Why Charley Pride has fond memories of Winston Churchill

MORE than 40 years after breaking onto the music scene, Charley Pride is still that rarest of things a country star who happens to be black.

Now 77, and about to embark on another tour of the UK, Charley has long grown used to standing out from the Nashville crowd and discussing the issue with journalists.

One thing he hasn’t mentioned, however, is his earliest radio memories not of bluegrass and country, but of Churchill speeches during the Second World War!

“I look forward very much to coming to Britain,” Charley enthuses.

“It’s great, how music from rural America appeals to people in British cities.

“But when you think about it, Britain and America have sided together for many years.

“In fact, I am old enough to remember all those speeches Winston Churchill made. I was just a little-bitty boy but I remember them.

“So for these reasons, the USA and the UK are tied together.

“Tom Jones is a good friend of mine, and we have been buddies for years. You wouldn’t call him a country singer, but he has done country songs, so it does appeal to everyone in both countries.

“In the USA, even the TV talent shows now have a lot of country singers, whereas not so long ago, it was other kinds of music but not so much country.”

So it may be growing, and it is definitely enjoyed as much in the United Kingdom as Stateside but how come Charley still hasn’t been joined by a whole host of other black country stars?

After all, when this type of music first came out of radio sets on farms across the Deep South, as many black people as white tuned in and tapped their toes.

“A guy called Bill Munro was my dad’s favourite, and that was how we got into listening to country music,” Charley points out.

“Dad didn’t allow anyone to mess with the dials on that radio set!

“So from childhood on, from Bill Munro to Hank Williams to Roy Acuff, Merle Haggard to George Jones, I’ve loved this music all my life.

“I am quite a traditional country music man, but I never kick a musician artists who did crossover, mixing country with rock or pop, they are OK, too.

“But people are always asking me: ‘Why aren’t there more black country singers?’

“The best way I can answer is to say, well, my brother is coming with me on this tour and he has a beautiful voice, better than mine!

“And I’m not just saying that because he’s my brother!

“His name is Stephen, and you should check him out.

“I brought him and my son last time I was over in the UK, too.”

Charley Pride will play Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Wednesday, May 6. For tickets, call the 24 Hour Ticket Hotline on 0844 888 9991, or book online at the website www.ticketline.co.uk