Charley Pride was one of the most successful and influential country music singers of all time. He had 52 top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, 30 of which made it to number one. He was also the first African-American to enter the Country Music Hall of Fame and one of only three African-American members of the Grand Ole Opry. He died on December 12, 2020, from complications of Covid-19.
But who is Wally Pride and is he related to Charley Pride? This is a question that has been asked by many fans and curious people over the years. The answer is not as simple as it may seem.
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Wally Pride: The Alleged Half-Brother of Charley Pride
Wally Pride is a country singer who claims to be the half-brother of Charley Pride. He says that he was born out of wedlock to Charley’s father and another woman in 1941, when Charley was seven years old. He says that he grew up in poverty and abuse, and that he never met Charley until 1969, when he went to see him perform at a concert in Nashville.
Wally says that he introduced himself to Charley backstage and that Charley acknowledged him as his brother. He also says that Charley gave him some money and advice on how to pursue a career in music. Wally then started performing under the name Wally Pride, hoping to capitalize on his alleged family connection.
The Controversy and Lawsuit Over Wally’s Claim
However, Charley Pride has always denied that Wally is his brother. He says that he never met Wally before 1969 and that he only gave him some money out of pity. He also says that Wally is lying about his parentage and that he has no proof of his claim.
In 1992, Wally filed a lawsuit against Charley, seeking $7 million in damages for defamation, invasion of privacy, and emotional distress. He claimed that Charley had publicly humiliated him and damaged his reputation by denying their relationship. He also claimed that Charley had threatened him with violence and tried to sabotage his career.
The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge in 1994, who ruled that Wally had no evidence to support his claim and that Charley had a right to defend himself against false accusations. The judge also said that Wally had waited too long to file the lawsuit, since the statute of limitations had expired.
The Aftermath and Legacy of the Dispute
Wally continued to perform as Wally Pride until his retirement in 2016. He never gave up on his claim and maintained that he was Charley’s brother until his death. He died on October 4, 2019, at the age of 78.
Charley never reconciled with Wally and never spoke about him publicly again. He focused on his music and his family, which included his wife Rozene, whom he married in 1956, and their three children: Dion, Angela, and Kraig. He also had several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Charley was widely respected and admired by his peers and fans for his talent, charisma, and trailblazing role in country music. He received numerous awards and honors, including four Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy, a Pioneer Award from the Academy of Country Music, and a Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Country Music Association.
He was also known for his generosity and philanthropy, supporting various causes such as education, health care, disaster relief, and civil rights. He was a staunch supporter of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, where he donated memorabilia from his baseball career.
Charley Pride will always be remembered as one of the greatest country music legends of all time. His legacy will live on through his music and his influence on generations of artists. As for Wally Pride, he will always be a controversial figure who sparked a lot of speculation and debate over his claim to be Charley’s brother. Whether he was telling the truth or not may never be known for sure..
