Audio By Carbonatix
Charley Pride was the first and, so far, only African-American country music superstar. He began recording in 1967, at the height of the civil rights movement, when race was a burning issue in America, and went on to enjoy a decade-long run of consecutive Top 10 hits. Fans and DJs seldom mentioned his race, which seemed odd at the time, but his albums routinely outsold those of his more established white peers. He was also one of the first country artists to cross over to the pop market, with a warm, mellow baritone that added a soothing, soulful quality to his music. The 40 tracks on these two CDs cover the high points of his career, with emphasis on ballads of lost love. His cheatin’ songs, such as “Snakes Crawl at Night” and “Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger,” are missing, but that’s a minor quibble.
