 Charley Pride Nashville, TN (July 20, 2009) -- Country music legend and Music City Records recording artist Charley Pride has been invited to the White House on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 to participate in a concert and educational workshop event focused on promoting music and the arts in public education. Previously announced celebrities for this event include Country music star Brad Paisley and Bluegrass luminary Alison Krauss.
Hosted by Michelle Obama and dubbed the White House Music Series, the purpose of the event is to support the arts and demonstrate the importance of arts education in America and how it encourages the ability to think creatively. High school students from several states, including about 40 students from the W.O. Smith Community Music School in Nashville, Tennessee, have been invited to the White House by the First Lady to take part in the event.
This event will be the second installment of the White House Music Series and it will highlight Country music. The series kicked off on June 15, 2009 with a program that focused on Jazz music. During each event, students have the opportunity to interact with and learn from music celebrities as well as gain insight into the craft of songwriting and America’s music traditions.
Pride, Paisley and Krauss will perform Tuesday evening in the historic East Room for the President and the First Lady, students, White House staff, and other invited guests.
Pride will attend this event during a break in his touring schedule. He returned to the United States today after performing the final date of a twelve (12) city Canadian tour this past weekend and will resume his touring activities on July 24th at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs in Onamia, MN.
This is not the first time that Pride has been honored with an invitation to sing at the White House. On December 9, 1993 he performed for President Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton and many others during the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree celebration at President's Park.
Portions of the event are expected to be streamed live on the Internet at www.whitehouse.gov/live/.
About Charley Pride:
Charley Pride possesses one of the quintessential Country music voices and remains well-loved as Country music's first and only African-American superstar. His journey to the top of the charts includes an amazing legacy of hit singles and sales in excess of 70 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling Country music artists of all-time. He has been awarded 31 gold and four 4 platinum albums, including one quadruple-platinum album.
Considering his humble beginnings on a cotton farm in Sledge, Mississippi, Pride's music career was an improbable dream that has come true. At 14 years of age, Charley Pride purchased his first guitar and taught himself how to play it by listening to Country music on the radio. He also began emerging as a talented baseball player. At 16, he played baseball in the Negro American League, pitching and playing outfield for the Memphis Red Sox. After a stint with the US Army, Charley moved to Helena, Montana where he worked construction jobs, played minor league baseball in the Pioneer League and sang in local music clubs. In 1961, he worked out with the Los Angeles Angels during spring training, but a major league baseball career was not in the cards and Charley returned to life in Helena. Shortly thereafter, an encounter with Country music singers Red Sovine and Red Foley helped lay the groundwork for Charley's rise as the first African-American superstar in Country music.
Pride initially had a hard time gaining acceptance in Nashville. But eventually, Chet Atkins signed him to RCA Records in 1966. Atkins took Pride under his wing, nurturing his talent and dancing past the race issue, which was no small task during mid 1960s America. Although Charley's first couple of singles failed to jump-start his career, his Grammy-nominated hit from 1966 Just Between You and Me caught fire, breaking into the Top-10 Country chart, and launching an amazing streak of hits that included Kiss An Angel Good Mornin', the #1 crossover hit that sold over a million singles and helped Pride land the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year award in 1971 and the Top Male Vocalist awards of 1971 and 1972. Between 1966 and 1987, Charley amassed no fewer than fifty-two (52) Top-10 Country hits, thirty-six (36) of which claimed the #1 spot on a Country singles chart.
Pride's most recent studio album is his 2006 release, Pride & Joy: A Gospel Music Collection. He continues to tour regularly throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.
Additional Facts About Charley Pride:
Pride has received three (3) Grammy Awards from the National Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences (NARAS): "Best Country Vocal Performance, Male" for Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs (album) during the 15th Annual Grammy Awards (1972), "Best Sacred Performance" for Did You Think To Pray (album) and "Best Gospel Performance (Other Than Soul Gospel)" for Let Me Live (single) during the 14th Annual Grammy Awards (1971).
In June 1994, Pride was honored by the Academy Of Country Music (ACM) with its prestigious Pioneer Award.
In July 1999, Charley received his very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On October 4, 2000, Pride was inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame.
On May 1, 1993, Pride accepted a long-standing invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry, becoming the first African-American member in the Opry's history. As a member, Pride is committed to perform several times each year at the Opry in Nashville.
On June 5, 2008, Pride was drafted by the Texas Rangers during the ceremonial Special Negro League Player Draft. Pride, a pitcher and outfielder for the Memphis Red Sox and the Birmingham Black Barons during the 1950s, pitched for a team of Negro League All-Stars in 1956 against a team of African-American Major League stars (the Willie Mays All Stars), that included Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Al Smith, Gene Baker and Ernie Banks. Pride also works out with the Texas Rangers every year during spring training and has been doing so for many, many years.
For additional information about Charley Pride, please visit his official website @ www.charleypride.com.
About Music City Records:
Music City Records is an independent record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. The label was founded in 2001 to introduce talented new Country artists to the music scene and to provide an avenue for legendary Country artists to continue recording and distributing exciting new music.
For additional information about Music City Records, please visit www.musiccityrecords.com.
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