Pride & Joy: A Gospel Music Collection

Country Music legend Charley Pride has an established history of recording Grammy award-winning spiritual music.

Some years ago, Pride won two Grammy Awards related to his Gospel album DID YOU THINK TO PRAY -- Best Sacred Performance, Musical (Non-Classical) for the album, as well as Best Gospel Performance Other Than Soul for his single "Let Me Live". Pride's latest sonic journey into the realm of inspirational music features a rich array of classic Gospel hymns, modern Christian Music standards, and some divine new gems. Also included are a pair of noteworthy duets and a nod back at his spiritual music past with a spectacular Gospel Medley.

Pride's duets with fellow Country Music legends Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson are definite highlights of this album, especially considering that Parton and Nelson each wrote the respective songs on which they duet with Pride. The history of each song is also fascinating. In 1959, Nelson was a 26-year-old disc jockey developing his recording and performing craft in Fort Worth area. He wrote "Family Bible" around this time but sold the song for $50, only to witness it quickly become a Top-10 Country hit for Claude Gray in 1960. Ultimately, the success of the song was a significant factor in compelling Nelson to relocate to Nashville in the early 1960s. "God's Coloring Book" is a Dolly Parton penned original from her influential #1 Country album of 1977, HERE YOU COME AGAIN, a release that earned her a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance By A Female.

The album's closing Gospel Medley has proven to be a fan favorite at Pride's live shows. In addition to portions of Hank Williams' "I Saw The Light" and AP Carter's (of Carter Family fame) arrangement of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken", it features segments of the classic Gospel Music spirituals "I'll Fly Away" and "The Church In The Wildwood" in a nod back Pride's earlier DID YOU THINK TO PRAY gospel album.

This album was released during Pride's 40th Anniversary year in Country Music. Pride's debut album COUNTRY CHARLEY PRIDE was released in November 1966 and his first hit "Just Between You And Me" peaked at #9 in December 1966.