Charley Pride was for decades one of the most popular US Country singers to tour Ireland and now his legacy lives on as his younger brother Stephen, his band and guests are coming to The Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown to play in concert on Thursday, 27th March as well as other venues throughout Ireland.
The Irish tour, which is titled ‘A Tribute to my Brother Charley’, during which he will sing over 40 of his hits backed by a fantastic 6-piece country band – close your eyes and you will think you’re at a Charley Pride concert.
Stephen and the late Charley moved from their birthplace in Sledge, Mississippi to live in Texas at different times when they were both young. Charley was the eldest and Stephen was the youngest of 15 children (11 who survived to adulthood), but he never met his eldest brother until he was eight years old.
Stephen explained about his first meeting with his eldest brother when Charley was a sports star: “Charley had left home long before I was born, and he first played baseball in the Negro League and also did his national military service. So, when I first met my brother when I was eight, he wasn’t a singing star then, he was just beginning.
“I remember I was watching a country music show on TV and Charley was actually singing on it, at the same time Charley walked through the door at home and I could not understand how he could be on TV and at the same time just walked through the door,” says Stephen.
Stephen sings and looks like Charley and he works on the Country circuit in Texas where he and his wife and family live.
“At first some of our siblings questioned why Charley took such an interest in singing Country songs. But it was basically because of our father who listened to the Grand Ole Opry programme on the radio from Nashville,” says Stephen.
Before moving to live in Texas, both of the Pride brothers had to help out picking cotton when growing up in Sledge, Mississippi.
“It was hard work, pickin’ cotton, chopping it and baling it and that’s why when we got into careers in Country music – we never wanted to go back to pickin’ cotton again,” laughs Stephen.
Stephen started off his singing career at 17 and played with many bands around Texas, sometimes being the support act for his big brother. Stephen also says that he has lots of good memories of touring Ireland with Charley who took a keen interest in how his younger brother’s stage show was developing.
“When we played in various cities around Ireland during those tours Charley took a great interest in watching me from backstage to see how I was doing. At times he would mention to me some things that I should be doing differently, but always in a constructive way.”
Stephen says he is very aware of how his older brother continued to tour in Northern Ireland, even at the height of the troubles there and he feels that Country fans here appreciated Charley for doing that.
“From what I’ve heard, Charley was the only artist who braved the problems in Northern Ireland at that time and the fans all over this country fell in love with him because he was dedicated enough to continue to tour Ireland consistently.”
Apart from his tours with his late brother, Stephen was also lucky enough to be the support act for many of the other major Country stars in the States.
“It was brilliant to also get to work as an opening act for stars such as Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, The Bellamy Brothers and others. It was awesome when I had the honour of opening for them in the famous Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas,” he mused.
But it is the memories of touring with his brother that will always remain closest to his heart. That is one reason why he wants to perpetuate the popularity of the hits of his late brother to the audiences here in Ireland.
“My favourite songs of my brother’s many hits are ‘Crystal Chandeliers’ and ‘Kiss an Angel Good Morning’ and ‘On The Wings of a Dove’ which was also recorded by Charley.”
Stephen has also just released a great new single called ‘Where Roses Never Fade’. During the April 2024 concert tour Stephen performed at the Hot Country TV awards concert in The Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny and picked up the ‘Music Without Borders’ award sponsored by Galway Irish Crystal. Also, Stephen got a standing ovation during each of his concerts and two at The TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar, Co Mayo, that speaks volumes about the quality of his tribute concert to his brother, the late great Charley Pride.
CONCERT DATES
24th March The Ard Ri House Hotel, Tuam; 25th March The Great Northern Hotel, Bundoran, Co Donegal; 26th March The Dunamaise Theatre, Portlaoise and 27th March The Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown, Co Cork. For further details and enquiries call 087-6859895
