After more than 50 years as a recording artist, Mississippi native Charley Pride can add another feather to the cap of his Hall of Fame career as he will be the recipient of the inaugural Grammy Museum Mississippi’s Crossroads of American Music Award.
The award honors an artist who has made significant musical contributions “influenced by the creativity born in the cradle of American music.” Charley will appear at the Grammy Museum Mississippi’s 2019 Gala to accept the award on Nov. 1.
“I’m honored to be the first recipient of this award from the Grammy Museum Mississippi,” said Charley. “And thankful to the many great American music artists before me that helped to pave the way for my success. I applaud the Museum for celebrating those artists and championing the importance of American music.”
Charley, a three-time Grammy winner, is considered country music’s first African-American superstar. He signed to RCA Victor in 1967 and earned a string of No. 1 hits, including “All I Have to Offer You (Is Me),” “(I’m So) Afraid of Losing You Again,” “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’,” “Amazing Love” and many more.
Charley won the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year award in 1971 and Top Male Vocalist in 1971 and 1972. Charley became the Grand Ole Opry’s first African-American member in 1993. He received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 for outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording.
Congrats, Charley.
photo by NCD
