Charley Pride and Jimmie Rodgers to Receive Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards
Two groundbreaking pioneers in country music—the “Father of Country Music” Jimmie Rodgers, and country music’s first African-American superstar Charley Pride—have both been selected along with five others to be in the 2017 class of Grammy Lifetime Achievement recipients. Other recipients include Velvet Underground, Nina Simone, Sly Stone, Shirley Caesar, and Ahmad Jamal.
Jimmie Rodgers was one of the very first to bring the yodel, the blues, and folk music together in a way that would stir the soul like none other before. When he sat down with Ralph Peer in 1927 to record his songs along with others like The Carter Family, country music was born. Though Rodgers would never become a big commercial star since he died in 1933 at the age of 35, his legacy looms large in country music and beyond. Rodgers was part of the inaugural class of the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961, and is also a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
After playing in the Negro American League, Charley Pride signed to RCA Victor and in 1967 he became the first African-American singer to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. In 1993, Pride became the Grande Ole Opry’s first African-American member, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000. It’s all the result of amassing an astounding 29 #1 hits in country music, and helping to integrate the genre. Pride’s Grammy Lifetime Achievement comes at a time when some have been critical of the Grammy Awards due to race for not considering Beyoncé in the country categories for her song “Daddy Lessons.”
“This year’s Special Merit Awards recipients comprise a prestigious group of diverse and influential creators who have crafted or contributed to some of the most distinctive recordings in music history,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “These exceptionally inspiring figures are being honored as legendary performers, creative architects, and technical visionaries. Their outstanding accomplishments and passion for their respective crafts have created a timeless legacy.”
January 2, 2017 @ 7:50 pm
about damn time.
Charley Pride is one of my all-time favorites and his constantly being overlooked and shoved aside by the powers that be is a sore spot in my life.
Really, really glad that this is happening to him.
and just in case anyone wants to know, “Pirogue Joe” is my favorite song of his.
January 6, 2017 @ 7:36 pm
29 #1 hits! I often forget about him in today’s crowded world, but when I hear or think about it makes me smile and marvel at how good he is. And still is! Still has the great voice and delivery.
January 2, 2017 @ 7:59 pm
keith richards>2016
January 2, 2017 @ 8:16 pm
I happened to spend a little time this morning listening to a couple of Merle Haggard’s covers of Jimmie Rodgers songs. It’s also worth mentioning that Jimmie Rodgers’ Blue Yodel #9 included Louis Armstrong. I grew up listening to my parents play Charley Pride records, so I’m glad to see him get this honor, too.
January 2, 2017 @ 8:59 pm
Oh good, maybe they can have Luke Bryan as part of the tribute again. (but no seriously this is really cool, and I’ve already made my peace with the fact that we’ll get several mainstream stars covering them if they get a tribute)
January 3, 2017 @ 8:26 am
This is good news, even if I could think of other folks deserving. Charlie is one of my original favorites, I sang mountain of love everyday for probably 6 yrs while I worked, to myself. Jimmie definitely deserves this as his contribution is enormous, he is all my heroes’ hero.
January 3, 2017 @ 10:00 am
This honor is well-deserved by both of these artists.
Kudos to the Grammys for honoring them.
My wife watches the Grammy awards while I watch “Cops” reruns.
January 3, 2017 @ 4:33 pm
Funny race keeps being a focal point Charlie Pride has been accepted into the country music for 50 years now…. I wonder why? Possibly cause he had the talent and great songs.
January 3, 2017 @ 4:51 pm
Charlie Pride is best of the best Country music singers to come along since Hank Williams sr.glad to see him get some of much needed credit.he deserves.love Mr Pride.
January 4, 2017 @ 8:38 am
It crazy that Charlie first signed to RCA in 1967 and played the Opry, however did not become a member until 1993. This was a different era for the Opry, where it was an unbelievable honor and distinction. Today, they try to get who they can it seems like.
January 15, 2017 @ 1:42 pm
Actually, Charley Pride,was not the Grand Ole Opry’s ,first African-American member.The first ,African-America,Opry Member,was DeFord Bailey, “Harmonica Wizard”,who performed on WSM 650 Radio,on 1926, and later – first performed on the Grand Ole Opry, from 1927 to 1941,as a member. He was born in 1899,and died in 1982. He was the Grandson of Slaves. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005.