Ring finger
The ring finger on this hand is extended (left hand).
Latin	digitus annularis

The ring finger is the fourth proximal digit of the human hand, and the second most ulnar finger, located between the middle finger and the little finger. It is also called digitus medicinalis, the fourth finger, digitus annularis, digitus quartus, or digitus IV in anatomy.

Etymology[link]

According to László A. Magyar, the names of the ring finger in many languages reflect an ancient belief that it is a magical finger. It is named after magic or rings, or called nameless (for example, in Chinese: 無名指, unnamed finger).^[1] In Sanskrit and other Indic languages, the name for the ring finger is Anamika ("nameless").^{[citation needed]}

The wedding ring[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2007)

In Western cultures, a wedding ring is traditionally worn on the ring finger. This developed from the Roman "annulus pronubis" when the man gave a ring to the woman at the betrothal ceremony. According to tradition in some countries (derived from Roman belief), the wedding ring is worn on the left ring finger because the vein in the left ring finger, referred to as the vena amoris, was said to be directly connected to the heart, a symbol of love. Blessing the wedding ring and putting it on the bride's finger dates from the 11th century. In medieval Europe, the Christian wedding ceremony placed the ring in sequence on the index, middle, and ring fingers of the left hand. The ring was then left on the ring finger. In a few European countries, the ring is worn on the left hand prior to marriage, then transferred to the right during the ceremony. For example, a Greek Orthodox bride wears the ring on the left hand prior to the ceremony, then moves it to the right hand after the wedding. In England, the 1549 Prayer Book declared "the ring shall be placed on the left hand". By the 17th and 18th centuries the ring could be found on any finger after the ceremony — even on the thumb.

In some Orthodox Christian countries, the wedding ring is worn on the ring finger of the right hand.^[2]

Several traditions exist in traditional Jewish wedding ceremonies: most commonly today, the ring is placed on the index finger; but other traditions record placing it of the middle finger or the thumb.^[3] Today the ring usually is moved to the ring finger after the ceremony. Some Jewish grooms have adopted wearing a wedding ring.

A wedding ring is not a traditional part of the religious Muslim wedding; wedding rings are not included in most Islamic countries. However, if a wedding ring is worn in an Islamic country, it may be worn on either the left (such is the custom in Iran) or the right ring finger. As opposed to the wedding ring, use of a ring to denote betrothal or engagement is quite prevalent in Muslim countries, especially those in West and South Asia.

Rings are not traditional in an Indian wedding. In modern society, it is becoming a practice though to wear rings for engagements and not for actual marriage. Though the left hand is considered inauspicious for religious activities, ring (not to be called wedding ring) is still worn on the left hand.

In Sinhala and Tamil culture groom wears the wedding ring on his right hand and bride wears it on her left hand ring finger. This can be seen in countries like Sri Lanka where there is a rich Sinhala and Tamil cultural influence in the society.^[4]

Scientific study[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2008)

• The ratio between index and ring finger is believed to be linked to exposure to testosterone in the womb. On average, men tend to have longer ring fingers and women longer index fingers. The higher the testosterone, the greater the length of the ring finger and the more "masculine" the resulting child – whether male or female. The longest ring finger is known as the "Casanova pattern".^[5]
• In a study of stock traders, Cambridge University researchers found that the most successful had a relatively long ring finger. According to this study, the finger-length ratio was boosted by higher levels of testosterone in the womb during a crucial phase of gestation. Traders with long ring fingers made up to 11 times the earnings of their counterparts, the study found.^[6]
• Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley found the difference in the length between women's ring fingers and index fingers tend to be greater for lesbians than straight women. The same study also found that a greater difference in length of men's ring fingers and index fingers for gay men with several older brothers as compared to straight men.^[7]
• Scientists at the University of Bath found that children who had longer ring fingers are better with numbers-based subjects such as mathematics and physics, which are traditionally male favorites.^{[citation needed]}
• Canadian researchers from the University of Alberta have found a correlation between length of the ring finger and levels of physical aggression.^[5]

References[link]

External links[link]

Look up ring finger in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Online Ring Sizer
• Wedding rings in Germany - right or left, in German
• Archive of a 1998 article in a Flemish newspaper about the place of the wedding ring in the Low Countries

v t e Human regional anatomy (TA A01.1) Head Forehead · Ear · Jaw · Face (Cheek, Eye, Nose, Mouth, Chin) · Occiput · Scalp · Temple Neck Throat · Adam's apple Trunk Chest (Breast) · Abdomen (Navel) · Back · Pelvis (Sex organs) Limbs Upper limb Shoulder · Axilla · Arm Elbow · Forearm Wrist · Hand · Finger (Thumb · Index · Middle · Ring · Little) Lower limb/ (see also leg) Hip · Buttocks · Thigh Knee · Calf · Crus Ankle · Heel · Foot · Toe (Hallux · Long  • Third  • Fourth  • Fifth) · Sole General anatomy: systems and organs, regional anatomy, planes and lines, superficial axial anatomy, superficial anatomy of limbs

Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack signing an autograph.
Background information
Birth name	Lee Ann Womack
Born	(1966-08-19) August 19, 1966 (age 45)
Origin	Jacksonville, Texas, US
Genres	Country, Country Pop
Occupations	singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Decca Nashville MCA Nashville Mercury Nashville
Associated acts	Cross Canadian Ragweed, Willie Nelson, Jason Sellers, George Strait, Frank Liddell
Website	Official Website

Lee Ann Womack (born August 19, 1966 in Jacksonville, Texas, United States) is an American country music singer and songwriter, who is best known for her old fashioned-styled country music songs that often discuss subjects such as cheating and lost love.^[1] Her 2000 single, "I Hope You Dance" was a major crossover music hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Country Chart and the Top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her signature song.^[2]

Although Lee Ann Womack emerged as a contemporary country artist in 1997 with the release of her first album, her material closely resembled that of Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette,^[3] mixing Womack's music with an old fashioned style, as well as contemporary elements, making her different from her counterparts. Her 2000 release I Hope You Dance, however, was an entirely different sound, using pop music elements instead of traditional country, helping to establish Womack as a pop crossover artist. It was not until the release of There's More Where That Came From in 2005 that Womack returned to recording traditional country music.

Presently, Womack has released a total of six studio albums and two compilations. Four of her studio albums have received a Gold certification or higher by the RIAA. Additionally, she has received five Academy of Country Music Awards, five Country Music Association Awards, and a Grammy Award. She has sold over 6 million albums worldwide.*[1]

Early life[link]

Womack was born and raised in Jacksonville, Texas, United States. At an early age, she was interested in country music. Her father, a disc jockey, often took his daughter to work with him to help choose records to play on the air.^[4] Womack was the second of two daughters. Her mother was a schoolteacher and her father was also a high school principal. As a child, Womack studied the piano and later graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1984.^[1] After graduating, Womack attended South Plains Junior College in Levelland, Texas. The college was one of the first in the nation to offer country music degrees, and soon she became a member of the college band, Country Caravan.^[4] A year later, she left the college and after an agreement with her parents, Womack enrolled at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she studied the commercial ways of the music business. In Nashville, she interned at the A&R department of MCA Records. She studied at the college until 1990, leaving the school a year before graduation.^[1]

Womack spent a few years raising her children before reentering the music business in the mid 90s.^[2] In 1995 she began performing her music in songwriting demos and at showcase concerts. At one of these showcase concerts, she was spotted by Tree Publishings, who signed her after listening to one of original demo recordings.^[4] Womack wrote songs with some popular Nashville songwriters, including Bill Anderson and Ricky Skaggs, who recorded her composition, "I Don't Remember Forgetting" for one of his albums. After divorcing her first husband around that time, Womack decided to pursue a career as a country music artist. She auditioned for MCA chairman, Bruce Hinton, who praised her talents. Shortly afterward, she accepted a contract from MCA's sister record company, Decca Nashville in 1996.^[1]

Music career[link]

Country music stardom: 1997 — 1999[link]

Womack released her self-titled debut album in May 1997, produced by Mark Wright. The album consisted of self-penned material as well as songs written by other artists, including Mark Chesnutt, Ricky Skaggs, and Sharon White.^[4] With the original release of the album, there was worry that the album wouldn't sell because some people wouldn't be able to differentiate between her and LeAnn Rimes, who was also a successful artist at that time. However, Womack decided to keep her given name.^[2] The first single, "Never Again, Again" made the country charts and playlists by March 1997, which led to the release of the album's second single, "The Fool" shortly afterward. More successful than her first single, "The Fool" reached the Top 5 on the Billboard Country chart that year. That year she won major awards from the country music community; Top New Female Vocalist from the Academy of Country Music Awards, Top Artist of the Year from Billboard Magazine, and was nominated for the Horizon award by the Country Music Association.^[1] Decca Nashville decided to close its doors in 1998, moving Womack to MCA Nashville Records that year.^[5]

In 1998, Womack released her second studio album, Some Things I Know,^[1] which was also produced by Mark Wright.^[3] The album's first two singles, "A Little Past Little Rock" and "I'll Think of a Reason Later" both went to #2 on the Billboard Country Chart.^[5] Two additional singles, "(Now You See Me) Now You Don't" and "Don't Tell Me" were released in 1999, and the album was certified Gold by the RIAA soon after.

That year, she also won Favorite Country New Artist from the American Music Awards.^[2] Womack also contributed her vocals to the songs "If You're Ever Down in Dallas" and "The Man Who Made Mama Cry" in collaboration with her ex-husband and musician, Jason Sellers. The material was promoted through shows through October to November before the birth of Womack's second child in January 1999.^[3]

Pop crossover success & career decline: 2000 — 2004[link]

She released her third studio album in 2000 entitled, I Hope You Dance, which was met with major success.^[1] The title track (which was released as the lead single), reached #1 on the Billboard Country chart for five weeks and crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, becoming a major crossover Pop hit, reaching #14. It also peaked at the top spot on the adult contemporary chart and even reached the UK Singles Charts, peaking at #40. Both of Womack's daughters appeared in the song's video that year. Towards the end of 2000, "I Hope You Dance" won the Country Music Association's "Song of the Year" and "Single of the Year" awards.^[5] With the Pop success of "I Hope You Dance," Womack drew the attention of the magazines People and Time, both of which praised the single, calling it "one of her best." The song later won awards in 2001 from the Grammy and Academy of Country music awards.^[1] The album of the same name has sold 3 million copies in the United States to date.^[5] The album's follow-up single, a cover of Rodney Crowell's "Ashes by Now" peaked at #4 on the Billboard Country Chart. The third single, "Why They Call it Falling" was also successful, reaching the country Top 15.

On December 11, 2000, Womack performed "I Hope You Dance" at the annual Nobel Peace Prize concert. This song was also featured in the 2008 Tyler Perry film entitled "The Family that Preys."

In 2002 Womack's fourth studio album, Something Worth Leaving Behind was released. The album made a stronger attempt at a pop-flavored style, however it did not react well, leading to poor record sales and only one major hit. Following its release, Womack's career stalled. Later that year, she released a Christmas album, The Season for Romance and also collaborated with Willie Nelson on his single, "Mendocino County Line," which won a Grammy and Country Music award in 2002.^[5] In early 2003, she got a small recurring role on the popular CBS drama, The District.^[4]

In 2004, Womack performed "I Hope You Dance" at the Republican National Convention, in which George W. Bush was nominated for his second term as President of the United States. The other performers that night included Sara Evans and Larry Gatlin.^[6] She also collaborated with Texas Music band, Cross Canadian Ragweed on their hit, "Sick and Tired" in 2004. Also that year, she also released her first Greatest Hits album, which included two new songs; "The Wrong Girl" (the only song from the album released as a single) and "Time for Me to Go."

[edit] There's More Where That Came From & hiatus: 2005 — 2007

In 2005, she released her fifth studio album aimed at traditional country music entitled, There's More Where That Came From.^[5] Many people in the music industry called the album, "a return to tradition," featuring songs about drinking and cheating with a distinctive older country twang, mixing strings and steel guitar. The album won the Country Music Association's "Album of the Year" award in 2005.^[7] Womack took inspiration from the records of the 60s and 70s, and according to Allmusic, the album sounded like albums by Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, and Dolly Parton from the 70s. They also called it one of her best records.^[8] The lead single, "I May Hate Myself in the Morning" was a Top 10 hit in 2005, and also won "Single of the Year" by the CMA awards later that year.^[5] Two additional singles were released from the album in 2005 that became minor hits, "He Oughta Know That by Now" and "Twenty Years and Two Husbands Ago." The album was released on vinyl LP as well as CD.

Womack can be heard on the track "If I Could Only Fly" from Joe Nichols' album Real Things.^[9] Womack has also appeared on specials on the CMT network, including their, "100 Greatest Duets", which featured Womack singing the duet with Kenny Rogers, "Every Time Two Fools Collide". The song had been originally recorded by Rogers and Dottie West in 1978 and was a No. 1 Country hit that year. Womack took the place of West during that show, being West had died in a serious car accident in September 1991. Womack's other honors includes being listed at #17 on CMT's 2002 special of their countdown of the 40 Greatest Women of Country Music.

In 2006, Womack announced plans of a sixth studio album off of Mercury Nashville Records. The lead single, "Finding My Way Back Home" was released in the late summer of that year and debuted at #46 on the Billboard Country Chart.^[10] The single later peaked at #37 and was re-scheduled into 2007, because Womack found more songs that she wanted to record, however it was never released and Womack left Mercury.^[11]

Return to music: 2008 — present[link]

In 2008, Womack announced plans for a new single for the first time in three years, once again on MCA Nashville. "Last Call" was released on June 30, 2008. It served as the lead-off single to Womack's seventh studio album, Call Me Crazy, which was released on October 21, 2008.

Call Me Crazy was issued as a vinyl LP at the time of its release, as well as CD.

Call Me Crazy, produced by Tony Brown, has been described as a dark album with plenty of songs about drinking and losing love. It featured a duet with George Strait titled "Everything But Quits," a re-make of the George Strait classic, "The King of Broken Hearts," which first appeared on the Pure Country soundtrack. One track, "The Bees," features vocals from Keith Urban.^[12]

In October 2009, Womack released "There Is a God", as the lead-off single to her upcoming seventh studio album which she has said she is unsure of the release date. The song debuted at #60 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of November 14, 2009, eventually peaking at #32 in early 2010. Womack has revealed a few of the tracks that she has recorded for the album, including: "Talking Behind Your Back", as well as "You Do Until You Don't".^[13]

In October 2010, Womack contributed the new track "Liars Lie" to the soundtrack for the film Country Strong. Womack also contributed guest vocals to Alan Jackson's cover of the song "Ring of Fire", which was released in December 2010 as a single from his compilation album, 34 Number Ones. His version of the song was a minor hit, charting to number 45 on the Hot Country Songs charts. Though Womack is featured on the song, she was not given credit on the charts.

Lee Ann Womack also performs the theme song for The Berenstain Bears animated television show.

Personal life[link]

At Belmont University, Womack met and married singer-songwriter Jason Sellers in 1990. Together they had a daughter Aubrie Lee Sellers, born 1991, before divorcing in 1996.^[14] In January 1999 daughter Anna Lise Liddell was born after Womack married record producer Frank Liddell.

Discography[link]

Studio album

• 1997: Lee Ann Womack
• 1998; Some Things I Know
• 2000: I Hope You Dance
• 2002: Something Worth Leaving Behind
• 2005: There's More Where That Came From
• 2008: Call Me Crazy

Compilation albums

• 2004: Greatest Hits
• 2011: Icon

Holiday albums

• 2002: The Season for Romance

Awards[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Lee Ann Womack's Official Website
• Lee Ann Womack Unofficial Site
• Lee Ann Womack at the Internet Movie Database

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lee Ann Womack

Charley Pride
Pride performing at the Capital Centre on the 1981 Inauguration Day
Background information
Birth name	Charley Frank Pride
Born	(1938-03-18) March 18, 1938 (age 74)[citation needed]
Origin	Sledge, Mississippi, United States
Genres	Country music
Occupations	Singer Former Professional Baseball player business and radio station owner
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1966–present
Labels	RCA 16th Avenue Music City
Website	http://www.charleypride.com/

Charley Frank Pride (born March 18, 1938) is an American country music singer. His smooth baritone voice was featured on thirty-nine number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His greatest success came in the early- to mid-1970s, when he became the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis Presley.^[1] His chart success and recordings since the late 1980s have been sporadic, but Pride continued touring successfully.

Pride is one of the few Black country musicians to have had considerable success in the largely Caucasian country music industry and the only one to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. In 2010, Pride became a special investor and minority owner of the Texas Rangers baseball club.^[2]

Early life and career[link]

Pride was born in Sledge, Mississippi, one of eleven children of poor sharecroppers. His father intended to name him Charl Frank Pride, but owing to a clerical error on his birth certificate, his legal name is Charley Frank Pride.^[3] In his early teens, Pride began playing guitar.

Though he also loved music, one of Pride's life-long dreams was to become a professional baseball player. In 1952, he pitched for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League. He pitched well, and, in 1953, he signed a contract with the Boise Yankees, the Class C farm team of the New York Yankees. During that season, an injury caused him to lose the "mustard" on his fastball, and he was sent to the Yankees' Class D team in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Later that season, while in the Negro leagues with the Louisville Clippers, he and another player (Jesse Mitchell), were traded to the Birmingham Black Barons for a team bus. "Jesse and I may have the distinction of being the only players in history to be traded for a used motor vehicle," Pride mused in his 1994 autobiography.^{[4][dead link]}

He pitched for several other minor league teams, his hopes of making it to the big leagues still alive. Pride appeared to be advancing to a career in baseball, but the Army derailed this. After serving two years in the military, he tried to return to baseball.^[5] Though hindered by an injury to his throwing arm, Pride briefly played for the Missoula Timberjacks of the Pioneer League (a farm club of the Cincinnati Reds) in 1960,^[6] and had tryouts with the California Angels (1961) and the New York Mets (1962) organizations, but was not picked up by either team. He worked construction in Helena, Montana during this time.^[6][7] When it became apparent that he was not destined for greatness on the baseball diamond, Pride pursued a music career.^[5]

On June 5, 2008, Pride, his brother, Mack "The Knife" Pride, and 28 other living former Negro league players were "drafted" by each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams in a recognition of the on-field achievements and historical relevance of 30 mostly forgotten Negro league stars. Pride was picked by the Texas Rangers (with whom he has had a long affiliation) while his brother was taken by the Colorado Rockies.^[8][9]

Rise to music fame[link]

While he was active in baseball, Pride had been encouraged to join the music business by country stars such as Red Sovine and Red Foley, and was working towards this career. In 1958, in Memphis, Tennessee, Pride visited Sun Studios and recorded some songs.^[10] One song has survived on tape^{[disambiguation needed ]}, and was released in the United Kingdom as part of a box set. The song is a slow stroll in walking tempo called "Walkin' (the Stroll)."^[11]

Nashville manager and agent Jack D. Johnson signed Pride and landed him a contract with a record label, and he caught the ear of record producer Chet Atkins. Atkins was the longtime producer of RCA Records who had made stars out of country singers such as Jim Reeves, Skeeter Davis and others. Pride was signed to RCA in 1965. In January 1966, he released his first single with RCA, "The Snakes Crawl at Night", which did not chart. On the records of this song submitted to radio stations for airplay, the singer was listed as "Country Charley Pride". At this time, country music was a white medium. Jack made sure that there were no pictures of Pride distributed for the first two years of his career, in order to avoid the effects of Jim Crowism.

Soon after the release of "The Snakes Crawl at Night", Pride released another single called "Before I Met You", which also did not chart. Soon after, Pride's third single, "Just Between You and Me", was released. This song was the one that finally brought Pride success on the Country charts. The song reached #9 on US Country chart.

Height of his career[link]

The success of "Just Between You and Me" was enormous. He won a Grammy Award for the song the next year.

In 1967, he became the first black performer to appear at the Grand Ole Opry since harmonica player DeFord Bailey.^[12] Bailey was a regular cast member of the Opry from 1925 through 1941, and made a final appearance in 1974.^[13] Pride also appeared in 1967 on the American Broadcasting Company's "The Lawrence Welk Show".^[14]

Between 1969 and 1971 Pride had eight single records that simultaneously reached number one on the US Country Hit Parade and also charted on the Billboard Hot 100: "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)", "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again", "I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me", "I'd Rather Love You", "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone", "Wonder Could I Live There Anymore?", "I'm Just Me", and "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'". The pop success of these songs reflected the country/pop crossover sound that was reaching Country music in the 1960s and early 1970s, known as "Countrypolitan". In 1969 his compilation album, The Best of Charley Pride sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.^[15]

Pride sang the Paul Newman directed film Sometimes a Great Notion's main soundtrack song "All His Children" in 1970.^[16] The film starred Newman and Henry Fonda and received two Oscar nominations in 1972, one being for the song that Pride sang.^[17]

"Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'"[link]

In 1971, he would release what would become his biggest hit "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'", a million-selling crossover single that helped Pride land the Country Music Association's prestigious Entertainer of the Year award, as well as Top Male Vocalist.^[18] He won CMA's Top Male Vocalist award again in 1972.^[19]

"Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" became Pride's signature tune. Besides being a five-week country #1 in late 1971 and early 1972, the song was also his only pop Top 40 hit, hitting #21, and reaching the Top Ten of the Adult Contemporary charts as well.

Pride during the 1970s, 1980s and beyond[link]

During the rest of the 1970s and into the 1980s, Pride continued to rack up country music hits. Other Pride standards of the 1970s and 1980s include "Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town," "Someone Loves You, Honey," "When I Stop Leavin' (I'll Be Gone)," "Burgers and Fries", "I Don't Think She's in Love Anymore", "Roll On Mississippi", "Never Been So Loved (In All My Life)" and "You're So Good When You're Bad." Like many other country performers, he has paid tribute to Hank Williams, with an album of songs that were all written by Hank entitled There's a Little Bit of Hank in Me, which included top-sellers of Williams' classics "Kaw-Liga," "Honky Tonk Blues" and "You Win Again".

Pride has sold over 70 million records (singles, albums, compilation included).^[20]

He stayed with RCA Records until 1986. At that point, he grew angry over the fact that the record company began to promote newer artists and not older artists who had been with the company for years.^{[citation needed]} He moved on to 16th Avenue Records, where Pride bounced back with the #5 hit, "Shouldn't it be Easier Than This." He had a few minor hits with 16th Avenue, as well.

Pride's lifelong passion for baseball continues; he has an annual tradition of joining the Texas Rangers for workouts during Spring Training. A big Rangers fan (Dallas has been his home for many years), Pride is often seen at their games.^[21]

In 2008, Pride received the Mississippi Arts Commission's lifetime achievement award during the organization's Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts.^[22][23]

Personal[link]

Pride met his future wife, Rozene, while playing baseball in the southern states. They were married in 1956. They have two sons (Kraig, Dion) and a daughter (Angela). They currently reside in Dallas, Texas.^[21] Kraig now goes by the name Carlton and has somewhat followed in his father's footsteps as a performing artist. His band, Carlton Pride and Zion started in San Marcos, Texas in 1995 and they perform a variety of reggae, funk, and soul music throughout the United States.

In 1994 Pride co-wrote (with Jim Henderson) his autobiography, Pride: The Charley Pride Story.^[24] In this book he reveals that he has struggled for years with manic depression.

Pride had a tumor removed from his right vocal cord in 1997 at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He returned to the site in February 2009 for a routine checkup and surprised the Arkansas Senate with an unplanned performance of five songs. He was joined by Governor Mike Beebe during the show.^[25] Pride is an avid fan and part owner^[26] of the Texas Rangers. He sang the national anthem before game 5 of the 2010 World Series, played between the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants.^[27]Pride sang the national anthem before game 2 of the 2011 ALCS between the Detroit Tigers & Texas Rangers

Film[link]

On April 29, 2011 it was announced that a biopic was in the works based on Pride's life and career. The film will be produced by and star actor and professional wrestler, Dwayne Johnson.^[28]

Chronology[link]

This article is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this article to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (January 2009)

• 1960s, Pride lived in Helena, MT and played legion baseball for the Helena Smelterites.
• January 1966 - "The Snakes Crawl At Night" his first RCA Single is issued, receives airplay but does not chart.
• June 1966 - Second RCA Single - "Before I Met You" also does not chart.
• December 1966 – Makes his debut on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart with "Just Between You and Me." The song would peak in the top 10 less than three months later; two earlier singles had failed to chart.
• August 9, 1969 – Scores his first Billboard No. 1 hit with "All I Have to Offer You Is Me."
• September 6, 1969 – Pride appears on national television on The Johnny Cash Show to perform a medley of Hank Williams songs with Cash. Pride's medley with Cash can be seen here.^[29]
• 1971 – Enjoys the biggest hit of his career with the million-seller "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'." The song was his eighth No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, and spent five weeks atop the chart.
• September 17, 1983 – Scores his 29th and final No. 1 hit on Billboard with "Night Games." He still remains sixth on the all-time list of most No. 1 hits on the Billboard country charts. "Night Games" would be the last song performed by a black artist to hit the top of the Billboard country charts until Darius Rucker's "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" reached #1 in 2008.
• May 1, 1993 – Pride accepted an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry, in the process becoming the first black Opry regular in the show's more than 70-year history.
• 1994 – Pride released his autobiography, Pride: The Charley Pride Story (published by William Morrow).
• June 1994 – Pride was honored by the Academy of Country Music with its prestigious Pioneer Award.
• January 1996 – Pride was honored with a Trumpet Award by Turner Broadcasting, marking outstanding African-American Achievement. His 1981 hit, "Roll On Mississippi", is considered the official song of his home state^{[citation needed]}, a stretch of Mississippi highway was named for him^{[citation needed]} and he headlined a special Christmas performance for President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton at the White House.^{[citation needed]}
• July 1999 – Pride received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.^{[citation needed]}
• March 25, 2003 - Received the Texas Cultural Trust's Texas Medal of Arts.^[30]
• March 27, 2003 - Ranked #18 on CMT's 40 Greatest Men in Country Music.
• May 20, 2003 – Pride's album, Comfort of Her Wings, was released on Music City Records.
• November 7, 2006 – Pride's album, Pride & Joy: A Gospel Music Collection, was released on Music City Records.
• January 10, 2008 - Received a lifetime achievement award from the Mississippi Arts Commission.

Discography[link]

Awards[link]

American Music Awards

• 1973 Favorite Country Album - "A Sun Shiny Day"
• 1973 Favorite Country Male Artist
• 1976 Favorite Country Male Artist

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

• Inducted in 2000

Country Music Association

• 1971 Entertainer of the Year
• 1971 Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1972 Male Vocalist of the Year

Grammy Awards

• 1972 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - "Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs"

See also[link]

• Grand Ole Opry
• Inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame (2000 inductee)

References[link]

General

• Country Music: The Rough Guide; Wolff, Kurt; Penguin Publishing

Specific

External links[link]

• Official Website
• Record Label
• at the Grand Ole Opry

Hins Cheung
Performing at a concert in 2010
Chinese name	張敬軒 (Traditional)
Chinese name	张敬轩 (Simplified)
Birth name	Zhang Jingxuan (张敬轩)
Ancestry	Beijing, China
Born	(1981-02-01) 1 February 1981 (age 31) Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Occupation	Singer, songwriter
Genre(s)	Cantopop
Instrument(s)	Singing, Piano
Label(s)	Universal Music Group
Years active	1999-present
Official Website	Hins blog

Hins Cheung is a Chinese Cantopop singer and songwriter in Hong Kong. He was born and grew up in Guangzhou. He studied and graduated from the Guangzhou City 7th Secondary School. He is currently under contract with Universal Records. He has expressed a desire to return to his hometown of Guangzhou and live there when he reaches an elder age.

In 2008, he performed at the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Charity Gala in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with many other artists.

In April 2008, he performed three concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum sponsored by Aigo Music.

Discography[link]

• Hins' First (August 2001)
• My Way (August 2002)
• A.M./P.M. (November 2004)
• My dream my way (simplified Chinese: 我的梦想我的路; traditional Chinese: 我的夢想我的路) (August 2005)
• Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter (春.夏.秋.冬) (23 March 2006)
• The Book of Laughter and Forgetting (simplified Chinese: 笑忘书; traditional Chinese: 笑忘書) (20 October 2006)
• Ardently Love (simplified Chinese: 酷爱; traditional Chinese: 酷愛) (16 August 2007)
• My 1st Collection (28 December 2007)
• Aigo Hins Concert 3CD (16 May 2008)
• Urban Emotions (11 July 2008)
• 拉闊變奏廳 Live2CD (13 October 2008)
• Love & Living (9 April 2009)
• No. Eleven (15 April 2010)
• The Greatness of a Hero (2009)
• P.S. I Love You (15 April 2011)

	"Ardently Love" (2007) noicon First song in the album of the same name, Ardently Love. This song launched Cheung to new heights and led to numerous awards.
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Filmography[link]

• The Legend Is Born - Ip Man (2010)
• In The Name Of...love (2008)
• Wonder Women (2007)
• Dancing Lion (2007)
• Love Is Not All Around (2007)
• Moments of Love (2005)
• In-Laws, Out-Laws (2004)

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References[link]

The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guideline for music. Please help to establish notability by adding reliable, secondary sources about the topic. If notability cannot be established, the article is likely to be merged, redirected, or deleted. (December 2010)

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (December 2010)

Rusty Cooley is a guitarist from Houston, Texas known for his highly refined guitar technique.

Early life[link]

Rusty received his first equipment (a Peavey T27 guitar and a Peavey Decade amp) on his fifteenth birthday. From that day on Cooley immersed himself in music, practicing upwards of 4 hours a day. Rusty took guitar lessons for a while but became dissatisfied with local guitar instructors and decided to become self-taught. He relied on instructional books and videos like Doug Mark's Metal Method.

After only three years of playing he became a guitar teacher at the music store where he had purchased his first guitar.

After high school Rusty went to the local college and studied Music Theory.

Solo work[link]

Rusty was unsatisfied with local musicians and began to work on solo music in early 1996. He also began playing 7-string guitars exclusively at this time. His debut solo album Rusty Cooley was released in 2003 on Lion Music.

Currently[link]

Rusty recently collaborated with Pro Tone Pedals on testing their new Jason Becker Perpetual Burn Signature Distortion Pedal, as Jason himself now has ALS and can no longer play the guitar. Pro Tone Pedals has posted several videos of Rusty testing prototypes of the pedal on YouTube, and on one video, Rusty himself commented on it, saying that Jason was one of his biggest influences and that it was an honor to work on his signature pedal. Recently Pro Tone has also been working on a Rusty Cooley Signature pedal as well. Rusty has also released his signature 7-string model with Dean. Recently his lead work was featured on metal band Austrian Death Machine's new album, "Double Brutal." Recently, Rusty has been recording a demo with his new band Day of Reckoning (http://www.reverbnation.com/dayofreckoning).

Teaching[link]

Rusty has been a guitar instructor since his third year of playing. He has also released five instructional products, done lessons for magazines (such as his Metal Guru column) and posted many lessons on sites such as Shredaholic. In addition, he has taught for the National Guitar Workshop three times (1996, 1997, 1998) and given many clinics. Rusty has many successful students, such as Chris Storey (ex All Shall Perish) and Mica Roth, former member of Hybreed.

Endorsements[link]

Currently Rusty is endorsed by Dean Guitars, EMG Pickups, Morley Pedals, GHS strings, VHT, Rocktron, Eventide, Maxon and more recently Peavey amplification.

He was previously endorsed by Jackson Guitars and, more recently, Ibanez Guitars.

His Signature Dean Model was released at NAMM in early 2007.

Releases[link]

Music[link]

• Outworld - Outworld (band)
• Rusty Cooley
• Book of Reflections
• Shawn Lane Remembered Vol. 1
• Warmth in the Wilderness 2 A Tribute to Jason Becker
• Prog Power 4
• Prog Power 3
• The Alchemist
• Fresh Blood Vol. 4
• Lick This
• Guitarapalooza Vol. l
• Ball One Strike One
• Across the Miles
• Revolution 4-song EP
• Two guest solos on the track "From So Far Away" from All Shall Perish's album "Awaken the Dreamers"
• All solos on the track "Let off some steam Bennett" from Austrian Death Machine's album "Double Brutal"

Instructional products[link]

• Shred Guitar Manifesto
• Extreme Pentatonics
• The Art of Picking
• Rusty Cooley Performance/Clinic
• Rusty Cooley Performance/Clinic 2
• Basic Training
• Fretboard Autopsy - Parts I & II
• Guest Lesson on Mark Tremonti - The Sound and The Story

Television appearances[link]

• Stay Tuned
• Metallurgy Live
• Metallurgy Unplugged
• World Class Guitar Techniques
• Robb’s Metal Works
• Rusty Cooley's Guitar Asylum TV

References[link]

http://rustycooley.com/biography.html

External links[link]

• Official Website
• Rusty Cooley Videos
• The music video for "Under the Influence"
• Interview
• Outworld Message Board - Ask Rusty
• GUITAR GODS: Rusty Cooley (2003 interview)