Charley Pride

To the right is a poster of Charley Pride... the previous owner claimed it was from 1961. However, I have not been able to verify this information... seems rather early.

Anyway, Charley was born on a farm close to Sledge, Mississippi fifty miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. Charley worked as a sharecropper on a 40 acre cotton farm with his father, played with the Negro American League until he joined the service in 1956.

For a while, Charley even played with a Major League team, the California Angels. then a chance meeting providentially changed the course of his life. Charley was at the Helena Civic Center in Montana when he met two country music stars named Red Sovine and Red Foley. They heard Charley sing, and immediately recognized the potential of a man with his talent. They urged him to head to Nashville. Charley followed their advice. In Nashville, Charley was further encouraged by country legend Webb Pierce. Billed as "Country Charley Pride", Charley recorded his first album...(source: kingrecords)

Charley was touring until he suffered a subdural hematoma (blood clot) last May, 2004. Hopefully, he'll be able to recover fully and continue...

2005: Mr. Pride made a full recovery and was featured on the Grand Old Opry.

Feb. 2009 Charley sings praises to Arkansas hospital that removed tumor...