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Charley Pride Interview
In the 20 years he recorded
for R.C.A. he sold more cords for the company than any other artist with the
exception of Elvis Presley.
He had thirty-five Number One singles and twelve old albums in the United
States. Worldwide, he's responsible for thirty one gold and four platinum
albums, which translates to twenty five million records sold.
In The Book of Lists, the fifteen all-time best album selling artists were
listed. He was fifteenth and the only country singer on that roster.
He's won three Grammys and in May 1993 became the seventieth member of
the Grand Ole Opry.
He's the Pride of his hometown, Sledge, Mississippi.
By now, you just gotta know we're talking about none other than Mr. Charley
Pride.
In 1994, Charley wrote his autobiography. We talked with Charley Pride
recently about that book and his life.
Q. Charley, why did you feel the need to write your autobiography a few
years back?
A. I thought I had a lot to say.
Q. But, your story isnt over yet.
A. I'm gonna write another one, you see.
Q. Part Two?
A. Yeah.
Q. What was the reaction from your fans who read the book?
A. They love it. I think we sold about ten, twenty thousand at the theatre
(Charlie Pride's Theatre in Branson, Missouri). We sold to about one out
of every three people up there that comes through the line for an autograph.
Q. Did you do book signings?
A. Yeah, we did when it first came out, but the publisher kind of messed
up. They said they were gonna do all these things, and then they got ready
to sell the company and they lost a lot of promotion and public relations
people. My book suffered. One place we sold 300 books, and that's unheard
of.
Q. Do you still own a theatre in Branson?
A. That's correct.
Q. How often do you perform there?
A. From April through December.
Q. A couple of shows a day?
A. Yeah. Three and eight p.m.
Q. How long have you been in Branson?
A. Since about '93.
Q. Does that mean if people want to see you they
have to go to Branson? You no longer tour?
A. Oh, no.
Q. In your book you write, "If you have a job, a certain thing to
do, and you let it become a chore, it will become a chore. You might as
well accept the challenge and make the job as much fun as possible." It
would appear on the surface anyway, that you've accomplished as much
as a singer, songwriter, entertainer could accomplish. What keeps you going?
Do you still have fun with your chosen occupation?
A. Oh yeah, I mean there's always another plateau. It's always a challenge.
There's always something else to do. I still should be making records, you
know? But, the business is concentrating on the younger guy. So, I'm just
trying to hang in there. I don't have to worry. I built my following in
fan land. I still draw. So, I'm steady there. I'm on my way to Australia,
and well be sold-out there again.
Q. What type of places do you perform in, in Australia?
A. Playing various different venues. In Perth well be at a casino, for
about two shows. And some other places, the same thing. We also have three,
4000-seat venues. Auditorium type things. It just depends on where they
put us.
Q. So, in terms of recording, you dont have a record deal today?
A. No.
Q. Why dont you put out your own records and tapes?
A. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to wait 'em out, because
the fans are gonna demand that they want to hear us again. That's what
I believe. You just wait 'em out a little longer. I think they'll come
around, as long as I have my voice, and I still have that, I'll go ahead
and just be prepared to make some good records, when that happens.
Q. You're the second best selling artist for B.CA Right behind Elvis. Yet,
I don't think your career has been as publicized or promoted as other R.C.A.
artists like John Denver or David Bowie. How come?
A. Well, I guess they felt they didn't need to, 'cause they were making
enough money off me without doing that. That's my thought about it. I remember
when I first started off and they had a guy named Rick Palmer. He was an
Italian guy. They spent two hundred thousand dollars on a four-city tour
for that guy. Boston, Atlanta, San Francisco, and New York. Two hundred
thousand dollars in the 60's was a lot of nuggets.
Q. It's a lot of money today.
A. Yeah, that's true, but I mean back then, it was.
Q. You won't endorse political candidates, but do you make commercials?
A. Sometimes.
Q. What companies or products have you endorsed?
A. I'd have to think. (Laughs).
Q. When you were starting out and just getting some attention, much was
made about the fact that you were a Black man singing country music. According
to your book, people were shocked. As we look around today, it's still rather
unusual to find a Black person singing country isn't it?
A. Actually, I'm an Afro-American now. When I started out I was Colored.
Reporters like yourself used to say, "Now Charley, how does it feel
to be the first Negro country singer? How does it feel to be the first Colored
country singer? How does it feel to be the first Black country singer? How
does it feel now to be the first Afro-American Country singer?" Well,
I feel the same way when I was Colored. That's what I tell 'em. I don't
feel no different when I was Colored before I got to be Afro-American. So,
I just go out and try to do my thing, and be the staunch American I've been
all my life, realizing why people ask that.
Q. I ask, only because you would appear to be the only Black country singer.
I dont know anybody else. Maybe you're the only guy who likes country music.
A. Well, there's a lot of whites that didn't admit liking it until I
came along. After I came along, a whole lot of Blacks or Afros or whichever
way you want to put it; and I said this in an article in Ebony, way back
in the beginning of my career, that because of me there's gonna be a lot
of people coming out of the closet saying they like country music, that
wouldn't do it ordinarily. And, that includes White and Black. That has
happened.
Q. Have there been other Black country singers?
A. There have been a number of them. Stoney Edwards, Ruby Falls, Obie
McClinton. It's just that when you don't follow it, you're not aware of
what's out there. I really liked Stoney Edwards. He was a good singer.
He sounded a lot like Merle Haggard.
Q. So what does the future hold for Charley Pride?
A. Well, I hope to start recording in about 6 months to a year. I'm gonna
start getting some songs together, and go in and cut some fine, fine
songs. By that time, I hope the different labels decide that people of
my vintage need to be heard. I'm singing to 3 and 4 generations that come
through the line in Branson. They still want to hear Charley Pride.
© Gary James All Rights Reserved
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