Charley Pride Biography

Who Was Charley Pride?

Born in Mississippi in 1934, Charley Pride was one of many few Black nation musicians to have loved appreciable success within the largely white business. During his 20s, he performed baseball within the Negro American League however moved over to music in 1966 when he was signed by RCA. Pride was solely the second Black musician to carry out on the Grand Ole Opry. His hit songs embrace “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone” and “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’.”

Early Life and Baseball Career

Pride was born on March 18, 1934, in Sledge, Mississippi. He was one among 11 kids. His mother and father, who have been poor sharecroppers, had named their son “Charl Frank Pride,” however attributable to an error on his delivery certificates, his authorized identify grew to become Charley Frank Pride.

Pride taught himself to play guitar in his early teenagers, however his dream was to turn out to be an expert baseball participant. In 1952, he was chosen to play within the Negro American League, pitching for the Memphis Red Sox, Louisville Clippers, Boise Yankees and Birmingham Black Barons. While he traveled from sport to sport, Pride usually sang and performed guitar on the staff bus.

Country Music Success

On a visit to Nashville, Pride met Jack Johnson, who promised the musician a administration contract. A 12 months later, Pride returned to the town to report a demo, that includes the singles “The Snakes Crawl at Night” and “Atlantic Coastal Line.” The recording made it to RCA Records head Chet Atkins, who instantly signed him to the label. Pride formally launched “Snakes Crawl at Night” — his first single — in January 1966.