CHARLEY PRIDE IN CONCERT:
As one of the most successful African-American country artists of all time, Charley Pride stands as a pioneer of the genre and an enduring icon of traditional country music. With more than half a century of recordings and performances under his belt, Pride is a seasoned veteran on the road, traversing his decade-spanning discography with a care and tenderness that underscores his passion for the stage. From the familiar twang of "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone" to the lap steel-drenched lilt of "Just Between You and Me," Pride covered all his greatest hits at his 2013 shows, drumming up enthusiasm for more of the same on his 2014 tour dates.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
Born to poor Mississippi sharecroppers, Charley Pride had aspirations of being a major league baseball pitcher before an injury led him to invest in his other passion: music. After recording several demos in Memphis in the late '50s, pride signed with RCA, releasing his first single in 1966 with "The Snakes Crawl at Night." Pride's third single "Just Between You and Me" really broke things wide open, landing at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning him a Grammy nomination. In 1967, he became the second black performer to ever take the stage at the famed Grand Ole Opry, paving the way for an astonishing chart run that saw him score eight No. 1 records between 1969-1971. Pride has continued to record and tour over the decades, racking up an impressive array of country hits and proving himself an indefatigable performer with his continued showmanship on tour.
FANS WHO BOUGHT TICKETS SAY:
"Great show and he sounded as good as back in the '70s. He went through his entire portfolio and some songs I hadn't heard before."
"Close your eyes and you'd never imagine it's a 74 year old man up on the stage belting out one classic country hit after another for a solid 90 minute set. Charley Pride sounds every bit as good today as he did 30 years ago."
"It was all I expected & then some. Charlie played to the crowd & didn't limit himself to the main stage, instead moving to the side stages to interact with the entire crowd, making them feel more a part of the show."
