Charlie Daniels Timeline

Charles E. Daniels born Oct. 28 at James Memorial Hospital in Wilmington, North Carolina after the hospital put “S” on the end of his last name Daniel. 

Charlie has a bluegrass band and writes first song. 

Joins several rock and roll and R&B groups including the Jaguars (1959-1967).

Daniels co-writes “It Hurts Me” recorded by Elvis Presley for the flip side of “Kissin Cousins.”

Daniels is invited by producer Bob Johnston to Nashville, begins work as a session player. Joins Johnston on Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline (and two other latter albums Self Portrait and New Morning).  Charlie does other sessions, among them Ringo Starr and Marty Robbins.

Charlie produces bands, including the Youngbloods’ Elephant Mountain and Ride the Wind, the latter recorded live at a festival in Louisiana and at the Fillmores East and West.

Charlie forms The Charlie Daniels Band and records Te John, Grease and Wolfman, named after the band members’ nicknames. 

Honey in the Rock, includes hit single “Uneasy Rider,” a talking blues number.

CDB issues Way Down Yonder. Records Fire On The Mountain, includes hits “The South’s Gonna Do It Again” and “Long Haired Country Boy.” Daniels records songs live in an auditorium in Nashville and in a nod to Volunteer State calls concert the “Volunteer Jam,” invites friends from the Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker Band. “We had such a good time, we decided we should do this once in a while.” “Once in a while” becomes almost every year. 

1975
A second Volunteer Jam in Murfreesboro, Tenn., result in the album Volunteer Jam.

With the album, Saddle Tramp, the CDB joins Epic Records. Daniels aligns himself with presidential candidate Jimmy Carter. The CD Band are among performers at his inauguration.

The CDB issues two albums, High Lonesome and Midnight Wind.

More Volunteer Jams result in a two-record set, Volunteer Jam III and IV.

Million Mile Reflections yields “Devil Went Down to Georgia,” which reaches No. 1 and for which Daniels wins the Grammy for Best Country Vocal.

The CDB appears in the film, “Urban Cowboy,” another Jam brings another VJ (VI) album. CDB’s Full Moon includes “In America,” Daniels’ response to the Iran hostage crisis. The CDB hit the charts with The Legend of Wooley Swamp.

Volunteer Jam and album (VII).

In the Windows album, the CDB’s version of Dan Daley’s “Still in Saigon” reaches No. 22.

The CDB issues a compilation, The Charlie Daniels Band-A Decade of Hits.

Me and the Boys album is released.

The CDB releases Powder Keg album.

Homesick Heroes is issued out of CBS/Nashville and results in a Top 10 country record “Boogie 

Woogie Fiddle Country Blues.”

Simple Man hits to No. 2 on the country charts. Daniels is subject of a long-form music video, 

“Charlie Daniels: Homefolks and Highways.” The CDB releases first holiday album, Christmas Time Down South.

Renegade is released, and Daniels announces the return of the Volunteer Jam in May in Nashville with B.B. King, Steppenwolf, Tanya Tucker, and, of course, The Charlie Daniels Band.

Charlie Daniels signs a new record deal with Liberty Records.

 
1993

Liberty Records releases the first Charlie Daniels album in April, titled, America, I Believe In You. Dickies workwear, out of Ft. Worth, Texas signs Daniels as a celebrity spokesman.

Releases Christian album The Door. Charlie and Chris LeDoux celebrate Christmas at Charlie’s Twin Pines Ranch where “A Wrangler Cowboy Christmas” special is taped for TNN with Baxter Black, Diamond Rio and Linda Davis.

Charlie Daniels named Cashbox Magazine’s Best Positive Christian Country Performance by a Secular Artist. Receives Dove Award and a Grammy nom for his Christian album, The Door, and inks contract to host Charlie Daniels’ Talent Roundup, on TN. A tour is set with Charlie, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Travis Tritt.

Releases second gospel album Steel Witness.  The Charlie Daniels Band joins “Southern Thunder Tour” with Hank Williams Jr. and The Marshall Tucker Band. Celebrates 60th birthday with Volunteer Jam XVI, the first Acoustic Jam. Charlie Daniels: The Roots Remain box set released. Daniels and manager David Corlew start independent record label, Blue Hat Records, release Blues Hat. Sony Wonder releases Charlie’s children’s album, By The Light Of The Moon: Campfire Songs and Cowboy Tunes.

Wins Pioneer Award by the Academy of Country Music with congratulatory messages from Garth Brooks, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, music by Travis Tritt and Marty Stuart. The Charlie Daniels Band releases Fiddle Fire / 25 Years of The Charlie Daniels Band. 

The Charlie Daniels Band releases Tailgate Party. Takes Volunteer Jam on the road for Volunteer Jam Tour ‘99 with Molly Hatchet, The Marshall Tucker Band and Hank Williams Jr. Charity partnership is developed with Habitat for Humanity. Charlie receives the Living Legend Award from The Music City News/TNN Awards show.

CDB releases Road Dogs. Volunteer Jam Tour goes on the road with Hank Williams Jr., Little Feat & Edgar Winter.

The Charlie Daniels Band rocks amphitheaters on the Volunteer Jam Tour 2001 with 38 Special, The Dickey Betts Band. Charlie Daniels opens museum in downtown Nashville. Releases the Charlie Daniels Band’s first live album, LIVE. Charlie Daniels is inducted into his hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina’s prestigious Walk of Fame. Charlie turns 65. Records “This Ain’t No Rag, It’s A Flag” in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee after the September 11th tragedy. 

 

The CDB releases How Sweet The Sound – 25 Favorite Hymns and Gospel Greats and Redneck Fiddlin’ Man and A Merry Christmas To All. 

Freedom and Justice for All is released, Regnery Publishers Daniels’ hardback book, “Ain’t No Rag (Freedom, Family and the Flag).”

The CDB performs for soldiers in Germany and Kosovo.

The Charlie Daniels Band, Black Eyed Peas, Earth, Wind and Fire perform for the Super Bowl XXXIX “Bridging Generations” pre-game show in Jacksonville, FL. Appears on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Super Bowl Saturday Night Special live on CMT. Releases Songs From The Longleaf Pines, first bluegrass album. With nonprofit organization “Stars for Stripes,” CDB performs for troops in Kyrgystan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Germany. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. releases CDB’s Country Stars N’ Stripes. Writes ‘Titans On 2’ campaign song played at Tennessee Titans home games. Releases live concert DVD shot July 4, 2005 on Nashville’s Riverfront. Honored as BMI Icon during 53rd Annual BMI Country Awards. CDB launches Operation Heartstrings to support Armed Forces overseas providing instruments, and more. Nominated for Best Country Instrumental Performance Grammy for “I’ll Fly Away.” 

Plays on new version of Hank, Jr.’s “Are You Ready For Some Football” for ESPN. Joined by Little Richard and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry. Plays for US Troops on Stars for Stripes tour to Iraq and Kuwait and records Live From Iraq. SIRIUS Satellite Radio names Charlie Daniels the voice of Road Dog Trucking channel 147. Gravely Tractor named Charlie Daniels as spokesperson for their 90th Anniversary and is The CDB’s tour sponsor for 2007. Charlie celebrates 70th Birthday in China with family & friends. 

Performs National Anthem at the Outback Bowl in Tampa, FL on New Year’s. Rounds up all-star cast for book “Growing Up Country: What Makes Country Life Country” with essays from Dolly Parton, former President Jimmy Carter, Kix Brooks, Barbara Mandrell, Clint Black, Brenda Lee, Troy Gentry, Eddie Montgomery, Gary Rossington, Sara Evans, Lee Greenwood, Toby Keith, Ty Murray and Carrie Underwood. Honored with the 2007 AMVETS Silver Helmet Award. The CDB releases first duet album, Deuces, guest artists include Brad Paisley, The Del McCoury Gretchen Wilson, Earl, Gary & Randy Scruggs, Bonnie Bramlett, Travis Tritt, Dolly Parton, Brooks & Dunn, Marty Stuart, Darius Rucker, Brenda Lee, Vince Gill, and Montgomery Gentry.

Charlie celebrates 50 Years of music and is officially inducted into the Grand Opry.

Inducted into the Nashville Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. Appears in A Twin Pines Christmas. 

Appears Geico ad playing a mean fiddle. Plays Jamboree In The Hills with Blake Shelton, Eli Young Band, Trace Adkins among others. Tour with Michael W. Smith / The Charlie Daniels Band / Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Plays Little Rock’s Riverfest, Country Thunder in Twin Lakes, Wis., and the Opry with Rascal Flatts and Terri Clark.

Appears in “Sweet Home Alabama: The Southern Rock Saga.” Plays Country Jam USA with Luke Bryan, Zac Brown Band, Blake Shelton in Grand Junction, Col.

Plays first Stagecoach Festival in Indio, Calif with Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Florida Georgia Line and Toby Keith. Plays with Willie Nelson at Bank of New Hampshire Pavillion.

Plays Opry with Caitlin Rose , The Oak Ridge Boys, Kathy Mattea and others. 

The Charlie Daniels Band / Natalie Stovall and the Drive play Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN.

Appears in “Floating Horses: The Life of Casey Tibbs.” Plays Merrieweather Post Pavilion with Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Outlaws, Black Stone Cherry, Molly Hatchet. Plays Country Concert 2017 with Blake Shelton, Jake Owen, Chase Rice, others in Fort Loramie, OH.

Volunteer Jam XX: A Tribute to Charlie at Bridgestone with Travis Tritt, Alabama, Alison Krauss, Billy Gibbons and others. Plays date on Lynyrd Skynrd’s Final Farewell Tour at DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI.

Plays with Alabama at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC and Dunkin Donuts Center Providence, RI., Plays Opry with Jameson Rodgers, The Steel Drivers, TG Sheppard and Riders In the Sky.

Plays four last shows in 2020 before he passes away in his longtime home of Nashiville, Tenn., on July 6.