After a tryout with the New York Mets, he visited Nashville and broke into country music when Chet Atkins, head of RCA Records, heard two of his demo tapes and signed him. To ensure that Pride was judged on his music and not his race, his first few singles were sent to radio stations without a publicity photo. After his identity became known, a few country radio stations refused to play his music. For the most part, though, Pride said he was well received. “You can go too far in anything — singing, acting, whatever — and become politicized to the point you cease to be an entertainer.”

Source: Daily Sun December 12, 2020 21:11 UTC