Deaconblue
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Country singer Charley Pride died Dec 12 after getting Covid. He was 86. He was the first black singer to really succeed in country music. He had over 50 top 10 country songs in the 60's, 70's and 80's.
His first love was baseball. He wanted to follow in Jackie Robinson's footsteps. However, he sang better than he pitched. He was working for Anaconda copper. Playing semi-pro baseball for the company and singing locally in Helena, Montana. He opened for country singer Red Sovine who encouraged to go to Nashville.
It took two years before Chet Atkins heard him and signrd him to RCA. Many record executives heard his stuff and loved it, but refused to sign an African-American as a country singer.
His early recordings were sent to radio stations with his name but without the usual publicity photos. Country station DJ's loved his music and played it. Their audiences also loved his music. Stylistically and thematically his music was mostly traditional country. His best known crossover hit was "Kiss an Angel Good Morning," released in 1971.
He was born a son of a sharecropper in Mississippi abs grew up picking cotton. His military service allowed him to leave there and end up in Montana.
Another great one taken from us by this nasty Covid disease.
Condolences to his family and friends. RIP, Charley.
His first love was baseball. He wanted to follow in Jackie Robinson's footsteps. However, he sang better than he pitched. He was working for Anaconda copper. Playing semi-pro baseball for the company and singing locally in Helena, Montana. He opened for country singer Red Sovine who encouraged to go to Nashville.
It took two years before Chet Atkins heard him and signrd him to RCA. Many record executives heard his stuff and loved it, but refused to sign an African-American as a country singer.
His early recordings were sent to radio stations with his name but without the usual publicity photos. Country station DJ's loved his music and played it. Their audiences also loved his music. Stylistically and thematically his music was mostly traditional country. His best known crossover hit was "Kiss an Angel Good Morning," released in 1971.
He was born a son of a sharecropper in Mississippi abs grew up picking cotton. His military service allowed him to leave there and end up in Montana.
Another great one taken from us by this nasty Covid disease.
Condolences to his family and friends. RIP, Charley.