Charley Pride

Charley Pride was among the most successful country musicians of all time. Scoring 29 number-one country hits between the ’60s and ’80s, he bridged the color divide and proved that country music is open to everyone.

Pride was born on a 40-acre sharecropper farm in Sledge. Every week, his father tuned in to the country radio program the Grand Ole Opry. It became the soundtrack to Pride’s childhood.

He loved country music, but as a talented athlete, he saw a future in baseball – one with clear role models, like Jackie Robinson. Pride practiced hard and made it to the Negro American League and Major League Baseball’s minor leagues.

Pride started singing on the side – anywhere with a microphone. Audiences fell in love with him, and two local country musicians encouraged him to chase a new dream. They sent him packing to Nashville.

One demo tape changed his life forever. In Nashville, famed guitarist and RCA executive Chet Atkins heard a demo of Pride singing. He convinced other RCA bigwigs to sign Pride to the label. And Pride’s career blasted off.

Pride’s songs started dominating the charts. He hooked fans with his deep, rich vocals and mesmerizing personality. By 1971, he was voted the Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year.

Pride became a top-selling RCA artist, second only to Elvis. He sold more than 70 million records in a career spanning six decades.

Pride’s connection with audiences was legendary. Fans went wild for his wit and warmth in concert … and, of course, that iconic voice – unchanged for 60 years.