Just in: Country king dies of Covid
mainCharley Pride, the first African-American country music star, has died of COVID-19 complications at 86.
Dolly Parton tweets:
I’m so heartbroken that one of my dearest and oldest friends, Charley Pride, has passed away. It’s even worse to know that he passed away from COVID-19. What a horrible, horrible virus. Charley, we will always love you. (1/2)
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) December 12, 2020
At the time the idea of a black man having a major career singing C & W was deemed ridiculous. Although American’s today pretend that racism was a problem in the distant past when CP was active, in 1968, a television network tried to censor video of a duet with Harry Belafonte and Petula Clark because at one point she held his arm. RIP!
Charley Pride.
Dead.
I’m heartbroken.
Charley had a saying, which due to my spotty memory I can only paraphrase here: “People pay too much attention to the color of somebody’s skin. I call it the skin condition!”
In the person of Charley, having a beautiful voice went hand-in-hand with being a beautiful human being.
I hope the folks who frequent this blog who may not have had much truck with country music will look up the story of Charley Pride.
I love you, Charley, and I will think of you often during the tough days coming ahead.
Rest in peace, Mr. Pride.
DAMN that the Rona killed you. DAMN.
Those are lovely words to “a beautiful human being”
Thank you for that beautifully expressed tribute.
I’m not much of a country music fan, but I can appreciate what a pathbreaker he was in an area dominated by white, rural folks. He was featured prominently in Ken Burns’ great “Country Music” documentary.
He was first an excellent athlete and had a minor league baseball contract for a few years. A wonderful artist. RIP.
NPR replayed a 2017 interview with him this morning: https://www.npr.org/2020/12/13/945989942/country-legend-charley-pride-dies-of-covid-19-complications-at-86
I listened with sorrow, and admiration for his wisdom and tolerance.
What a voice! I remember hearing him in Nashville many years ago…great artist and showman. Time to break out his Christmas in My Hometown cd.
One of the greats. RIP.
(“Kiss an Angel Good Morning” was one of my favorite songs on the radio as a kid.)