Charley Pride broke through a lot of barriers in the 1960s as he one of the first, if not THE first, African-American to enjoy success as a country music performer. He was the first solo African-American performer at the Grand Ol' Opry in 1967. (DeFord Bailey was the first African-American performer, but he was a harmonica player.) Charley had 8 simultaneous #1 hits on the Country Hit Parade and charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
His biggest hit Kiss and Angel Good Mornin' was a crossover hit and helped him win Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist in 1971. He has won four Grammy Awards including Best Country Vocal Performance, Male in 1972 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.
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