Remembering Charley Pride And The Greats

Last week CMT aired one of their "Giants" specials saluting the life and career of Charley Pride. Which they did an exceptional job of. Listening to Charley Pride talk about his life and career and different artist talk about his friendship and the impact he had on their careers.

Listening to George Strait talk about the friendship he had with Charley Pride, I had no idea they were great friends. The same with Alan Jackson and Gladys Knight. When Darius Rucker recalled the first time he saw Charley Pride on Hee Haw and how he finally saw someone who looked like him was a on a country music show, let him he knew he could do it too.

It got me to thinking about how grateful I am to have been able to interview and see him live in concert. He was so amazing to talk to and learn how he ended up in country music. I think it is really sad that the industry was so shocked that a black man could be just as good as any white man. Did you know that in the beginning the music didn't tell anyone he was black. People where buying his records like crazy not knowing anything about him until they saw him. He was a remarkable artist for sure. Again that is why I am so glad I got to see him live before he passed away. You know we were told that as he was getting some of his shows weren't the best but the show we saw was amazing.

Another artist I am so glad I got to see before he past was Kenny Rogers. I believe it was almost 10 years ago Kenny Rogers performed at the Wagner Noel and I got to talk my mom to see him.

I wish I would have gone to see Merle Haggard and George Jones before they passed.