While many people may feel that country music is not a genre which is particularly enjoyed by the Black community in the United States, there have been some notable musicians have attained fame in this genre. African American country singers may not be very common, but there are some who have made an impact. This article will examine the careers of three Black musicians who have sold plenty of records making country music.
The name of Charley Pride continues to resonate through country music to this day, with the singer's peak period in the 1970s seeing him become RCA's best selling artist since the great Elvis Presley. Pride, a former professional baseball player, was only the second African American artist to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. He is still highly regarded by music fans across the world, too.
Pride was originally marked out for a career as a professional baseball player, but an injury contributed to him drifting out of the game at a young age. Sport's loss would be music's gain, however, and Pride, after a few years as a professional musician, would be signed up by RCA records. His first recordings were made at Sun Studios, and his real success, in chart terms, would be reached in the late 1960s and on into the 1970s.
Pride has now sold around 70 million records, and he continues to make public appearances, maintaining his strong connection with baseball, in particular the Texas Rangers team. Other sporting occasions he has graced include the Super Bowl of 2010, when he sang the Star Spangled Banner. Pride was not the first African American to be invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, however.
Many fans of this genre of music do perhaps know the name DeFord Bailey, but he was the first Black man to make into the Grand Ole Opry. Bailey was born in Tennessee in 1899, into a poor family, and was the grandson of slaves. Known primarily as a musician who specialized in the harmonic or blues harp, his career would last from the 1920s until 1941, when he swapped careers, and ran a shoe shine business.
Regarded as something of a 'lost legend' of the genre, Bailey had to battle against racial prejudice to get his music heard. Although not necessarily that well known these days, his contribution to the genre cannot be overstated. Thankfully, before his death in 1982, he had been remembered and his career celebrated and commemorated.
Darius Rucker has enjoyed a string of number one hits during his solo career, which followed on from his time as the vocalist in alternative rock outfit Hootie and the Blowfish. He moved away from the folk influenced style of Hootie, to an outright country sound recently, and has enjoyed huge success as a result.
African American country singers have therefore contributed to the development of the genre in significant ways. While not that well-known generally, the there artists here have all enjoyed considerable success at times in their careers. Their music will continue to resonate through the ages.
The name of Charley Pride continues to resonate through country music to this day, with the singer's peak period in the 1970s seeing him become RCA's best selling artist since the great Elvis Presley. Pride, a former professional baseball player, was only the second African American artist to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. He is still highly regarded by music fans across the world, too.
Pride was originally marked out for a career as a professional baseball player, but an injury contributed to him drifting out of the game at a young age. Sport's loss would be music's gain, however, and Pride, after a few years as a professional musician, would be signed up by RCA records. His first recordings were made at Sun Studios, and his real success, in chart terms, would be reached in the late 1960s and on into the 1970s.
Pride has now sold around 70 million records, and he continues to make public appearances, maintaining his strong connection with baseball, in particular the Texas Rangers team. Other sporting occasions he has graced include the Super Bowl of 2010, when he sang the Star Spangled Banner. Pride was not the first African American to be invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, however.
Many fans of this genre of music do perhaps know the name DeFord Bailey, but he was the first Black man to make into the Grand Ole Opry. Bailey was born in Tennessee in 1899, into a poor family, and was the grandson of slaves. Known primarily as a musician who specialized in the harmonic or blues harp, his career would last from the 1920s until 1941, when he swapped careers, and ran a shoe shine business.
Regarded as something of a 'lost legend' of the genre, Bailey had to battle against racial prejudice to get his music heard. Although not necessarily that well known these days, his contribution to the genre cannot be overstated. Thankfully, before his death in 1982, he had been remembered and his career celebrated and commemorated.
Darius Rucker has enjoyed a string of number one hits during his solo career, which followed on from his time as the vocalist in alternative rock outfit Hootie and the Blowfish. He moved away from the folk influenced style of Hootie, to an outright country sound recently, and has enjoyed huge success as a result.
African American country singers have therefore contributed to the development of the genre in significant ways. While not that well-known generally, the there artists here have all enjoyed considerable success at times in their careers. Their music will continue to resonate through the ages.
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