However it is described, he has a fabulous voice too long been overlooked by modern listeners. Since it has now been three decades since Charley received any significant airplay, most of readers will not be familiar with his distinctive baritone, sometimes described as ‘tart’ or ‘chicken-fried’. They simply loved his singing and would demonstrate this love by purchasing millions of his albums over the next 30 years, pushing four albums to gold status, a rarity for country albums with no cross-over appeal.Īs a pure vocalist Charley Pride ranks with Gene Watson and Ray Price as my favorite male singers. Disc Jockeys of the ’60s might not have known who Charley Pride was, but Atkins, Clement, Ferguson and Jarvis were known to all within the industry, so the records were destined to get at least some airplay.Įventually country audiences tumbled onto Charley’s “permanent suntan” (as he put it), but it was too late.
To get the disk jockeys to play the records, they made them as hard-core country as was possible for the time, and listed the label’s four big name producers (Chet Atkins, Jack Clement, Bob Ferguson and Felton Jarvis) as the co-producers on the singles. The situation in America was so tense in 1965 that RCA issued his first few singles without the customary picture sleeves and promotional information, hoping to get country audiences hooked before they realized his race. Racial relations have come a long way since Pride emerged as country music’s top star and its first African-American superstar. Clement eventually persuaded Chet Atkins to add Pride to RCA. Clement did everything within his power to get Pride recorded and on a label, going so far as to self-producing the singer’s early recording sessions and shopping the masters. Pride did just that after his hopes of a career in baseball were gone, and soon he came to the attention of legendary producer Jack Clement. While pitching in semi-pro baseball in Montana, Pride was “discovered” by Red Sovine, who urged him to try his luck in Nashville. For whatever reason, Pride’s taste in music leaned towards country. Originally planning on a career in Major League Baseball, Pride grew up in the cotton fields near Sledge, Mississippi, where he listened to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights. All he had going for him was a sincere love for country music, a terrific ear for great songs and, of course, one of the best male voices to ever sing country music. His forty-one #1s ranks him behind only Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty and George Strait.Ĭharley achieved his great success despite that fact that he does not write his own material and is not an especially talented instrumentalist.
“Kiss An Angel Good Morning” released in 1971, would, of course become his signature song. After the streak ended, Charley would have another six songs that were #1 on either Billboard and/or Cashbox.
Starting with 1969′s “Kaw-Liga” and ending with 1980′s “You Almost Slipped My Mind”, every Charley Pride single (except the 1972 gospel record “Let Me Live”/”Did You Think To Pray” and the 1979 “Dallas Cowboys” NFL special souvenir edition) reached #1. Albums include Charly, It Takes Believers, and Radio Heart. Genres: Country Pop, Urban Cowboy, Country. So successful was Pride that an incredible string of 35 consecutive secular songs reached #1 on the Billboard and/or Cashbox Country Charts (virtually all of these songs also reached #1 on Record World’s charts). Charly McClain discography and songs: Music profile for Charly McClain, born 26 March 1956. Note: When you embed the widget in your site, it will match your site's styles (CSS).Our July Spotlight shines on one of the true giants of the genre, a Country Music Hall of Famer whom Cashbox rated as the top country artist of the quarter century 1958-1982 despite the fact that his recording career did not begin until 1965.Ĭharley Pride was the first commercially successful African-American country music star.
Get the embed code Charly Mcclain - Pure Country Album 's What You Do to Me3.When a Love Ain't Right4.Who's Cheating WhoCharly Mcclain Lyrics provided by Though it's wrong all along, it keeps goin' on Ronnie McDowell Youre Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation Greatest Hits Curb. Love is stolen in the shadows of the night Charly McClain Whos Cheatin Who Pure Country Sony. You see, it felt so right when he held me tightĪ heart is on the line each and every time I thought I knew him well, I really couldn't tell It makes you wonder who's doin' right by someone tonight Everywhere you look, you can write a bookīut you cannot impose, you can't stick your noseĪnd who's bein' true? Who don't even care anymore?