Country Stars Discovered By Charley Pride

Every Sunday Morning we enjoy great Classic Country memories on 1077 GNA from 6-9am. As we prepare to load up a bus trip to see Charley Pride in Pennsylvania, I thought it would be fun to remind everyone about three Nashville stars who were boosted to stardom thanks to their association with the 'Kiss An Angel Good Morning' Singer.

1. Neal McCoy

Neal McCoy wowed audiences by opening up for Charley Pride on a regular basis from 1981-1987. In 1988, McCoy released his first national single 'That's How Much I Love You' on Pride's label at the time, 16th Avenue. McCoy would go on to be one of the hottest Country stars of the 90s with an entertaining stage show that still packs them in everywhere he goes.

2. Ronnie Milsap

A chance meeting with Charley Pride, at a gig at the Whiskey A Go-Go club in California, led Ronnie Milsap to Nashville. Impressed by Milsap's talents, Pride's manager Jack Johnson started working with the young piano player who also impressed Pride's label RCA.  Soon Ronnie Milsap was on the charts with his first RCA singles 'I Hate You' and 'That Girl Who Waits On Tables.'

3. Dave and Sugar

The original trio consisting of Dave Rowland, Vicki Hackeman and Jackie Frantz worked as Charley Pride's backup singers. Impressing Pride and his label RCA, they released their first single 'Queen Of The Silver Dollar' backed by their first No. 1, 1976's 'The Door Is Always Open.'