Who is Charley Pride's wife Ebby Rozene Cohran? A look at singer's 60-year love story and kids after death at 86
Legendary music pioneer, Charley Pride — who was widely considered the first Black country music singer and lovingly known as “Jackie Robinson of country music” by the press — died on Saturday, December 12, after battling the deadly Covid-19 disease. He was last seen on November 11, 2020, when he received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Apart from his decade long music career, Pride was also known for his more than 60-year-old love story.
Born as Charley Frank Pride in Mississippi on March 18, 1934, he was raised by Mack Pride Sr and Tessie Stewart Pride. At the age of 14, he bought his first guitar and learned to play it by himself by listening to the radio. Pride was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry, where, in 1967, he became the first African American to sing at the venue. With three Grammy Awards in his kitty, he had at least 43 No.1 country singles and multiple albums.
When he last appeared on November 11 during the CMA, he gave his very last performance to all his fans, as he sang 'Kiss An Angel Good Mornin' at Nashville’s Music City Center with Jimmie Allen, a modern-day hitmaker who counts Pride among his heroes.
Pride's hard work's impact is seen in Black country performers today, including Darius Rucker, Jimmie Allen, Mickey Guyton, Rissi Palmer, Rhiannon Giddens, Yola and others. And Pride continued the legacy of DeFord Bailey, the first African American to perform music at the Grand Ole Opry. Did you know Pride was also an athlete? He played for the Negro American League from 1952 through 1958 becoming an all-star player in 1956. As thousands pay tribute to the artiste, here's a look at his beautiful love story.
Who is Charley Pride's wife Ebby Rozene Cohran?
Pride met his wife, Ebby Rozene Cohran, while playing baseball in Memphis. They tied the knot in 1956. The couple had a daughter, Angela Rozene Pride; and two sons, Carlton Kraig Pride and Charles Dion Pride together. Pride also had five grandchildren Carlton Kraig Pride, Jr, Malachi Pride, Syler Pride, Ebby Pride and Arrentino Vassar; and two great-grandchildren, Skyler Pride and Carlton Kraig Pride, III.
During their earlier days of marriage, Pride made a good living in the Helena area. Soon after his rise to fame, he moved his wife and son to join him and they lived in Helena until 1967 and bought their first home where Dion and Angela were born. As his music career took off, the family moved to Great Falls, Montana, to be closer to the airport and in 1969, the family ultimately moved to Texas.
A bio of the musician reveals a snippet from a 1967 interview, where his wife shed light on minor racism in Montana. She opened up about an incident where they were refused service in a restaurant and another time when a realtor refused to show them homes. In the same interview, she also mentioned that while they had their struggles, it was less as compared to local Native American people.
On Saturday, after the 86-year-old died, the family asked his fans and mourners to make donations to The Pride Scholarship at Jesuit College Preparatory School, St Philips School and Community Center, The Food Bank, or the charity of their choice in lieu of flowers.