Danielia Cotton Releases Powerful Body Of Work Charley’s Pride: A Tribute To Black Country Music

Official EP Release Party Announced: September 20 During Americanafest

Listen to Charley’s Pride: A Tribute to Black Country Music HERE

“Listening to Cotton sing is like watching Simone Biles tumble: You’re going to witness something you’ve not experienced before, and you won’t know what that is until it happens, and you’ll marvel at what seems like a metahuman skill.” – Country Universe

August 29, 2024 — Today, multi-hyphenate Americana/Soul/Rock artist Danielia Cotton releases her latest EP, Charley’s Pride: A Tribute to Black Country Music. Available now through Cottontown LLC with Symphonic distribution, the record is a powerful celebration of Black country music, paying tribute to the legacy of Charley Pride and the often-overlooked contributions of Black artists in the genre. Through five soul-stirring tracks, Cotton creates a body of work that serves as a heartfelt homage to family, heritage, and the enduring impact of pioneers like Pride, who paved the way for future generations in country music. Produced, engineered, and mixed by GRAMMY®-nominated Marc Copely at Casa Copely Recording, and co-produced by Cotton herself, Charley’s Pride: A Tribute to Black Country Music features an all-star lineup of musicians, including Aaron Comess (Spin Doctors), Andy Hess (Gov’t Mule, Black Crowes), and Brian Mitchell (Bob Dylan, BB King, Dolly Parton.)

Arriving today with the EP release is “Bring Out The Country (In Me),” a brand new original single. Penned by Cotton herself and producer Marc Copely, “Bring Out The Country In Me” stands out as a powerhouse track that adds a bold, contemporary edge to the EP, showcasing Cotton’s signature raw, unfiltered grit while preserving the heart and soul of country music. Cotton shares, “Coming to New York City from a small town, is a serious transition. What surprised me was how much of the small town ways I didn’t lose. The big city kinda made me more me than ever. I’m kinda proud of that.”

For Cotton, Charley’s Pride: A Tribute to Black Country Music is more than a tribute to a musical hero; it's a celebration of her family's rich history and a reflection of her identity. The cover art poignantly features a cherished photo of Cotton’s grandparents, highlighting the deep familial roots that ground this project. Growing up as a young multiracial girl in the predominantly white farmlands of New Jersey, Cotton found solace in rock music, resonating with her feelings of isolation. As part of a family with five living generations, including her mother and aunts who were professional vocalists, music is in her blood, and the musical stories she absorbed deeply influenced her. She vividly recalls tales of her grandfather secretly keeping a Charley Pride album under his bed—because back then it wasn’t popular for a Black man to be into Country. A recent conversation with her 103-year-old grandmother revealed that the album had originally belonged to her, deepening Cotton's connection to Pride's music and further inspiring her to reimagine his classics.

Reflecting on the nature of this project, Cotton explains, “I always try to make the story personal for me, and I hope to connect with listeners in a way that maybe even people who wouldn't normally listen to Country might get to the end of the song and think, 'Whoa!' It's also about bringing awareness to the contributions that Black artists have made to the genre.”

Charley’s Pride: A Tribute to Black Country Music arrives at a poignant moment, as Black contributions to country music are increasing in recognition. This year, Pride’s iconic single “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Cotton chose songs that spoke to her, including “Kiss An Angel Good Morning,” the emotionally charged “So Afraid Of Losing You Again,” “Snakes Crawl At Night,” and the classic “Roll On Mississippi.” Her interpretation of “Roll On Mississippi” emphasizes the song’s exploration of how a place can hold profound significance. “Places are important parts of our memory,” Cotton says. “When you grow up with a place that has significant meaning, it becomes a part of you, especially during childhood. When you write music, it’s all about your memories.” Cotton’s renditions of Pride’s songs have struck a chord with listeners nationwide. “Kiss An Angel Good Morning” and “Roll On Mississippi” both charted in the Top 100 on the Americana charts earlier this summer, with the latter peaking at #6 on CDX Triple A Radio's ‘Surging & Emerging’ Chart." 

Cotton will host her official Charley’s Pride: A Tribute to Black Country Music release party on September 20 at Zeke’s Juke Joint in Nashville, TN during AmericanaFest. Fans in town for AmericanaFest see Cotton perform at Zeke's and several other venues throughout the week. Praised by Boston Herald, as “…an honest-to-God voice with real power, conviction, emotion and soul,” her shows are one-of-a-kind. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: https://danieliacotton.com.

 Charley’s Pride: A Tribute to Black Country Music Track Listing

1. Roll On Mississippi
2. Kiss An Angel Good Morning
3. So Afraid Of Losing You Again
4. Snakes Crawl At Night
5. Bring Out The Country (In Me)

Danielia Cotton Upcoming Live Shows

September 5 - Berlin - New York, NY

September 19 - The Virgin Hotel | AmericanaFest Week Show - Nashville, TN

September 20 - Papa Turney's / Miss Zeke's Juke Joint | AmericanaFest Week Show - Nashville, TN

September 21 - Michael Weintrob Studio Gallery | AmericanaFest Week Show - Nashville, TN

September 21 - Crooked Eye Blues Fest & Papapalooza | AmericanaFest Week Show - Springfield, TN

October 26 - Stephen’s Talkhouse - Amagansett, NY 

MORE INFO ON DANIELIA COTTON

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For more information please contact:

Rebecca Shapiro, Mike Jones and Moya Crowley at Shore Fire Media

danieliacottonpr@shorefire.com