My Experience Meeting Country Music Icon Charlie Daniels

Charlie Daniels gave his life to his musical career performing several shows each year in hundreds of cities across the United States.

The native of North Carolina starting performing in the 1950’s and later used his early influences of Gospel music to became a studio musician in Nashville throughout the 1960’s.

Charlie Daniels went solo the early 1970’s and had his first hit in 1973 with the novelty song “Uneasy Rider” he wrote and perform the songs that would define him in the mid 70’s with “Long Haired Country Boy” and “The Souths Gonna Do It Again”.

In 1979 The Charlie Daniels Band scored their biggest hit and signature song “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” which won a Grammy, crossed the country music charts, and gained major airplay on rock stations.

I remember hearing the song when I was stationed in San Diego in the NAVY, I bought the album and was instantly a huge fan.

I met Charlie Daniels in the early 90’s, he was a soft-spoken man, who loved music and among other things the outdoor life. I remember him asking me if I fished, and where the best places to catch lake trout. I was actively fishing at the time, so I was quick to respond with the Delaware River, one of my favorite places.

The CDB continued to have chart success and even in the late 1980’s and 1990’s when I was working on a country radio station he had a few hits with “Simple Man”  “Boogie Woogie Fiddle Country Blues” and a song about my profession “Mister D.J.”

The last time I saw him was in the 2000’s and I was still amazed how he could switch from Fiddle to guitar and never miss a note.

Charlie Daniels a musical jewel has played his last performance.

[Via Wikipedia]