(Information provided by GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi)
Three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning, Mississippi-born country artist Charley Pride will be the inaugural recipient of GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi’s Crossroads of American Music Award at the Mississippi Museum’s 2019 Gala on Friday, Nov. 1. Established by the Museum’s Board of Directors, the Crossroads of American Music Award honors an artist who has made significant musical contributions influenced by the creativity born in the cradle of American music. Pride will appear at the Museum’s 2019 Gala to accept the award on November 1, 2019 at GRAMMY Museum Mississippi.
“I’m honored to be the first recipient of this award from the GRAMMY Museum Mississippi,” said Pride. “And thankful to the many great American music artists before me that helped to pave the way for my success. I applaud the Museum for celebrating those artists and championing the importance of American music.”
“We are thrilled to recognize the great Charley Pride as the first-ever recipient of our Crossroads of American Music Award,” said Emily Havens, Executive Director of GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. “As a native of Mississippi, Charley has had a significant impact on American music with his uncompromising honky-tonk country music. Charley broke new ground in the ’60s when he emerged as one of the most successful black country artists at that time. It’s an honor to recognize Charley Pride as the inaugural recipient of our Crossroads of American Music Award.”
“With the inauguration of the Crossroads of American Music Award, GRAMMY Museum Mississippi will recognize those artists who have been instrumental in building the foundation of American music,” said Bob Santelli, Founding Executive Director of the GRAMMY Museum. “Charley Pride had a profound influence on country music, so it’s fitting and an honor to celebrate him as the first recipient of this award.”
GRAMMY Museum Mississippi’s Red Carpet Guild, an organization of committed volunteers whose mission is to promote, support and sustain the Mississippi Museum, is currently developing plans for the Mississippi Museum’s 2019 Gala, with this year’s theme being “Girls, Guitars, & Rocktail Bars.” The Gala will celebrate the impact of women on music, and proceeds will benefit the music education initiatives of the Mississippi Museum. The event will take place on Friday, November 1, 2019, at 6 p.m. at GRAMMY Museum Mississippi and will feature a reception, dinner and cocktails, live music, and a silent and live auction.
