I'm sure you heard this weekend country legend, Charley Pride passed away at 86.  Legend is not too strong of a word to use here.  In fact, it may not be big enough.  He simply was.  And he was one of the most gentlemanly people the entertainment industry has ever had. I proudly played his songs on many Country stations around the country for many years.

Classic Pride  - 1971  - Million Seller

Charley Pride wanted to be a baseball player.  And even though his run through various levels of professional ball was way before any of us can remember, by all accounts he was a darn good one, pitching for a number of years.  But many times in all of our lives, one dream supplants another, and when injury and time ended baseball, he chose differently.  About as different as you could then.  He became a country singer.  He was actually singing before some of his minor league games for a small price.  Interesting stuff.

One Of Pride's Best  -1981

I interviewed Charley Pride a few times over the years, and he was a truly nice man.  You would never have known he has about 30-40 number one songs on the Country Chart. He was in the same breath as Conway Twitty in chart success in the 1970's, and he was the second biggest seller for RCA behind Elvis.  Between about 1970 and the mid 1980's he charted 44 singles and all but about 7 went to the top 5.  He outsold everyone for a good while in the 1970's. And that means EVERYONE in country. BY A LOT!  The size of his popularity was incredible.  Name a name and he was outselling them.

Incredible Pride Song - 1981

He had many gifts.  First, you absolutely KNEW it was him singing (Best gift a singer can have).  He knew how to sing the song the way it was written.  He knew what the fans wanted.  He knew where the notes were and found them with great ease and power.  He NEVER over sang a song.  He knew how to put everyone in the audience at ease.  He chose songs perfect for him.  And he knew he was going down a road not really traveled before, and made everyone comfortable.  He was the right man, in the right place, at the right time for every reason there is!

Many Fans Today - Discovered Pride With This Song

After his incredible run through the 70's, Pride gently reinvented himself for the 1980's and did it perfectly as his booming baritone voice got even better. His style and song choices modified slightly, as was the Country music sound and landscape.  Many not familiar with the 1970's Pride, more than likely remember the 1980's Pride. The music was different, but still great.

A Month Ago At The CMA's With Jimmy Allen

Charley Pride would sound good singing a Google page.  He sang everywhere.  He sang the Anthem at a Superbowl, the World Series, he won ACM'S, CMA'S ,Grammy's, AMA'S, and is in the Country Music Hall Of Fame.  He also gave sage advice to a young and unknown Ronnie Milsap after seeing him perform one night in a Nashville Bar.  Told him sing ONLY Country Music. He took it, and Milsap had about 30 #1 country songs himself.

Fans were glad to see Charley Pride honored by the CMA for Lifetime Achievement a month or so ago, and it was good to see him sing with Jimmy Allen in front of many of today's stars!   It was well overdue, but with that said. We should all be so lucky to stand on our own stage at 86, sing our own song with a strong voice, and leave a multi-faceted legacy that will be remembered for generations to come. 

Charley Pride - Incredible talent, incredible career, incredible life