When Jackie Robinson entered the all-white world of professional baseball in the 1940s, he was bombarded with racial slurs and threats.

When Charley Pride entered the all-white world of country music in the 1960s, a similar reception might have been expected.

Luckily, it didn't happen.

"There has never been one iota of hoot calls from the audience, like when they put black cats on the field for Jackie Robinson, that sort of thing," Pride said during a recent phone interview from Atlanta.

"I shocked a lot of people, but once I opened my mouth, they didn't care."

To be sure, there were some put off by the color of his skin. And in some cases it lingers still.

"I just got a letter from a lady who told me her mother never did come around, but her dad did," Pride said. "When people come to see me, they just scream and applaud and I get wonderful, wonderful letters."

Pride credits his rich baritone voice for much of his success in overcoming racial prejudice.

"Once they heard the voice, they didn't care if I was green," he said.

On Sunday, Pride will bring his distinctive voice to the American Music Theatre, a voice that has won him legions of fans in a career that has spanned four decades.

"The secret is just that I sing the songs people enjoy listening to and they've been coming out to hear me for over 40 years. It's just that simple," he said. "One lady told me she was attending her 22nd show. That was in Australia, and we only go there every 18 or 20 months, so you figure she must have traveled all over Australia to hear me."

Born in Mississippi, one of fifteen children of poor sharecroppers, early in his life it wasn't notes young Charley was trying to hit. It was baseballs.

In 1952, he pitched for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League. Somewhat successful, in 1953 he signed a contract with the Boise Yankees, a farm team of the New York Yankees. He unsuccessfully tried out for the California Angels in 1961 and the New York Mets in 1962.

However, music was his first love and he cut his first record at Sun Studios in Memphis in 1958. One song, "Walkin' (the Stroll)", saw some success in England.

In 1966 Pride caught the attention of RCA Record producer Chet Atkins. His first two records, "Snakes Crawl at Night" and "Before I Met You" had some success. His third single, "Just Between You and Me," hit #9 on the country charts and made Pride a bona fide country star.

In 1971, Pride released what would be his most successful record, "Kiss an Angel Good Morning." The million-seller landed him the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year award, as well as Top Male Vocalist.

To date, Pride has sold better than 70 million records.

On May 1, 1993, Pride again broke the color barrier, becoming the first African-American to join the Grand Ole Opry.

Now 71, Pride plays about 45 dates a year before audiences that span four and even five generations.

"We got on the plane to go back to Dallas from Nashville, and some young folks about 16, 17 or 18, said how they loved the show," Pride said. "They said I was awesome."

Charley Pride

Sun. 7 p.m. $65

American Music Theatre

2425 Lincoln Highway East

397-7700. www.amtshows.com