Charley Pride – Quitman County, Mississippi

Charley Pride

Country and Western singer Charley Pride was born Charl Frank Pride on 18 March 1943 in Sledge, Quitman County, Mississippi. The midwife wrote Charley instead of Charl on the birth certificate. His parents were share-croppers who had 11 children–8 boys and 3 girls. His mother died in 1956.

In 1956, Pride married Rozene Cochran of Oxford. Their children are Kraig, Dion and Angela.

Before he became famous, Charley and his brother were employed by the Latavia Furniture Company [see The Latavia Story], Sledge, Mississippi. He was also a tractor driver on a local farm.

In 1993, Pride was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. He has called Dallas, Texas home since 1969.

Photo Provided By Stacey Huggins from Washington, D.C., USA (Austin Rodeo) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons