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.
Perhaps the best known Black singer in this particular genre is Charley Pride, a man who became the RCA label's top selling artist since Elvis Presley, when he was at his performing peak in the early to mid-1970s. Pride was only the second Black artist to be inducted in the Grand Ole Opry. This is a mark of the respect in which he was held by the wider musical community.
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.
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.
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.
It can therefore be seen that African American country singers are more common than many people realize. They have also exerted a positive, creative effect on the music. Hopefully their legacy will live for many years to come.
Perhaps the best known Black singer in this particular genre is Charley Pride, a man who became the RCA label's top selling artist since Elvis Presley, when he was at his performing peak in the early to mid-1970s. Pride was only the second Black artist to be inducted in the Grand Ole Opry. This is a mark of the respect in which he was held by the wider musical community.
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.
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.
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.
It can therefore be seen that African American country singers are more common than many people realize. They have also exerted a positive, creative effect on the music. Hopefully their legacy will live for many years to come.
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