Country Legend Charley Pride Dies at 86 Due to COVID Complications

The entertainment and music industry mourned the death of country legend Charley Pride at the age of 86. 

Known as the first pioneer for Black musicians in country music, Charley Pride died on Saturday in Dallas, Texas at the age of 86 due to COVID-19 complications.

His fellow celebrities paid tribute to the late singer. His contributions to the music and entertainment industry will always be remembered. 

Read also: Why Wearing a Mask Is Still Important After Getting a Vaccine? 

Remembering Charley Pride

The official website of Charley Pride confirmed on Saturday the death of the Country Legend at the age of 86 due to COVID-19 complications.

Pride became the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000 and was known for his top hits including "Kiss an Angel Good Morning" and "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone."

Pride was born in Mississippi in 1934 as the son of a sharecropper. He also served in the Army for a short period and has attempted to become a professional baseball player before he headed to Nashville in 1963 where his talent in music was first discovered.

According to People, Charley Pride immediately recorded songs until his manager Jack Johnson met the late producer Jack Clement who helped him built his career.

Clement offered songs to Pride in 1965 and RCA Record's Chet Atkins signed him to a recording contract.

After Clement's "Just Between You and Me" broke into the country's top ten, Charley Pride decided to quit his day job as a smelter in 1967 to focus on his career. 

Pride's contribution to the music industry 

Charley Pride's decision to quit his day job as a smelter paid him a better career.

He earned three Grammy Awards during his career, took home the entertainer of the year award at the 1971 Country Music Awards, and won male vocalist of the year both that year and in 1972.

Additionally, he became the first Black man to host the Country Music Association Awards in 1975.

Pride wrote in his 1994 memoir, "We're not color blind yet, but we've advanced a few paces along the path and I like to think I've contributed something to that process."

Charley Pride's Last Performance 

Charley Pride's last performance was just last month at the CMA. At that time, he was also given the Lifetime Achievement Award.

He hit the stage to perform his hit "Kiss an Angel Good Morning" and was joined by Jimmie Allen for a touching duet. 

Pride said when he accepted the award, "Well, you might not believe but I'm nervous as can be. All the people have been influenced by my life, what my life has been influenced by, I got to say something about some of them."

He also mentioned Clement as the one who helped him achieved different milestones in his career. 

Country star Darius Rucker, who is Black and hosted this year's CMA, said that he was honored to be in attendance and witness Charley Pride received his award.

Rucker also shared, "I remember having a Charley Pride record in my mom's collection that I don't think my mom ever put on, but she bought that record because he was a Black man singing country music."

Following the report of Charley Pride's death, his fellow country stars started to pay tribute and expressed their grief and condolences to his family.  

Read Also: Country Singer John Rich Bets Journalist 10K Supreme Court Will Overturn Election