Written by Charley Frank pride first black country star is an American singer but not as only a singer he was proven to the world but as a guitarist and a professional baseball player. His greatest musical success arrived in the early-mid 1970s, also when he was the best selling performer for RCA records. During 1966-1987, he had 52 top 10 hits on the billboard hot country songs chart, in which 30 were the number one. He won the entertainer of the year award at the country music association awards in 1971. Charley prides was one of the three African-American members of the Grand ole opry. Later he was granted into the country music hall of fame in 2000. Prides was born on 18th May 1934 in sledge Mississippi, he had eight brothers and three sisters.
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Pride was the fourth eldest son of the family. His father intended to name him Charl Frank pride but due to an error in the birth certificate, his legal name was Charley Frank pride. Pride meets his love, Rozene in an unexpected moment, while playing Baseball in Memphis, Tennessee. They married in 1965 while pride was on Christmas leave from army basic training. Charley pride and Rozene had two sons, Kraig and Dion, and a daughter, Angela. They also had five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. They reside in Dallas. Pride had a tumour removed from his right Vocal cord in 1997 at the University of Arkansas for purpose of medical sciences.
He returned to the site in February 2009 Arkansas and surprised with an unplanned marvellous performance of five songs. Pride was joined with Governor Mike Beebe during the show. Charley prides was a huge fan and a part-owner of the texas rangers. He also performed the anthem at a number of the Rangers games. However Charley Frank pride had to leave us leaving his wonderful memories to the world Charley pride first black country star died on December 12, 2020, of complications to covid 19 during he was 86 years old.
Even though he died he had left us something, music! So what was his legendary music list? Well, let’s find out: Charley pride Songs,
“Mountain of Love”
From 1982’s ‘Everybody’s Choice’
A staple of Pride’s setlists to the present day, the Harold Dorman-penned “Mountain of Love”
which was popularized by Johnny Rivers shows off the icon’s range also. More specifically, Pride’s chart-topping version of the Someone Loves You, Honey”
‘Someone Loves You, Honey’
From 1978’s
A two-week chart-topper, “Someone Loves You Honey” is a swooning, romantic ballad that finds Pride showing off his tender vocal side. “Remember, someone loves you, honey,” he croons. “No matter what, I just want you to be my girl.”
“It’s Gonna Take a Little Bit Longer”
From 1972’s ‘A Sunshine Day With Charley Pride’
Pride recorded dozens of songs written by Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Ben Peters including “It’s Gonna Take slightly Bit Longer,” which spent three weeks at No. 1 on the country charts. Highlighted by jaunty pedal steel and twangy guitars, the wise song features a narrator who realizes he’s still hung abreast of an ex, but is being careful together with his heart and not rushing getting over things.
“(I’m So) Afraid of Losing You Again”
From 1970’s ‘Just Plain Charley’
Pride’s second No. 1 single, the vulnerable ballad “(I’m So) scared of Losing You Again,” spent three weeks at No. 1 on the country charts. With its rich harmonies, keening pedal steel and slow-trot tempo, the song embodied the “countrypolitan” sound dominating the charts within the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.
“Crystal Chandeliers”
From 1967’s ‘The Country Way’
Pride has bigger hits, although one among his most beloved songs in Belfast, Ireland, is “Crystal Chandeliers.” consistent with the Belfast Telegraph, that’s because the country icon performed within the city in 1976 when Belfast was roiled by political unrest and paved the way for other musicians to return to the town. “That was a big release on behalf of me,” Pride told the paper in 2015. “I knew in my heart “Chandeliers” would achieve success.
“All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)”
From 1969’s ‘The Best of Charley Pride’
Pride’s first single is self-deprecating and almost bashful. Before offering up a marriage ring, the song’s protagonist warns a possible spouse, “There’s something you ought to know / About the years ahead and the way they’ll be / You’ll be living during a world / Where roses rarely grow / ‘Cause all I even have to supply you is me.” “All I even have to supply You (Is Me)” was also notable because it marked the primary time a Black musician had topped the country charts since 1944 when Louis Jordan did so with “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby.”
Charley pride first black country musician left behind a legacy of a groundbreaker within country music.
Liffe O’Reilly Facebook comment
Well, I am not claiming to be the authority on the matter, but I think it has a lot to do with what people define as country. In my opinion, a lot of what people were playing long before Charlie was country music, they just had their own way of doing it, but they were as country as can be and weren’t just straight up blues. On top of that, DeFord Bailey, a black man, was the first performer in the Grand Ole Opry, and was a star in the 1920’s, putting out multiple records long before Charley Pride released his first record in 1966. If I had to pick one as the “first” I would point to DeFord Bailey, though in my heart I feel like he was just one of many. I am sure many people in those communities played great country music. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Charley Pride as a person and for his music, but I think it’s unfair to call him the first.