Why isn’t there a movie about Charley Pride?

Hollywood loves to make movies about music icons.  Often, but not always, they’re biographies of dead performers.  Think Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, and James Brown.  In Ray Charles’ case, the movie “Ray,” was completed just before he died.  I just saw “Love and Mercy” about Beach Boy Brian Wilson (who is still among the living), and while it’s hard to watch on many levels, it does feature his amazing musical skills.

I’m surprised no one has made a movie about Stevie Wonder’s life, because it could be a good one.  His father made a living by selling his mother’s body on the streets.  Blind since birth, he was raised just like his siblings.  He was sent out to play, and if he fell into a ditch, or ran into a tree, that was considered a life lesson.  As a teen, he was on the road with the Temptations (in every sense of the word).  Then he wrote and performed more hit songs than anyone during a 20-year period while bedding numerous women and fathering a lot of kids.  Let’s just say it’s a life made for the big screen.

Then there’s Charley Pride, whose story is equally incredible.

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You don’t hear Charley’s name much these days.  He’s 78, about fifty years past the expiration date for modern country music stardom.  He hasn’t had a radio hit in more than a quarter-century.  Most of his best-sellers date back to the early 80s: even some of the classic country stations don’t go back that far.  In fact, I’d say most filmmakers would give a thumbs-down to a screenplay about an artist whose fans are a few decades north of the “Captain America” audience.

That’s a shame.  The movies celebrated the life of baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson in “42.” It was no blockbuster, but it was well-received.  Queen Latifah starred as Bessie Smith in a popular HBO movie.  So why hasn’t Charley Pride’s life story been told?  It’s been rumored for years, but has never made it to the screen.  I’d love to see it happen in the man’s lifetime.

Here’s the short version.  Born in Mississippi, to a family of poor sharecroppers.  One of eleven children.  Learned to play guitar as a child.  Played in the Negro American league, as a pitcher, starting at the age of 14.  A year later, signed with the New York Yankees, playing in the minor leagues.

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At 15, traded (with another player) to a competing team for a bus.  Yes, a bus.  Served two years in the Army, then returned to baseball, playing in the Cincinnati Reds organization.  At the age of 20, he got serious about music.  Country music.  Let’s pause here for a moment.  He’s black, and trying to get into country music in 1958 America.  We’ve got a pretty good movie so far, don’t you think?

Yet this is where it really gets interesting.  After struggling for a few years, he was signed to RCA Records by legendary producer-guitarist Chet Atkins. Atkins knew a star when he heard one.  He was responsible for finding most of RCA’s biggest sellers of that era, like Jim Reeves and Skeeter Davis.  But with Charley Pride, there was this one problem.  So the label put out his records, with no pictures!

pride-record

He was billed as “Country Charley Pride.”  For the first two years, the radio deejays and listeners had no idea what this Pride guy looked like.  His song “Just Between You and Me” came out in 1966, and hit the top 10.  Outside of the RCA studios, nobody knew his skin color.

That song was the first in a string of 60 top-ten country hits, including “Kiss An Angel Good Morning,” which also went top-20 on the pop charts.

He was the first black member of the Grand Ole Opry, a 2000 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has performed at the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Baseball Hall of Fame, and at concert venues worldwide.

Earl Freudenberg, who played the hits at Chattanooga’s WDOD in the 1960s, remembers when Charley “came out” to country audiences, including a sold-out crowd at Memorial Auditorium.  “He’d appear on stage, sing one of his hits, and say, I don’t look like I sound, do I? Up until then, RCA asked us not to say anything about him being black.  They’d say, just play his records, so that’s what we did.”

I think Charley Pride’s story is one of the most amazing in show business history.  Although it’s still unusual today for a black artist to make it big in the country music field (Darius Rucker is a recent exception), in the 1960s, it was seemingly impossible.  Charley has some great stories to tell, many of which are in his 1994 autobiography. About his first concert appearance, much dreaded by RCA executives: “Once I opened my mouth and started singing, they liked what they heard.”

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It’s way past time his life was celebrated in the movies.  What an inspiration he has been to us all. Come on Hollywood, let’s do this!

 

About David Carroll

David Carroll is a longtime Chattanooga radio and TV broadcaster, and has anchored the evening news on WRCB-TV since 1987. He is the author of "Chattanooga Radio & Television" published by Arcadia.

17 thoughts on “Why isn’t there a movie about Charley Pride?

  1. Susan

    Mr. Carroll, You appear to be a gifted writer and I think you should write CP’s story. Maybe a studio would pick it up and make the movie. Give it some thought, you CAN do it.

    Susan

    Reply
    1. David Carroll

      You are very kind Susan, but I’ve never written a movie before. I’d better leave that up to people who know what they’re doing. Hope someone does it though!

      Reply
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  2. Stacy

    Great piece – and great idea – I remember loving ROLL ON MISSISSIPPI in the early 80s country-politan era. There is also his likeness in Altman’s NASHVILLE and Loretta Lynn’s death-threats for kissing him at an awards show in the early 1970s. Lots of fodder for a bio-pic.

    Reply
  3. Debra Cooper

    My mom loved Charley Pride’s music (especially Kiss An Angel Good Morning) so I remember listening to his songs when I was barely 5. I agree with you that his story would be a fabulous movie. Maybe someone will read your posts and decide to take on this project.

    Reply
  4. charles sanders

    i was raised up in sledge ms mr pride worked with my dad ,bob sanders in the family grocery.he is a fantastic person and musician he deserves this movie i hope it happens charles sanders como ,ms

    Reply
  5. Kathy

    I read where they were planning on doing a movie with Dwayne Johnson starring. I don’t know why it didn’t take off but I have read his autobiography and it should be done. He is such a talented man and has lead a very interesting life. I don’t go to movies much these days but I would go see that one for sure.

    Reply
  6. Andy Gann

    My grandparents and parents were from Sledge, MS as well but didn’t know Charley, probably due to the segregation of that time. Ironically, my dad, George W. (Wiley) Gann got into the music business as well and co-wrote a song about Sledge and pitched it to Charley. He didn’t record it for several years later. . It was named Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town and was released in 1974 (I think). Very proud to be descending from great Sledge, MS people.

    Reply
  7. Angie Williams

    He lived down the street from y mom and brother in Dallas,TX. My little brother was mentally retarded but loved to bowl. Mr. Pride took his son to bowl at the same bowling Alley. He was always so kind and thoughtful to my little brother on their bowling days. I will always love and admire Charlie Pride not only for his much but also for his loving, caring heart!

    Reply
  8. Anthony

    I talked to Charley in the casino recently where I work about the movie and he said the Rock was suppose to play him but the deal fell through a while back.

    Reply
  9. Cj

    I love Charley Pride’s music and his story. I have been waiting for a movie to be made of his life! Wishing it would happen during his lifetime!

    Reply
  10. Terence Johnson

    Mr, Carroll,This is a must happen that is way too long overdue! I have followed Charlie, Pride’s music and career since grade school and remember the first time I heard his songs on the A.M radio stations and saw his first appearance on Hee,Haw. It inspired me to become a singing guitar player like so many of the other great heart and soul of country singers,such as Conway Twitty’ and the rest. I thought of the idea of a Charlie Pride Movie in my teens, years ago playing at back yard BBQ’s and often thought of maybe even playing the part of Charlie. Please use your status and platform as a tool to push this forward to a reality. For this movie of Charlie Pride not to happen would be nothing less than one of the greatest missed more than well deserved tributes in country history . P.S I feel this part should be portrayed by a fresh face to the movie screen someone new and simple. Thank you

    Reply

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