Charley Pride Passes Away At 86
Country Music Hall of Famer Charley Pride passed away on Saturday, December 12 in Dallas at the age of 86 from complications of COVID-19.
Born March 18, 1934, in Sleged, MS, Pride taught himself to play guitar at the age of 14.
He baseball ambitions and became a pitcher for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League before signing a contract with the Boise Yankees – the Class C farm team for the New York Yankees – one year later. He pitched for several minor league teams before being drafted into the Army in 1956, the same year he wed Rozene Cohran, who went on to oversee the business end of his music career.
Following his 1958 discharge, Pride returned to baseball but visited Sun Studios to record songs at the encouragement of country artists Red Sovine and Red Foley, who introduced him to producer “Cowboy” Jack Clement.
Pride’s big break came when Chet Atkins heard a demo and signed Pride to a contract in 1965 and released his first single, “The Snakes Crawl At Night,” on RCA Victor in 1966.
Between 1969 and 1971, Pride took eight singles to No. 1, including his signature hit, “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin.'” The million-selling crossover hit earned him the CMA Award for Top Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year in 1971; he took home CMA’s Top Male Vocalist in 1972, as well.
In 1975, Pride became the first Black man to co-host the CMA Awards when he shared duties with Glen Campbell. Pride also earned three American Music Awards and three Grammy Awards during the course of his career.
In 1993, Pride became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and the following year, the Academy of Country Music presented Pride with the Pioneer Award.
He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000, and the CMA bestowed its Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award on Pride last month during the 54th Annual CMA Awards.
He is survived by his wife Rozene, three children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. No word on services.
