Country music legend Charley Pride arrived in La Ronge yesterday to play a concert — and left as a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.

Pride’s visit included a trip to the Catherine Charles Long Term Care Centre and putting on a well-received show at the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre attended by 1,300 fans.

Band councillors and Chief Tammy Cook-Searson were so impressed with the singer, the decision was made to make Pride an honourary band member.

To Cook-Searson’s knowledge, this is the first time the band has designated someone an honourary member.

She says they also gave Pride a Cree name which means “Big Eagle”, because he arrived in the community by air.