Charley Pride Makes Triumphant Return With Upcoming Album ‘Music In My Heart’

By Timothy Yap Apr 28, 2017 12:48 AM EDT

Country music icon Charley Pride is pleased to announce his upcoming album, Music In My Heart, set for release July 7. The project marks the CMA "Entertainer of the Year" winner's first new studio release in more than six years, and features 13 all-new recordings, produced by traditional singer-songwriter Billy Yates. Music In My Heart will be released in the United States via Music City Records, and available at physical and digital retailers nationwide.

"It was fun getting back into the studio. My goal was to record the best traditional country album possible. But I also wanted someone else to handle all of the producer chores so that I could focus more on my singing," said Pride. "Billy Yates and I started working together early last year. His self-produced albums show a strong respect for traditional country and he's a good songwriter too. Finding the right songs took a while and we both keep busy schedules, so this album took longer to finish than I'm used to. But we did find some wonderful songs and I'm very happy with how everything sounds. I hope everyone will enjoy listening to the album as much as I enjoyed making it."

The album marks a high-level return to form for Pride. Listeners will be taken on a musical journey that runs the gamut of traditional country and features songs by such acclaimed writers as Whisperin' Bill Anderson, Tommy Collins, "Country" Johnny Mathis and Yates. One particularly poignant moment takes place as Charley reminisces about a year he actually lived through as a young man during "The Way It Was In '51" while simultaneously being able to pay tribute to his late friend, the great Merle Haggard. Another key moment occurs during Pride's powerful performance of "Standing In My Way," a song about the meditations of a deeply flawed man. Longtime fans will also be thrilled to know that a new Ben Peters ("Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'") song appears in the album's repertoire with "Natural Feeling For You."

Working on the Music In My Heart album has also clearly reignited Pride's inner muse. "The other good news for my fans is that they probably won't have to wait quite as long for the next album" says Pride. "We've actually been working on a second project at the same time, which I hope to release sometime next year."

Pride, a three-time GRAMMY® award winner kicked off the year with another career-defining moment, when it was announced that he would be recognized with a 2017 "Lifetime Achievement Award." The country pioneer will accept the award this summer as part of The Recording Academy's Special Merit Awards, held in New York City. The award comes after Pride's recent celebration of his 50th year in country music.

Fans can also catch the Grand Ole Opry member on the road this summer supporting the new album. In addition to playing some of his biggest hits like "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" and "Is Anybody Going to San Antone," concertgoers will also get a first-listen to some of the new recordings from the upcoming project. The tour will travel throughout North America, including six stops in Canada, and will cross the Atlantic for both dates of the Harvest Country Music Festival in Ireland.

Music In My Heart Track Listing:
1. New Patches
2. Make Me One More Memory
3. Natural Feeling For You
4. All By My Lonesome
5. It Wasn't That Funny
6. The Same Eyes That Always Drove Me Crazy
7. I Learned A Lot
8. You're Still In These Crazy Arms Of Mine
9. The Way It Was In '51
10. I Just Can't Stop Missing You
11. You Lied To Me
12. Standing In My Way
13. Music In My Heart

Charley Pride On Tour:
May 06 - Hinton, Okla. - Sugar Creek Casino
May 10 - Regina, SK, Canada - Conexus Arts Centre
May 11 - Winnipeg, MB, Canada - Club Regent Casino & Event Centre
May 14 - Kitchener, ON, Canada - Centre In The Square
May 15 - Kinston, ON, Canada- The Grand Theatre
May 17 - New Brunswick, NB, Canada - Casino New Brunswick
May 18 - Halifax, NS, Canada - Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Dalhousie Arts Centre
Jun. 03 - Marksville, La. - Paragon Casino
Jun. 08 - Nashville, Tenn. - Charley Pride Fanclub Breakfast
Jun. 09-10 - Nashville, Tenn. - Grand Ole Opry
Jul. 08 - Bossier City, La. - Riverdome At Horseshoe Casino
Aug. 26 - Enniskillen Airport, Northern Ireland - Harvest Country Music Festival
Aug. 27 - Westport House, County Mayo, Ireland - Harvest Country Music Festival
Sept. 10 - Lancaster, Pa. - American Music Theatre
Sept. 22 - Arlington, Texas - Arlington Music Hall
Sept. 23 - Crockett, Texas - Crockett Civic Center
Sept. 29 - Branson, Mo. - The Welk Resort Theatre
Oct. 21 - Shipshewana, Ind. - Blue Gate Theater
Oct. 28 - Wendover, Nev. - Peppermill Concert Hall
Nov. 03-04 - Lincoln City, Ore. - Chinook Winds Casino
Nov. 11 - Mescalero, N.M. - Inn of the Mountain Gods

About Charley Pride:
Charley Pride is celebrating more than 50 years as a recording artist. He has enjoyed one of the most successful careers in the history of country music and is credited with helping to break color barriers by becoming the first black superstar within the genre. A true living legend, he has sold tens of millions of records worldwide with his large repertoire of hits. A three-time GRAMMY® award winner, Pride has garnered no less than 36 chart-topping country hits, including "Kiss An Angel Good Morning," a massive #1 crossover hit that sold over a million singles and helped Pride land the Country Music Association's "Entertainer of the Year" award in 1971 and the "Top Male Vocalist" awards of 1971 and 1972. A proud member of the Grand Ole Opry, Pride continues to perform concerts worldwide and has toured the United States, Canada, Ireland, The United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand over the last several years. For more information, visit CharleyPride.com.