Country Legend Charley Pride (1934-2020) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 12-12-2020, 05:04 PM

https://variety.com/2020/music/news/...nd-1234852402/

Vocalist Charley Pride, the first modern Black music superstar of country music, has died. He was 86.

Public relations firm 2911 Media confirmed that Pride died on Dec. 12 in Dallas, Texas from complications related to COVID-19.

A 2000 inductee in the Country Music Hall of Fame and a three-time Grammy winner, Pride was not the first country performer to cross racial lines: Harmonica player Deford Bailey was an early featured artist on the Grand Ole Opry. (Successors included ’70s contemporary Stoney Edwards and, much later, former Hootie & the Blowfish vocalist Darius Rucker, who found immense crossover success in the genre.)

But none of these Black musicians enjoyed the massive appeal of Pride, who tallied 29 No. 1 country chart hits and another 21 top-10 country entries for RCA Records between 1966 and 1984. Chart guru Joel Whitburn ranks him as the No. 3 hit-producing artist of the ’70s, behind Conway Twitty and Merle Haggard.

During the ’60s, many R&B performers moved into the country realm; most famously, Ray Charles enjoyed a smash hit with his No. 1 album “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.” But Pride was the first Black artist of the day to be signed and marketed by the country division of a major American label.

Though his first work was promoted by RCA without images that would divulge his race, Pride found his music quickly embraced by a Southern, white, working-class audience that found it could identify with the singer’s sharecropping roots and universal aspirations. His keen interpretation of deftly penned honky tonk songs kept him at the top for nearly two decades.

“He was the right singer at the right time in history,” wrote country music historian Bill C. Malone of his remarkable success. “Pride definitely profited from the heightened mood of racial tolerance promoted in the United States by the civil rights movement and from the desires of the country music industry to improve its image and broaden its audience.”

He was born in Sledge, Miss. One of 11 children, he labored as a boy as a cotton picker on a tenant farm.

Though Pride began playing guitar in his teens, he was a gifted athlete, and he first set his sights on a career in baseball. During nearly a decade of playing interrupted by Army service, he pitched for Memphis’ Negro League team, the New York Yankees’ farm club, Birmingham’s Black Barons and the Missoula Timberjacks, the Cincinnati Reds’ Montana-based farm team. He also tried out for the California Angels and the New York Mets.

As Pride labored in the minors, he still entertained thoughts of a music career. While he viewed himself principally as a country singer, and took Hank Williams as a major stylistic avatar, his first recording session, cut in 1958 at Memphis’ Sun Studio, found him working in an R&B mode.

It would be another seven years before Pride was signed to a recording contract, after injuries had ended his pursuit of a life in baseball. His singing attracted the interest of country star Red Sovine, who advised him to seek work in Nashville. He was ultimately signed to RCA by Chet Atkins, head of the label’s country division and its chief producer. His manager, Jack Johnson, insisted, however, that no photographs of Pride be initially released, fearing a potential backlash because of his race.

Pride broke onto the charts at the end of 1966, his first year at RCA, with “Just Between Me and You,” a slickly produced number in the “countrypolitan” vein pioneered by Atkins’ productions. The singer’s taut, wide-ranging baritone pushed the single to No. 9 nationally, beginning an astonishing run in the country top 10. Within a year, he became a member of WSM’s phenomenally popular Grand Ole Opry stage and radio show; at that time, he was its only Black performer.

Having successfully knocked down what had theretofore been a generally rigid racial barrier, Pride enjoyed a soaring career on the back of other smoothly crafted country-pop tunes. He notched two No. 1 hits in 1969, three in 1970 and five in 1971; in the latter year, he released his biggest single, “Kiss an Angel Good Morning,” which held the pinnacle for five weeks.

He received the Country Music Association’s coveted entertainer of the year award in 1971, and was voted best male vocalist by the CMA in 1971 and 1972.

In all Pride notched 20 No. 1 hits and nine more top-10 entries during the ’70s. These included “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone” (soon heard in a well-known cover by rock’s Sir Douglas Quintet), “I Can’t Believe That You Stopped Loving Me,” “I’d Rather Love You,” “I’m Just Me” and “She’s Too Good to Be True.” He also collaborated with Henry Mancini on “All His Children,” a number for Paul Newman’s 1972 feature “Sometimes a Great Notion”; the single reached No. 2.

Both sides of Pride’s 1971 gospel single, “Let Me Live” and “Did You Think to Pray,” received Grammys in 1972. He also captured a trophy in 1973 for best male country vocal performance, for the album “Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs.”

In the early ’80s, Pride bridled somewhat against the countrypolitan formula and essayed some harder-hitting material, collecting No. 1 singles with covers of Hank Williams’ “Honky Tonk Blues” and “You Win Again” and George Jones’ “Why Baby Why.” However, at the same time his career reached its arguable nadir with another chart-topper, the misbegotten 1983 disco-country fusion “Night Games.” It proved to be his last No. 1 hit.

In 1986, Pride parted company with RCA and became the first act signed to 16th Avenue Records, a division of Opryland run by former RCA exec Jerry Bradley. He recorded 13 mostly minor chart singles for the label; his last top-five hit, “Shouldn’t It Be Easier This Time,” was released in 1987.

He moved into semi-retirement in the late ’80s, emerging sporadically for releases on independent labels like Honest and Music City. His autobiography “Pride,” co-written by Jim Henderson, was published in 1994, and he continued to tour late in life.

Pride was a smart investor whose holdings included an interest in a Texas bank.

He maintained a lifelong interest in baseball: A frequent attendee at Texas Rangers spring training and home games, he sang the national anthem at the 2010 World Series.

He is survived by his wife, Rozene; two sons; and a daughter.

JO Sweet Heart · 12-12-2020, 07:28 PM

I love to hear him sing this song.

God bless you and his family always!!!

Holly

P.S. 2020 can kiss my Holly hump.

PhoenixAcres · 12-12-2020, 11:20 PM

Sad to hear this.

Rest in peace Charley Pride

rusty spike · 12-13-2020, 02:59 AM

Very sad. May he rest in peace.

Loved Burger and Fries.

ponytail · 12-13-2020, 06:31 AM

I loved Charlie Pride! I was shocked and saddened to hear the news.

Hawkee · 12-13-2020, 07:00 AM

Did Charley Pride also have a hit with the song Kiss An Angel Good Morning? That was a great song of his and my mom would play that song all the time on her classic country albums. I also recall hearing Behind Closed Doors as well and it was the best song of Charley's career
Bestie

Zoneboy · 12-13-2020, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaBestia

Did Charley Pride also have a hit with the song Kiss An Angel Good Morning? That was a great song of his and my mom would play that song all the time on her classic country albums. I also recall hearing Behind Closed Doors as well and it was the best song of Charley's career
Bestie

"Kiss an Angel Good Morning" was Charley Pride's signature song and biggest hit of his career.

"Behind Closed Doors" was recorded by Charlie Rich.

AB · 12-13-2020, 04:17 PM

Very sad news, may he rest in peace.

Tumbleweed1980 · 12-13-2020, 08:12 PM

I saw about Charley's passing on NBC Nightly News last night. I hadn't heard he was in the hospital suffering from COVID-19, so it was shocking and made me feel so sad to hear that he had passed away.

He will always be a huge part of my life. From as far back as I can remember, my grandma played his records a lot. In fact, I think his singing is the first voice I ever remember hearing. My mom told me I had a 45rpm of "The Snakes Crawl at Night", and that I loved that song and would play it on my record player as a young child.

Also, my grandma used to play his “The Best of” 8-track tape in her 1966 Nova Chevy II while driving me around, and to this day those are some of my most favorite memories. Grandma provided such security for such an insecure little boy that I was. Other favorite songs from that tape besides "Snakes". I also love, "Just Between You & Me", "The Easy Part's Over", "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)", "Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger" and "I Know One", just to name a few.

I have so much of his music in my collection, in pretty much all formats. My grandma and I got the chance to see him here in Anchorage in concert back in 1983. He put on an awesome show. Sadly, we didn't take any pictures that day, but we did get to meet him and got his autograph that I'm so appreciative of and treasure so much.

I was asked to put together a tape to be played at my grandma's funeral in 2009. Of course, I included many Charley Pride songs.

I feel like I have a million memories of how Charley's music has touched my life. Sylvia wrote a beautiful tribute to Charley on her FB page that I really appreciated seeing. He helped her as an up and coming artist, which of course makes me like and appreciate him all that much more.

Thank you Charley for being a big part of so many wonderful memories in my lifetime.

JO Sweet Heart · 12-13-2020, 09:32 PM

According to what is said here, Charley's Covid was not picked up through his CMA award show attendance record.

God bless you and his family always!!!

Holly

Bonniegirl · 12-13-2020, 09:38 PM

Very sad !

May he rest in peace !

ABlairican Pie · 12-14-2020, 08:03 AM

I first heard Charley Pride when I was ten years old while listening to his song "Kiss An Angel Good Morning" on an eight track cassette in 1972. I never knew until later that he was black. This was a very unique thing to me, as it was commonly understood that country was "white man's music", much like rock and metal were. But I found over time that not only did many blacks liked country music, but that there were a few who actually did perform it. Persons such as Darius Rucker, formerly of Hootie And the Blowfish, have had a very successful career in country music. So Charley Pride is remembered to be groundbreaking in breaking "the color barrier" in country.

It is only fitting that, in country being a form of the blues, that Charley Pride was one of its pioneers and legends.

Edward216 · 12-15-2020, 10:28 PM

Very sad news he was one of the best from the 60s and 70s and into the 80s.

I don't know about Night Games being "misbegotten", yeah it was more pop than country but I liked it, but I didn't like the music video they did for it. He had such a great voice and had a lot of good songs too, rest in peace Charley.

Ed.

Zoneboy · 12-15-2020, 10:47 PM

This is my favorite Charley Pride song.

James28 · 12-15-2020, 11:56 PM

Great, a unique personality wasted by this nightmare of a virus. If Charley Pride didn't contract it at the CMA's, I don't know how somebody like him would contract it in the first place. His age alone made him an easy target, but I'm still mad over this. There haven't been any recent reports of Charley Pride being in ill health or anything.

It would have been better if he had died of cancer instead; at least that doesn't kill a person as quick and easy as COVID-19 does.

Charley Pride.

12-12-2020, 05:04 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,349	Country Legend Charley Pride (1934-2020) https://variety.com/2020/music/news/...nd-1234852402/ Vocalist Charley Pride, the first modern Black music superstar of country music, has died. He was 86. Public relations firm 2911 Media confirmed that Pride died on Dec. 12 in Dallas, Texas from complications related to COVID-19. A 2000 inductee in the Country Music Hall of Fame and a three-time Grammy winner, Pride was not the first country performer to cross racial lines: Harmonica player Deford Bailey was an early featured artist on the Grand Ole Opry. (Successors included ’70s contemporary Stoney Edwards and, much later, former Hootie & the Blowfish vocalist Darius Rucker, who found immense crossover success in the genre.) But none of these Black musicians enjoyed the massive appeal of Pride, who tallied 29 No. 1 country chart hits and another 21 top-10 country entries for RCA Records between 1966 and 1984. Chart guru Joel Whitburn ranks him as the No. 3 hit-producing artist of the ’70s, behind Conway Twitty and Merle Haggard. During the ’60s, many R&B performers moved into the country realm; most famously, Ray Charles enjoyed a smash hit with his No. 1 album “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.” But Pride was the first Black artist of the day to be signed and marketed by the country division of a major American label. Though his first work was promoted by RCA without images that would divulge his race, Pride found his music quickly embraced by a Southern, white, working-class audience that found it could identify with the singer’s sharecropping roots and universal aspirations. His keen interpretation of deftly penned honky tonk songs kept him at the top for nearly two decades. “He was the right singer at the right time in history,” wrote country music historian Bill C. Malone of his remarkable success. “Pride definitely profited from the heightened mood of racial tolerance promoted in the United States by the civil rights movement and from the desires of the country music industry to improve its image and broaden its audience.” He was born in Sledge, Miss. One of 11 children, he labored as a boy as a cotton picker on a tenant farm. Though Pride began playing guitar in his teens, he was a gifted athlete, and he first set his sights on a career in baseball. During nearly a decade of playing interrupted by Army service, he pitched for Memphis’ Negro League team, the New York Yankees’ farm club, Birmingham’s Black Barons and the Missoula Timberjacks, the Cincinnati Reds’ Montana-based farm team. He also tried out for the California Angels and the New York Mets. As Pride labored in the minors, he still entertained thoughts of a music career. While he viewed himself principally as a country singer, and took Hank Williams as a major stylistic avatar, his first recording session, cut in 1958 at Memphis’ Sun Studio, found him working in an R&B mode. It would be another seven years before Pride was signed to a recording contract, after injuries had ended his pursuit of a life in baseball. His singing attracted the interest of country star Red Sovine, who advised him to seek work in Nashville. He was ultimately signed to RCA by Chet Atkins, head of the label’s country division and its chief producer. His manager, Jack Johnson, insisted, however, that no photographs of Pride be initially released, fearing a potential backlash because of his race. Pride broke onto the charts at the end of 1966, his first year at RCA, with “Just Between Me and You,” a slickly produced number in the “countrypolitan” vein pioneered by Atkins’ productions. The singer’s taut, wide-ranging baritone pushed the single to No. 9 nationally, beginning an astonishing run in the country top 10. Within a year, he became a member of WSM’s phenomenally popular Grand Ole Opry stage and radio show; at that time, he was its only Black performer. Having successfully knocked down what had theretofore been a generally rigid racial barrier, Pride enjoyed a soaring career on the back of other smoothly crafted country-pop tunes. He notched two No. 1 hits in 1969, three in 1970 and five in 1971; in the latter year, he released his biggest single, “Kiss an Angel Good Morning,” which held the pinnacle for five weeks. He received the Country Music Association’s coveted entertainer of the year award in 1971, and was voted best male vocalist by the CMA in 1971 and 1972. In all Pride notched 20 No. 1 hits and nine more top-10 entries during the ’70s. These included “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone” (soon heard in a well-known cover by rock’s Sir Douglas Quintet), “I Can’t Believe That You Stopped Loving Me,” “I’d Rather Love You,” “I’m Just Me” and “She’s Too Good to Be True.” He also collaborated with Henry Mancini on “All His Children,” a number for Paul Newman’s 1972 feature “Sometimes a Great Notion”; the single reached No. 2. Both sides of Pride’s 1971 gospel single, “Let Me Live” and “Did You Think to Pray,” received Grammys in 1972. He also captured a trophy in 1973 for best male country vocal performance, for the album “Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs.” In the early ’80s, Pride bridled somewhat against the countrypolitan formula and essayed some harder-hitting material, collecting No. 1 singles with covers of Hank Williams’ “Honky Tonk Blues” and “You Win Again” and George Jones’ “Why Baby Why.” However, at the same time his career reached its arguable nadir with another chart-topper, the misbegotten 1983 disco-country fusion “Night Games.” It proved to be his last No. 1 hit. In 1986, Pride parted company with RCA and became the first act signed to 16th Avenue Records, a division of Opryland run by former RCA exec Jerry Bradley. He recorded 13 mostly minor chart singles for the label; his last top-five hit, “Shouldn’t It Be Easier This Time,” was released in 1987. He moved into semi-retirement in the late ’80s, emerging sporadically for releases on independent labels like Honest and Music City. His autobiography “Pride,” co-written by Jim Henderson, was published in 1994, and he continued to tour late in life. Pride was a smart investor whose holdings included an interest in a Texas bank. He maintained a lifelong interest in baseball: A frequent attendee at Texas Rangers spring training and home games, he sang the national anthem at the 2010 World Series. He is survived by his wife, Rozene; two sons; and a daughter.

12-12-2020, 07:28 PM	#2
JO Sweet Heart Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 11, 2012 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 7,845	I love to hear him sing this song. God bless you and his family always!!! Holly P.S. 2020 can kiss my Holly hump.
	__________________ Go here to check out my most favorite singer, James Otto, when you can!

12-13-2020, 07:00 AM	#6
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,769	Did Charley Pride also have a hit with the song Kiss An Angel Good Morning? That was a great song of his and my mom would play that song all the time on her classic country albums. I also recall hearing Behind Closed Doors as well and it was the best song of Charley's career Bestie
	__________________ Hawkee and Aguilar, Hoping to be a great team

12-13-2020, 08:12 PM	#9
Tumbleweed1980 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 23, 2016 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 145	The Legendary Charley Pride... I saw about Charley's passing on NBC Nightly News last night. I hadn't heard he was in the hospital suffering from COVID-19, so it was shocking and made me feel so sad to hear that he had passed away. He will always be a huge part of my life. From as far back as I can remember, my grandma played his records a lot. In fact, I think his singing is the first voice I ever remember hearing. My mom told me I had a 45rpm of "The Snakes Crawl at Night", and that I loved that song and would play it on my record player as a young child. Also, my grandma used to play his “The Best of” 8-track tape in her 1966 Nova Chevy II while driving me around, and to this day those are some of my most favorite memories. Grandma provided such security for such an insecure little boy that I was. Other favorite songs from that tape besides "Snakes". I also love, "Just Between You & Me", "The Easy Part's Over", "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)", "Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger" and "I Know One", just to name a few. I have so much of his music in my collection, in pretty much all formats. My grandma and I got the chance to see him here in Anchorage in concert back in 1983. He put on an awesome show. Sadly, we didn't take any pictures that day, but we did get to meet him and got his autograph that I'm so appreciative of and treasure so much. I was asked to put together a tape to be played at my grandma's funeral in 2009. Of course, I included many Charley Pride songs. I feel like I have a million memories of how Charley's music has touched my life. Sylvia wrote a beautiful tribute to Charley on her FB page that I really appreciated seeing. He helped her as an up and coming artist, which of course makes me like and appreciate him all that much more. Thank you Charley for being a big part of so many wonderful memories in my lifetime. Attached Images

12-14-2020, 08:03 AM	#12
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,620	RIP Charley Pride. I first heard Charley Pride when I was ten years old while listening to his song "Kiss An Angel Good Morning" on an eight track cassette in 1972. I never knew until later that he was black. This was a very unique thing to me, as it was commonly understood that country was "white man's music", much like rock and metal were. But I found over time that not only did many blacks liked country music, but that there were a few who actually did perform it. Persons such as Darius Rucker, formerly of Hootie And the Blowfish, have had a very successful career in country music. So Charley Pride is remembered to be groundbreaking in breaking "the color barrier" in country. It is only fitting that, in country being a form of the blues, that Charley Pride was one of its pioneers and legends.
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

12-12-2020, 11:20 PM	#3
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	Sad to hear this. Rest in peace Charley Pride

12-13-2020, 02:59 AM	#4
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	Very sad. May he rest in peace. Loved Burger and Fries.

12-13-2020, 06:31 AM	#5
ponytail Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2004 Location: In Happy, Healthy, Wealthyville Posts: 4,273	I loved Charlie Pride! I was shocked and saddened to hear the news.

12-13-2020, 04:17 PM	#8
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	Very sad news, may he rest in peace.

12-13-2020, 09:32 PM	#10
JO Sweet Heart Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 11, 2012 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 7,845	According to what is said here, Charley's Covid was not picked up through his CMA award show attendance record. God bless you and his family always!!! Holly

12-13-2020, 09:38 PM	#11
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,573	Very sad ! May he rest in peace !

12-15-2020, 10:28 PM	#13
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,630	Very sad news he was one of the best from the 60s and 70s and into the 80s. I don't know about Night Games being "misbegotten", yeah it was more pop than country but I liked it, but I didn't like the music video they did for it. He had such a great voice and had a lot of good songs too, rest in peace Charley. Ed.

12-15-2020, 10:47 PM	#14
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,349	This is my favorite Charley Pride song.

12-15-2020, 11:56 PM	#15
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,976	Great, a unique personality wasted by this *nightmare* of a virus. If Charley Pride didn't contract it at the CMA's, I don't know how somebody like him would contract it in the first place. His age alone made him an easy target, but I'm still mad over this. There haven't been any recent reports of Charley Pride being in ill health or anything. It would have been better if he had died of cancer instead; at least that doesn't kill a person as quick and easy as COVID-19 does. Charley Pride.
	__________________ "When the run of a network TV show has ended, some go out with a bang, some with a whimper, but all are...Future Endeavored." "Stay Safe"? More like "Stay Sad". #2020Hurts