Country music legend Charley Pride has passed away of complications of COVID-19. He was 86.
Born in Mississippi, Pride originally aspired to be a baseball player and would pitch in the Negro Leagues primarily with the Memphis Red Sox as well as stints in the minor leagues with both the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds.
But Pride would be a pioneer in music instead of baseball. Guitar legend Chet Atkins heard a demo of Pride singing and signed him to RCA Records in 1965. Within a few years, Pride had become country's music first African-American superstar and he would have a string of hits from the late 1960's through the mid 1980's including "All I Have To Offer You (Is Me)", "I'm So Afraid Of Losing You Again" and "Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'". Pride would eventually become only the second African-American inducted into the Grand Ole Opry after founding member DeFord Bailey. Darius Rucker has also since earned this rare distinction. The fortune Pride made in country music allowed him to renew his love of baseball by becoming a minority owner of the Texas Rangers in 2010.
Pride's final public appearance was last month when he accepted the CMA's Lifetime Achievement Award. The event drew controversy as it was held indoors with little evidence of masks or social distancing. In light of Pride's presence at the event and his death, country music star Maren Morris expressed outrage stating, "I don’t want to jump to conclusions because no family statement has been made, but if this was a result of the CMAs being indoors, we should all be outraged. Rest in power, Charley."
All things considered, the recognition was overdue but he at least got it. But a Lifetime Achievement Award isn't worth losing one's life a month later. Despite his advanced age, Pride still had more to give. But we have paid dearly with COVID-19. Nearly 300,000 Americans have died of this virus, but Pride's passing hurts more than most.
All I can do now is leave you with Pride performing "Able Bodied Man" on The Johnny Cash Show. R.I.P.
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