European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 18, 1973, Darmstadt, Hesse                              M just a country Singer who appeals to everyone Ria records this is my music too5 by Bob Lardine new York news the sweat ran off Charley Pride s body As he moved effortlessly through the Bottonfield plucking the White Tufts and stuffing them in his sack All in the Sam emotion he was proud of himself proud that no body else in Sledge or for that matter the entire state of Mississippi could pick As fast As he could. No Man could say he was t Worth his $3 a Day. Pride had t realized he was singing thank Williams tune As he went about his labors. But suddenly a figure loomed in front of him. It was a neighbouring far owner with a Nasty look on his face. He shouted Down at Pride Don t you know you re singing White Man s music and when Pride did t answer he warned stick to your own Heah More embarrassed than frightened Pride clenched his jaws shut stepped around the Farmer and continued his rhythmic picking. Hours later when the Sun Sank he trudged to a Shack at the Field s Edge to join his father seven Broth ers and three Sisters. Pride collapsed heavily on his bed mus cles groaning and physically spent. He reached up and removed his old Battery powered radio from the shelf. Even that Effort sent pain Waves through his body. As he switched the radio on Ernes Tubbs Flat off key voice floated into the shabby room. Pride Felt some of the weariness leave As he Sang along with the Hill Billy favorite. He smiled and said to no onegin particular this is my music  m,.illions today agree with Charley Pride but puzzlement still abounds. Even some of his fellow Blacks can t understand Why he in t deep into Rock or soul or blues or gospel. Just the other night after Pride finished concert in new Haven conn., a Black Man walked up to him and said you know it s funny. You look like us but you sound like  a compulsive talker Pride still finds it difficult to articulate now it was possible for him to shatter the All White 200-year-old Barrier of country music. I m an individual who just happened to like the sound of this music. Ever since i was a kid i be been listening to it and singing it. I just can t explain Why i m the first Black tomake it in this  wherever Pride travels enthusiastic Fol Lowers besiege him for autographs and pack his concerts. It s a tribute to his enormous Talent and electric personality of course but it s also due in part to the startling popularity of country music across the nation. Just 10 years ago there were a Mere 81 radio stations devoted to the earthy tones of singers like Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn. Today More than 800 stations capitalize on the country craze whose pervasive sound influences every other variety of popular music. Radio station when in new York for example tripled its audience in six months after it went country earlier this year. Television also jumped on the bandwagon when Abc initiated a weekly summer series of country con certs. Though there Are about a dozen Singer who capture the bulk of the record Market and sell out auditoriums wherever they appear Only one is Black Charley Pride. He insists that it in t a Handicap. I Haven encountered prejudice for some time. And i should know about prejudice. I be live with it All my  he rarely dwells on his miserable past in which he picked Cotton for 12 straight years. But then again it s rather easy for him to forget those Back breaking times As he scoots around in a new Continental relax sin his $175,000 Dallas Home and contemplates his real estate holdings farms publishing company and outdoor Grill firm. To Pride it probably seems like centuries ago that he rubbed sweat elbows with exhausted Black farm Ibric ers. Today he clinks glasses in Elegan boites with the likes of tycoon Clint Mur Chison sportscaster Don Meredith an country Singer Ray Price. Out despite his affluence Fame an Comfort of living Pride is frustrated and not completely Happy. He can t put aside the dream he nurtured Alt his life to be Amajor league baseball Star. I love singing. Don t get me wrong but i Haven t the slightest ambition to become the greatest Singer in the world. I want to do Well but i Don t want to Outing anyone or try to win every award. Playing baseball is another matter. I wanted to be the greatest Ball player whatever put on a uniform. I wanted people to know that Charley Pride hit More Home runs than babe Ruth and stole More bases than anyone. I wanted every record imaginable in the  a look of pain crosses Pride s stolid  know he says softly. It might have All happened if i did t Hurt  Pride had been a tremendous hitter an Pitcher for the Memphis red sox in the old negro Pioneer league when he suffered the injury at the age of 20. But the Dis ability did t end his major league quest. For 10 Long years Pride stubbornly pursued his ambition. The closest he came was in 1961 when Given a Brief but unrewarding tryout with the California  years later Pride pleaded with the new York mets for a Chance but the never acknowledged his letter. Even today he can t quite bring himself around to facing the truth that he s finished As far As baseball is concerned. I go South for Spring training every year wit the Milwaukee Brewers. And i still can hit As Well As Many of them. I always believed d be the first .400 hitter since Ted Wil  baseball represented escape for Pride. It brought him out of the Cotton Fields at age 17. My father kept after me to get a Good education but i knew i d never be a chemist or. Anything like that. It was baseball or nothing As far As i was  his tortuous journey As a Gimpy armed player led him throughput the South and finally lodged him in Montana where reworked in a smelting Plant and played Semi pro Ball on weekends. Ironically baseball presented Pride with his initial Opportunity to sing in Public. Prior to several games he would entertain the crowd with a song then washout to his Outfield position. Later he Sang in the local bar each saturday night for $20. As his reputation increased so did his monetary Reward. In a few months Pride s Price was $50 for each saturday serenade. These Days he earns anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 a concert and he Doe sat least 50 a year despite his limited Success As a country vocalist Pride refused to consider a sing ing career and instead Clung desperately to the Hope he could still make it As a ballplayer. And so he kept Labouring in the smelting Plant playing Ball on weekend Sand singing occasionally. But when the mets cold shouldered his frantic Appeal in 1964, he lost much of his optimism regarding his future in  All i was 26 and that was pretty late in the Day to Start in the major  the following year he was recommended to Ria s chel Atkins for an audition and made such a wonderful impression that he was signed on the spot to a three year contract. However Ria Felt that Pride presented a problem. At that time and even today country music s major audience Page a 2 the stars and stripes sunday november 18, 1973