooked up with producer Jack Clement.
The demo recordings Mr. Pride made on arriving in Nashville in the early '60s initially failed to attract interest. It was not until the producer Jack "Cowboy" Clement supervised a session of his in the summer of 1965 that Chet Atkins finally took notice and offered Mr. Pride a record deal.
Atkins flew to Los Angeles to play the sides to top label executives and had their agreement to sign the remarkable voice before he revealed Pride's color; his first RCA recording session took place in August 1965 and his first single, "Snakes Crawl At Night," was released in January 1966. Pride's race was likewise shielded from Country radio through three single releases until the third, "Just Between You and Me," climbed into the Country Top 10. His gold-selling first album, Country Charley Pride, was the first indication many fans had that he was black.
Pride handled the curiosity of fans in dancehalls by allowing 20 minutes of stage-side gawking before clearing the floor to allow people to dance. As with Jackie Robinson, who broke the color line in big-league baseball, he suffered whatever discrimination he was exposed to in silence, determined that talent was what counted. Charlie garnered respect on his tours; as Mark Olson said: "My dad, Nick Olson, and Doyle Radke, hosted Charlie for many years when Charlie performed at the Norsk Hostfest, in Minot, ND. They would take Charlie golfing at the Minot Country Club. After my dad passed away, I called and informed Charlie and he sent flowers to the funeral. A very nice man and a classy guy."[2]
His work spoke volumes: between his chart debut in 1966 and 1989, he had 29 No. 1 Country hits, including such enduring classics as "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone" (1970), "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" (1971) and "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" (1969).
His greatest musical success came in the early to mid-1970s, when he became the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis Presley. During the peak years of his recording career (1966–87), he garnered 52 top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, 30 of which made it to number one. Pride was one of only three African-Americans to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry (the others are DeFord Bailey and Darius Rucker). [3] He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000, followed by the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. He was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame.[4]
Year | Award | Organization |
1971 | Entertainer of the Year | Country Music Association |
1971 | Male Vocalist of the Year | Country Music Association |
1972 | Male Vocalist of the Year | Country Music Association |
1993 | Member | Grand Ole Opry |
2000 | Country Music Hall of Fame | Country Music Association |
2020 | Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award | Country Music Association |
Later on, Pride was reportedly nervous to approach Dolly Parton about a duet. According to Rolling Stone, it was his wife Rozene who reached out to Parton about a possible collaboration. The Queen of Country immediately said yes, but with one condition: that they sing "God's Coloring Book." [5]
Charlie maintained his interest in baseball, becoming a part of the Texas Rangers Baseball Team as one of the owners. He was a regular at home games when his schedule permitted. He sang The Star Spangled Banner at the first regular season game ever played at Globe Life Field on July 24, 2020.[6]"
Prior to traveling to Nashville for the 2020 Awards Ceremony on November 11, 2020, he had been tested for COVID-19. Also, he was tested upon landing in Nashville, and on show day, with all tests coming back negative. After returning to Texas , Charley again tested negative multiple times. However, on December 12, 2020, he passed away from complications with COVID.
Upon hearing of his death, there were numerous outpourings of grief from colleagues and associates. Dolly Parton, with whom he had collaborated with said: "I'm so heartbroken that one of my dearest and oldest friends, Charley Pride, has passed away. It's even worse to know that he passed away from COVID-19. What a horrible, horrible virus. Charley, we will always love you," she wrote. "Rest In Peace. My love and thoughts go out to his family and all of his fans."[7]
The Texas Rangers said that "Mr. Pride's first love was baseball. He pitched professionally in the Negro and Minor Leagues throughout the 1950's before embarking on his Hall of Fame singing career of more than 60 years. Mr. Pride then became a regular participant at Texas Rangers spring training camps in Pompano Beach and Port Charlotte, Florida and Surprise, Arizona, working out with the team and staging an annual clubhouse concert for players and staff, a tradition that continued through this past spring. Mr. Pride was a true gentleman, and we will never forget the lasting contributions he has made to the Texas Rangers organization. We express our deepest sympathies to Mr. Pride's family and friends on this sad day. "
Charlie was buried at Calvary Hill Cemetery and Mausoleum in Dallas [8] Charlie Pride was appreciated around the world. He is especially loved among the Australian Aborigines.[9]
Name: | Charley Pride |
Birth: | 18 Mar 1934 Sledge, Quitman County, Mississippi, USA |
Death: | 12 Dec 2020 (aged 86) Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, USA |
Burial: | Calvary Hill Cemetery and Mausoleum Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, USA Add to Map |
Memorial ID: | 219651701 |
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Categories: Professional Baseball Players | Country Music Association Awards Winners | Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame | Academy of Country Music Awards Winners | Grand Ole Opry | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards | Famous Entertainers of the 20th Century | Country Music Hall of Fame | Negro League Baseball | Example Profiles of the Week | Featured Connections Archive 2021 | US Black Heritage Project Managed Profiles | African-American Notables | Notables
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