Country music is not a genre which is usually associated with the Black community in the United States of America. To think that there are no African American country singers who have enjoyed success would be mistaken, though. Over the years, there have been a few shining examples of Black artists making a success of this type of music; this article will take a look at three of them.
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 did not necessarily set out to be a musician, with sport, namely baseball, being his early passion in life. His career as a professional player was stalled, at least in part, by injury, though, so he began his musical career in the early 1960s, instead. His first recordings would be made at Sun Studios in Nashville, while the peak of his career, after signing for RCA, would come in the late 60s and early 1970s, when he would enjoy a massive run of hits.
This star has sold an eye-watering 70 million records, an amazing total. As well as his musical career, Pride also retains strong links with baseball, and is particularly associated with the Texas Rangers. He also sang the National Anthem of the United States, the Star Spangled Banner, at the Super Bowl of 2010, and although he would become a member of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, he was not the first African American to do so.
The first Black musician to be inducted into this genre of music's most venerable institution was DeFord Bailey, a grandson of slaves who was born into poverty in 1899. Known as a harmonica and blues harp artist, rather than a singer as such, his contribution to this genre of music is immense. A proponent of country blues, his musical career stretched from the 1920s into the 1940s, sadly, after that, he went back to shining shoes for a living.
Bailey is often regarded as being one of the genre's lost innovators, and he often faced racial prejudice during his career as a musician. He was remembered after his career was over, though, and he enjoyed several commemorations of his work during the 1960s and 70s, before his death in 1982.
A third African American who has made an impact in the world of country music is Darius Rucker, the former lead singer of 90s act Hootie and the Blowfish. While they were known as alternative rockers, Rucker is now very much a country artist, with several big hits to his name. Rucker is also known for being a personal friend of star golfer Tiger Woods.
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 did not necessarily set out to be a musician, with sport, namely baseball, being his early passion in life. His career as a professional player was stalled, at least in part, by injury, though, so he began his musical career in the early 1960s, instead. His first recordings would be made at Sun Studios in Nashville, while the peak of his career, after signing for RCA, would come in the late 60s and early 1970s, when he would enjoy a massive run of hits.
This star has sold an eye-watering 70 million records, an amazing total. As well as his musical career, Pride also retains strong links with baseball, and is particularly associated with the Texas Rangers. He also sang the National Anthem of the United States, the Star Spangled Banner, at the Super Bowl of 2010, and although he would become a member of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, he was not the first African American to do so.
The first Black musician to be inducted into this genre of music's most venerable institution was DeFord Bailey, a grandson of slaves who was born into poverty in 1899. Known as a harmonica and blues harp artist, rather than a singer as such, his contribution to this genre of music is immense. A proponent of country blues, his musical career stretched from the 1920s into the 1940s, sadly, after that, he went back to shining shoes for a living.
Bailey is often regarded as being one of the genre's lost innovators, and he often faced racial prejudice during his career as a musician. He was remembered after his career was over, though, and he enjoyed several commemorations of his work during the 1960s and 70s, before his death in 1982.
A third African American who has made an impact in the world of country music is Darius Rucker, the former lead singer of 90s act Hootie and the Blowfish. While they were known as alternative rockers, Rucker is now very much a country artist, with several big hits to his name. Rucker is also known for being a personal friend of star golfer Tiger Woods.
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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