2006 Hall of Fame Inductee
Charley Pride

2006 Hall of Fame Inductee

Charley Pride

Born to poor sharecroppers, one of eleven children in Sledge, Mississippi, Charley Pride is a timeless man, revered by his musical peers and adored by countless millions of fans around the globe. His golden baritone voice has transcended race and spanned the generations.

Charley Pride unofficially started his music career in the late 1950s as a ballplayer with the Negro American League’s Memphis Red Sox singing and playing guitar on the team bus between ballparks. Self-taught on a guitar bought at the age 14 from Sears Roebuck, Pride would join various bands' onstage as he and the team roved the country.

After a tryout with the New York Mets, Pride decided to return to his Montana home via Nashville. It was there he met Jack Johnson, who upon hearing the singer perform, sent him on his way with the promise of a management contract and a newly forged relationship that would last for over a decade.

Between 1969, when he first hit #1 on the singles chart with "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" and 1984, when he commanded the top spot again with "Every Heart Should Have One," Pride scored more than 36 number one country singles.

Over the past thirty years, Charley Pride has remained one of the Top 20 best-selling country artists of all-time. His incredible legacy includes 36 #1 hit singles, over 70 million albums sold, 31 gold and four platinum albums - including one quadruple platinum. On RCA Records, Pride is second in sales only to Elvis Presley.

Through it all, we are reminded that "The Pride of Country Music" remains one of the great legends in popular music - and that he is still going strong. On May 1, 1993, Charley Pride accepted a long-standing invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry, 26 years after he first played there as a guest, the first African-American in its over 70 year history. In June 1994, Charley Pride was honored by the Academy of Country Music with its prestigious Pioneer Award. In January 1996, Pride was honored with a Trumpet Award by Turner Broadcasting, marking outstanding African-American Achievement. In between, his "Roll on Mississippi" was considered as the official song of his home state, a stretch of Mississippi highway was named for him. In July 1999, Pride received his very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On October 4, 2000, Pride was honored with the highest country music award and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Charley Pride met the love of his life, Rozene, while playing baseball in Memphis. They have raised two sons, Kraig and Dion, as well as a daughter, Angela. They also enjoy their grandsons, Carlton and Malachi in Dallas, Texas, where their family resides.

Back to the Hall of Fame