Charlie Pride passed away last night. That was a really decent human being. Not sure you can compliment anyone more than that.
My first contact with Charlie was at KenRay Ford when I just missed his 'up' to sell him a new car. But my best friend Gene Cook got this up and closed the deal. We all sat around and you got to see what a cool cat Charlie was.
I moved on to Playboy where I was the MatrieD in the front room and I finally talked my buddy Gene into working with me there. Charlie headlined and we spent all our break hours in the little hallway breakroom cackling, laughing and having a blast.
Paul (Assassin)
Late last night, my friend Bud Buschardt sent me this:
============
OK, I have several Charley Pride stories but this one is my favorite: A friend of mine was visiting and he wanted to get the Sunday papers so I stopped at the 7-11 on Preston and Forest. I waited in my old Ford van for Paul and wondered what was taking him so long to buy some newspapers. When he finally came out of the 7-11 he said he took him a long time because there was a man buying tickets for every lottery game.
The man came out of the store and got into the car next to mine. (I did not see him as he left the store.) My van would not start so my friend asked the man if he could give us a jump start. The man said sure so Paul got the cars hooked up and I got the van started. (Paul did not recognize the man.)
As he passed behind me I rolled down the window to say thanks. He said "Don't stop the car until you get home or can get some help." I immediately recognized the voice and I said "Charley...Charley Pride I can't thank you enough." He recognized me from directing several shows with him while I was at WFAA-TV, but now I was at KVIL. Charley's reply was "You can thank me by getting Ron and the guys to play some of my records on KVIL." A favor for a favor so the next Sunday on my KVIL oldies show I played
"Kiss An Angel Good Morning" (his biggest country/pop crossover record) and "Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone".
Charley Pride, a great talent, a great neighbor and a great loss to the music world. Everybody loved Charley. Prayers to his family. R.I.P. Charley.
Bud Buschardt
Facebook Groups at; Memories of... Dallas, Texas, Football in Texas, Texas Music, Memories From a Texas Window and Dallas History Guild. Come visit!