Most of my childhood and youth was in the hills of western South Carolina. When I graduated high school in 1970, Charlie Pride was already famous in the country charts and a well respected star. But more than that, everything I heard about him was about what a genuine guy he was. His stage persona was really truly him, no fakery. A couple of other real country stars: Don Williams was a singer songwriter who came to fame in the 1970s. Charlie Pride was one of many who covered some of his songs, and Don's humble but observant songs fit with Charlie very well. Don racked up a string of awards and hits that lasted well. He dropped 46 singles and 42 of those made the top 10 in country, and 17 hit #1. He kept retiring but there was such demand he would come back in his same old naturally frayed rancher jeans and hat and sing his latest batch of songs. His last tour was in 2014. Don was my mother's favorite singer ever. "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend" was a well known tune he took to #1, though actually written by others. Sara Evans, from Missouri, began singing in clubs at an early age. She is probably the most genuine old-school (mostly) country singer of the 2000s, IMHO. She is the first person I heard use the phrase, "Three Chords and the Truth." For a sample, check out "No Place That Far" which she co-wrote.
Charley Pride was a groundbreaker. Not only was he one the most popular black men in country, he was one of the biggest stars regardless of race. So many fantastic albums and huge hits.
He was asked in an interview how he feels when criticized for being a black man singing country music, Charley replied "Every day, I cry all the way to the bank!" Charley knew that the vast majority of people loved him and enjoyed is singing.
@@medmar76 country is part of black heritage in the South though not many black singers. Especially, the way he sang. It's like someone talking and singing. A big part of country roots comes from Irish, Scottish and also African American musicians. African Americans contributed heavily. Banjo has those roots.
I'm thrilled you're listening to Charley Pride, a great singer with a great voice and great music. When he was transitioning from minor league baseball to music, the time came for him to finally appear in person at a concert. In 1966, very few of the 10,000 country fans who came to his first large show at Detroit's Olympia Stadium knew Pride was Black. They only realized it when he came onstage; after the crowd went silent, Charley Pride said, "Friends, I realize it's a little unique, me coming out here - with a permanent suntan - to sing country and western to you. But that's the way it is.'" RIP Charley Pride, who rightfully became an icon in a white-dominated genre.
@@BenDover-tb8cr thats right hell when i was young i saw him live at the ky state fair let me tell you he sold out there and the radio stations played him alot to
When Charley first started recording, the producers sent his singles out to the radio stations without his picture. They built an interest in him before he went on tour, because of his color!!! His voice was so pure, most people didn't whether he was he was black or not!!! A true pioneer in country music!
My brother and his wife went to the grand ole opera on their wedding anniversary once and my mom called there and asked for Charlie Pride. He actually answered the phone and my mom asked him to sing this song for them. He did sing it and even congratulated them and they went and met him backstage. He was truly a great man and wonderful artist. ❤
Charlie pride has so many great songs, Is Anybody Going to San Antone, Crystal Chandeliers, Snakes Crawl at Night, Mississippi Cotton Picken Delta Town, Burgers and Fries, Kawliga are just a few.
Any Charlie Pride song, period. I think he's considered country music nobility. Him and Ray Charles, a staple of old country, along side Hank Williams Sr., Hank Snow, Charlie Rich, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and so many more real country artists, not like what they call country music today.
@@Johnrob1943 this was the music I was raised on I did not start listening to rock music until I was a sophomore in high school. To your list I want to include, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Ray Price, Eddie Arnold, Hank Thompson, Hank Locklin, Janie Frike, Brenda Lee, Jimmy Dean, Bill Anderson, Mel Tillis, and Kitty Wells to also name a few.
@@josephhumann8818 you forgot the bad boy, Johnny Paycheck. 🤣🤣🤣 I used to listen with my dad when he wasn't working or sleeping, or listening to Elvis Presley or the Beatles. I preferred the country/western back then, and like you, didn't start listening to Rock until I was a teenager. Also, my dad bought an album from a bar band called Denny Hale and the Haleraisers. Later on, the Oak Ridge Boys took one of their songs and they put it on the charts. Elvira, I actually heard that song 10 years before the Oak Ridge boys and still think Denny sang it better. I'm glad some of us old folks are still around who actually appreciate good music, not 99% of this garbage they are trying to pass off as music. 🤣🤣😂
I'm proud to say that Charley Pride was a fellow Mississippian. He was from Sledge, MS. And the guy who introduced him is Marty Stuart from Philadelphia, MS. Hey, Mississippi is known as the Birthplace of American Music. Charley was a pioneer, an icon, and a truly fine man.
I am going to see Marty Stuart for the first time in Seattle this September. Speaking of which I think Stuart's "Hillbilly Rock" would be a good reaction song.
From another fellow Mississippian, Charley Pride was a true gentleman and master of his craft... And Marty has seemingly been with us for so long, and started so young. Steens, Mississippi here.
Mister Pride was born and raised in Sledge, MS. which is about 15 miles west of where I live. He will always be a country hall of fame music treasure! ♥
Charley Pride blazed the trail. Grew up hearing him. He was a Great Singer, who as Charley himself said " happened to have a permanent tan." The only artist to outsell him was Elvis.
God Bless Marty Stuart for his lifelong dedication to preserving traditional country music. His show The Marty Stuart Show was a dedication to traditional country music artists , many of the guests on his show were legendary artists that no had their music played on country radio. Stuart was so accomplished on mandolin & guitar that he joined Lester Flatt's band at age fourteen in 1972. Loved his recording of " Hillbilly Rock" from 1990.
Charley Pride was always smooth! Great voice, good looking man, great music! Love him always! Loved this song but my favorite song of his is “You’re So Good When You’re Bad” and “Roll On Mississippi.”❤ Please take a listen to those as well! He has lots of great songs. ❤
We lost the great Charley Pride just last year. He battled everything in his career including racism within the country music community and a narrow-minded America until he won it over, again and again, from sea to shining sea everywhere he went. But ultimately, his talent and gentle demeanor converted those against him and earned a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry. He was a class act. And an example to be followed. R.I.P.
I'm a 62yr old Aboriginal woman from New South Wales Australia, my mum and nan brought us up listening to a lot of country music and the great Charlie Pride (R.I.P) was at the top of list of country music, every Saturday was when some of my mum and nan's close friends would gather together and have a few beers and laughs amongst themselves, so they ended up with the nick name The Golden Girls, they were the good old days, my beautiful memories ❤️
Charley Pride! He was a superstar, a country legend!!! One of the biggest country stars of all time!!! He was a really nice guy, humble & very intelligent, you need to watch a documentary on him, you'll be amazed. I still remember watching him in concert as a 4 or 5 year old kid when he stopped over in Fiji on his way to/from Australia back in the 1970s; planes were not able to fly all the way from the US to Aust back then and would stop in Fiji to refuel and also to give the passengers a break. I don't think that the audience came anywhere close to a thousand (maybe not even half that) but that didn't stop him from entertaining us. Thank you Charlie Pride. RIP.
@toronto daddy He had COVID before he went to the hospital. They think he got from an award show that honored him. It contributed to his death. He might still be here if he hadn't contracted it.
@toronto daddy According to the NY Times, NPR, just to name 2 Reliable Sources, and His Family, Charlie Pride died due to Complications of COVID-19, Dec 12,2020
When I was a teen working for my best friends dad building swimming pools, we built one for Charlie Pride in Weatherford, Texas. Got to meet him and talk to him. Very friendly man for being so famous plus at that time had just won his Country Music Award.
He was an amazing man/performer . Back in the 80's he bought his hometown in Mississippi to get them out of debt . He passed away in the last year or so ... I just love watching y'all's reaction
Next Charley Pride: "Never Been So Loved (In All My Life)". BTW, the man who introduced Charley in this video, Marty Stuart, is also an amazing artist you should touch on. He was briefly married to Johnny Cash's daughter, Cindy, and remained close with Johnny after the divorce.
Charley Pride was amazing. 52 top 10 songs, including 30 #1's. As for baseball, Charley pitched in the Negro Leagues back in the 50's and then signed with the Yankees organization and played in their minor leagues before getting injured. His love for baseball continued throughout his career. He was a Dallas resident and part owner of the Texas Rangers since 2010. Charley almost always went to Spring training with the Rangers and worked out with the team. And by all accounts was one of the nicest people you would ever meet.
I've always loved listening to Mr. Pride. A couple of other songs, "Kaw-Liga", and "Mountain of Love". This was later in his career, and as good as his voice was in this, it was even better when he was younger, go back and listen to the studio or album version of this song.
Also have to recommend "You're So Good When You're Bad" because it's that smooth 1970s/1980s country that is just made for dancing with your special someone before you tumble into bed.
I grew up listening to Charlie Pride. His voice, his presence onstage was remarkable. He faced so much discrimination in the CW community. When he first appeared on The Grand Ole Opry, there was and audible gasp from the audience. When he was presented with his CMA by Loretta Lynn, she was told not to hug him. She not only hugged him, she kissed him. He was supported by most of the major stars, i.e. Willy Nelson, Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn. He was truly a groundbreaking artist.
Yes he was, the record label didn't even release his photo ( on the first 3 records I believe could be wrong) because they believed that nobody would buy his records if they knew he was a black man but he had what has been called the perfect country voice
I come here to ESCAPE the biased media lies about "Ray Cism" & everything else! I'm sorry, but I don't remember ANYbody who didn't LOVE Charlie Pride or who discriminated against him from the get go! He was a beautiful man inside & out! That's why he had 30 #1 hits & many more in the top 10. You don't get that with "discrimination"! He will be missed but I'm glad we had the pleasure of his talent for over 50 years! My older son has been in the music business since he was 16 & has been in Nashville for over 20 years so I've gotten to meet a LOT of artists & met Charlie's beautiful son, Dion, at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville & he was a sweetheart too!
@@usmadgirl3074 I understand about wanting to avoid politics and such. But the truth is Charlie Pride did face discrimination. There were some fantastic people who stood up to support him, thank goodness! Once we normal listeners heard that voice, there was no selling needed. At least my family loved him.
You nailed it. This is one of the SWEETEST men who ever lived. He grew up under horrible segregation and Jim Crow. He had to walk to school in the fields because if he walked next to a road he got pelted from passing cars. He managed to make it in country music when he was the ONLY black man in that genre. He never got bitter. He is a gem of a singer and as a human and I just love him to death.
My Dad was a big Charlie Pride fan when I was a kid. Actually, my whole Okie family liked him! They used to have a lot of Country Music programs on the weekends back in the 1970s and he was on all of them. Country singers back then were very humble and really loved their fans.
Charley Pride was a pitcher for the Memphis Red Sox briefly in 1953 and then the Birmingham Black Barons in 1954. He was primarily known for his curveball.
Mr. Pride was one of the nicest people I have ever met. He was part owner of the Texas Rangers for a time and would attend many games. I sat right behind him at a game and for no reason at all, he bought the whole section hot dogs! A great in country music. RIP sir.
I had the absolute honor of seeing him in concert about 30 years ago and getting to meet him afterwards because I had friends opening for him. All I can say is you're completely right about him being such a kind and sweet man. He talked to us for so long and I was so worried that he'd be annoyed or upset with us taking so much of his free time but one of his band members said no, he's like this all the time and will talk to you for hours and he pretty much did!! It was so awesome! I grew up listening to him, his older songs from the 60's are some of his best ones. He was, is and always be one of the true legends of country music!
Charlie Pride is a legend! Also, Darius Rucker, was first with a band of the 90s called Hootie and the Blowfish...check out their songs Only Want to Be with You, or Let Her Cry.
In the 60’s when he was first invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry the audience gasped when he came on stage as no one had seen him before and just assumed he was white.
My Daddy loved him so much. When my Dad got dementia and at some point, he had to go to a memory care center, he only wanted to listen to Charlie Pride all the time. No other music or artist would do. I love Charlie too. REST IN PEACE, MR PRIDE. You were my Dad's Music Angel!
All right. You just witnessed greatness. Mr. Pride was a true voice. I'm a metal guy but grew up on country with my dad. I've strayed from my morals from time to time...but I watch you guys and I smile. Which is a good thing.
I loved Charley Pride (R.I.P. sir). My dad used to sing this song in the morning when I was little (I just turned 55, so this was a current Country hit at the time). I know he lived these lyrics, too, because my parents were only a month and a half away from there 58th wedding anniversary when he passed last year at 93. Every woman should be so fortunate to have a husband who considers her his angel (and "loving her like the devil" is pretty great, too! 😉). I adore you two and hope you always have the relationship that Charley Pride sings about in this song.
He was one of my favorite personalities back in the 70’s. I didn’t want to walk away front the video and only listen to the song, because I wanted to see their reaction. Charlie Pride was, sadly, a victim to the pandemic.
As a young Australian kid in the 70's I remember my parents playing this album over and over again. I grew up listening to the greats, Charley was one of my favourites. It now gives me great pride to teach my kids about the great musicians of the past. It was terribly sad to hear of Charley's passing this year. On a side note you need to check out Hearts Desire and Running For You by Kip Moore.
With the intro of hip hop and rap to the community - they've made us forget how diverse we used to be musically. They've boxed us up so neatly, we can't see the past. American music is a multi-colored tapestry of artists.
I loved Charley, I had the honor and privilege of meeting him about a dozen times. He was always so nice and down to earth. We lost a great person when we lost Charley
One of my late uncles played pedal steel for Mr. Pride for a short time in the 60's. When he was playing small clubs around Montana and North Dakota before being "discovered". Nothing but good was ever said about those times and how happy he was that Charlie made it, it was well deserved.
Charlie Pride is an institute of country music!!! He was, he just died recently, a HUGE influence in country music. He helped Neal McCoy and a bunch of others get into music. You can't get bigger than him. He is from Dallas and was super SWEET. Neal McCoy did an entire album as a tribute to him. You MUST hear "Kaw liga" "Mountain of Love" and Is "anybody going to San Antone"
My mother's absolute favourite. She would dance around the kitchen singing Charlie Pride - and was so excited when she was able to see him in concert. I've been binge watching your videos and all your old country songs remind me of my Mama. She's gone now, but it is so wonderful to be at a place where I can hear the songs she loved and not burst into tears. Thank you!
I grew up in the 70's hearing Charlie Pride. My mom & I saw him a couple of times in concert in the 70's. We would sing along with his songs in the car...good times!
