Charley Pride, the first Black man to make headway in the country music scene has passed away from the coronavirus.
The legendary singer died on Saturday in Dallas due to complications from COVID-19, this according to his PR team, which announced Charley’s death.
Charley was a pacesetter in country music, as he was the very first Black artiste to be inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame, and quite literally paved the way for other African-Americans in the genre through the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and beyond.
He broke onto the scene in the late ’50s and early ’60s with a string of country singles, but no major hits. It wasn’t until he released “Just Between You and Me” in 1967 that he truly broke through and received recognition, as it started climbing the ladder of recognition.
Charley was nominated for a Song of the Year at the Grammys, and which had a remarkable turnaround for him as he put out several chart-topping songs between the late ’60s and mid-’70s. Some of which reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and charted on the Billboard Hot 100 list too.
Some of those hits included ‘All I Have to Offer You (Is Me),’ ‘I Can’t Believe That You’ve Stopped Loving Me,’ ‘(I’m So) Afraid of Losing You Again,’ ‘Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone,’ ‘I’d Rather Love You,’ ‘I’m Just Me,’ ‘Wonder Could I Live There Anymore,’ and then perhaps his biggest hit ever … ‘Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’ … which became his pride and joy.
As his career rolled on, Charley racked up three Grammy wins and was honored with a Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. He was inducted in the CMHOF in 2000, and is considered one of the most influential artistes of any genre for his contributions to music.
Meanwhile, Dolly Parton shared some kind words of remembrance for Charley shortly after news came down he’d died, writing … “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.”
