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Pride: The Charley Pride Story
Pride's forthright autobiography offers fresh, disarmingly funny insights on being a highly conspicuous anomoly and making it work. A black star in the white galaxy of country music, he has won three Grammys, selling more than 25 million records in the U.S. alone, and garnering more than 31 gold albums. Photos.
302 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
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142 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 23, 2012
I enjoyed this book very much; it was well written and kept my interest the entire length. Time passage in biographies generally has your head spinning as they take you back and forth in time; this book had minimal time warps and was used only for reference within the chapter. GoodReads has this book listed as 32 pages, but really it has 288 pages. Charley Pride did a great job telling his story and made me wish I really knew him and could talk to him. I have fond memories of listening to his music; I grew up with it. He is still one of my favorite Country Music Singers, and I enjoyed learning about his life and upbringing immensely.
February 22, 2012
I love country music and music in general. Charley Pride's story moved me deeply. This memoir follows him from a sharecropper's son in the Mississippi Delta to the life of a professional baseball player to the Army to the mines of Montana to country-music superstardom. It's a great overview of a life that's been purely American. Through it all, he stayed the same, old Charley Pride. He tells his story with an honesty and humility that is refreshing. He tells it like it is.
This book touches on many elements of Pride's story that I hadn't heard much about. His life in minor-league and negro league baseball was quite interesting to me as a fan of the game. It discusses the racial tensions he faced as the first, black man to break into country music. It covers his struggles with alcohol and depression. It tells of his family and the difficult relationship with his father. I found this book to be deeply touching. It's a story that deserves to be read. Charley Pride sings country music because Charley Pride is country music. If ever there was a person that was meant to sing country music, it was Charley Pride. This memoir will go on my shelf right next to Charlie's old friends, Waylon and George Jones.
This book touches on many elements of Pride's story that I hadn't heard much about. His life in minor-league and negro league baseball was quite interesting to me as a fan of the game. It discusses the racial tensions he faced as the first, black man to break into country music. It covers his struggles with alcohol and depression. It tells of his family and the difficult relationship with his father. I found this book to be deeply touching. It's a story that deserves to be read. Charley Pride sings country music because Charley Pride is country music. If ever there was a person that was meant to sing country music, it was Charley Pride. This memoir will go on my shelf right next to Charlie's old friends, Waylon and George Jones.
May 1, 2022
I have been wanting to read this book for some time. Charley Pride has been one of my favorite singers since my childhood. His story, mixed with the challenges of growing up, baseball, his getting into the country music business, and his career was intriguing and made for a truly "good read." I enjoyed the way it was not just narrative but also thematic in some chapters. Highly recommended.
August 28, 2019
I love this man's music and this book.
January 8, 2021
Charley Pride's story is one of the most inspirational I've heard. I highly recommend this book.
March 28, 2021
This autobiography kept my attention and was well written.
November 7, 2021
A man whose mother told him don't go through life with fear and resentment.
November 21, 2015
Why do all celebrities seem to believe in something weird? In this case, Charley Pride believes in astrological signs, and thinks he can tell someone's sign just by watching their behavior for a few moments. ???
I'll admit--astrological signs are fun, as is the Chinese zodiac and numerology and all that sort of stuff. But while they're fun, I don't actually believe in them.
But apparently a lot of celebrities do. It's the weirdest thing.... Still, I suppose it's better for them to put their faith in horoscopes than drugs and alcohol, so I can't complain too much.
Other than that, I enjoyed this book. Charley Pride had an interesting life. A few parts were a bit preachy, but I generally skimmed those. My favorite aspect was that he originally wanted to be a baseball player. While it's sad for him that that didn't work out, I'm glad for the rest of us because 'Kiss an Angel Good Morning' is one of the best songs in country music, and nobody sings it like he does.
I'll admit--astrological signs are fun, as is the Chinese zodiac and numerology and all that sort of stuff. But while they're fun, I don't actually believe in them.
But apparently a lot of celebrities do. It's the weirdest thing.... Still, I suppose it's better for them to put their faith in horoscopes than drugs and alcohol, so I can't complain too much.
Other than that, I enjoyed this book. Charley Pride had an interesting life. A few parts were a bit preachy, but I generally skimmed those. My favorite aspect was that he originally wanted to be a baseball player. While it's sad for him that that didn't work out, I'm glad for the rest of us because 'Kiss an Angel Good Morning' is one of the best songs in country music, and nobody sings it like he does.
March 12, 2018
Should make everyone read this book. A real American rags to riches story. No excuses, no blaming, ... he just kept moving forward regardless of what curve balls were thrown his way.
January 8, 2022
Very interesting! Wish I could have known Charley Pride. Always like to hear him sing.
February 12, 2023
You di not have a easy road, but you made it.
I enjoy your book very much.
I enjoy your book very much.
August 28, 2025
Equal parts fine and boring, it's a bit disappointing if you are wanting a deeper look into Pride's musical career. The first half of the book deals with Pride's life before his breakthrough in country music, toiling in the minor leagues trying to eek out a career as a baseball pitcher. Interesting, but it got repetitive. I did appreciate the chapter Pride included regarding his struggle with manic depression. A lot of these types of books chronicle alcohol and drug dependency (which Pride did not struggle with) but few address mental health issues as candidly as Pride does.
Overall, Pride just scratches the surface. He does not really go deep into anything and you really only get a cursory look into his legendary country music career. 2.5/5.
Overall, Pride just scratches the surface. He does not really go deep into anything and you really only get a cursory look into his legendary country music career. 2.5/5.
October 8, 2025
I have always loved Charley Pride’s music. In fact I took my two small daughters to see him in the early 1990s and the loved the show.
This autobiography is a satisfying reminiscence by him of his life.
This autobiography is a satisfying reminiscence by him of his life.
February 18, 2026
Extremely informative. Learned things about an artist I had mass respect for but little knowledge of. What incredible life tales this man tells. Just for a sample Charli pride had a fascinating life before entering the music industry!
March 4, 2021
Enjoyed this book - more of a narrative. Charley Pride certainly paved the way for upcoming African American county music artists. Have always been a fan of his.
Want to read
May 17, 2024IF tou love country music youlike this book.
December 14, 2016
i love this book i love country music so this book was great to me i grew listing to country music as a kid. like when we would go up camping still to this day we listen to country music we would listen to artist like johnny cash,bob Seagure, and many others. so when i was first given this book to barrow i got in to it and after a little my grandma wanted it back and i begged her if i could keep it cause this book is really good. i really like it because it is a biography and it tells you about charleys life it dose not just start with country music his story is great and this book is great if you like country music.
this book takes you on an adventure with charley pride and dose not leave you out on very any details and it teaches you about racism back then. and how when people figured out that a black person was the one singing on the radio it all the sudden became a horrible song. witch it wasn't and a good way to know is because the people all ways said how good his songs where and instead
of getting to say that that is my song he had to stay quiet or else they would find out and it did not madder they figured out any ways. but what i found was cool was that even when people dragged him down just because he was black he still went on for his dream of singing country music and that really will give you a life lesson to keep moving in life and keep going .
in mt opinion i loved this book it was great i liked how it brought you in on his life and told you his story. i loved how it told you about his country music life style and how people loved his music. i also liked how this story showed how racism was back then and all of the struggles he had to go through a lot of books just say that this person had a perfect life and this book shows you that racim was a huge factor back then and shows you that all thou he was a really good singer that if the white people figured out that a black person was singing they would not like it any more. i really like how it took you on his adventure his struggles and his music life
this book takes you on an adventure with charley pride and dose not leave you out on very any details and it teaches you about racism back then. and how when people figured out that a black person was the one singing on the radio it all the sudden became a horrible song. witch it wasn't and a good way to know is because the people all ways said how good his songs where and instead
of getting to say that that is my song he had to stay quiet or else they would find out and it did not madder they figured out any ways. but what i found was cool was that even when people dragged him down just because he was black he still went on for his dream of singing country music and that really will give you a life lesson to keep moving in life and keep going .
in mt opinion i loved this book it was great i liked how it brought you in on his life and told you his story. i loved how it told you about his country music life style and how people loved his music. i also liked how this story showed how racism was back then and all of the struggles he had to go through a lot of books just say that this person had a perfect life and this book shows you that racim was a huge factor back then and shows you that all thou he was a really good singer that if the white people figured out that a black person was singing they would not like it any more. i really like how it took you on his adventure his struggles and his music life
November 4, 2024
Very interesting read. I learned a lot about Charley & his career & life.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews