Country music has been called the blues with a twang. Both music forms have rural southern roots. Blacks created the blues, but they did not create country music. And yet, the black imprint on this great American art form is significant. Of course, when most people think of Blacks and country music, they think Charley Pride.
That’s understandable. Charley Pride was a bonafide country music superstar who sold over 70 million records between 1966 and 1989, when he retired. Pride had 28 singles that reached No.1
It was actually clever marketing that gave Charley Pride a chance to make it big. Pride got his start when his first demo recording caught the attention of country music legend Chet Atkins.
Atkins played Pride’s demo to RCA executives. But he didn’t tell them Pride was black. Atkins used that same tactic in his dealings with country music radio stations. Mind you, these were the 1960s. It wasn’t until Charley Pride’s third album release, “Just Between You and Me.” that the country music world realized he was a black man. Charley Pride’s contributions to country music were enormous. But Ray Charles came before him in 1962.
Ray Charles opened the door for Charley Pride and for all of country music. Ray gave country music what it lacked—respectability. Before he recorded “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music,” country music was belittled and seen as hillbilly music.
“He did more for country music than anyone,” Willie Nelson said. “Ray took country music to the world. And in some way, the rest of us country singers are riding on his coattail.”
When you listen to country music, two instruments are often featured—the banjo and the steel guitar. Both instruments came from Africa. The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville has featured an exhibit titled, “I Can’t Stop Loving You: Ray Charles and Country Music.”
The exhibit’s curator, Michael Gray, said, “African Americans have always played a key role in country music, dating back to the early string bands and all the way up to the present day. There’s always been a lot of fluidity between R&B and country music.
No doubt, if you had to point to a particular artist and an album that helped break down race barriers, it would definitely be Ray Charles and his “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.”
More recently, Darius Rucker, formerly of Hootie and The Blowfish, has been making a name for himself in country music. His single, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” made him the first black artist to top the Hot Country Songs list since Charley Pride did it in 1983. Ray Charles and Willie Nelson also reached number one in a duet, “Seven Spanish Angel,” back in 1985.
Rucker was the first black country singer to win the New Artist Award from the Country Music Association and just the second black person to win an award from the association. Rucker’s second album Charleston..., included two singles, “Come Back Song” and “This.” Both were number one singles.