Charley Pride

[ericadawn16]

Charley Pride doesn't get enough respect or recognition for the barriers he broke. He played for the Negro American League and was injured just as MLB was becoming integrated. in 1965, Chet Atkins signed him to RCA. Right in the thick of the Civil Rights Movement, he was singing country! He was the first African-American performer on the Grand Ole Opry.

I thought of this because I was watching Saturday Night Live which kept having jokes about how white country music is or how little African-Americans listen to it. At the same time, I hate when people think Darius Rucker was the first.

The title card says this is from the Grand Ole Opry but it also looks like the Lawrence Welk set. Either way, it's from 1967!

Comments

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Now that is when Country music was still Country music.
Charlie Pride had a great voice.

I don't consider today's Country music actual Country music. It's Country Pop at best. So no, Darius is far from the first. BLAH.........
Hugs, Jon

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

Charley Pride really had a great voice :)

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

There is hope out there like Kacey Musgraves. I still assume that traditional country music will make a comeback the way it did in the late 80s with George Strait, Randy Travis and Alan Jackson. There are several Hank Williams projects in the works, including one where he's played by Tom Hiddleston...and who can turn down Tom Hiddleston?

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

Actually, he's still alive.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Here's hoping. :)

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

Ohy that's good :)

[i-llbedammned.livejournal.com]

I like his voice, though I will confess to not knowing him before you put this up.

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

Then, I'm so glad I posted it!

Here's some more:




And he's still alive, these two are from the past ten years:


This one is his most famous song: