In Memoriam: Charlie Daniels, 1934-2020

(Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for IEBA –
Charlie Daniels, 1934-2020

— Willie Nelson

Beth Gwinn/Getty Images –
Dolly Parton and Charlie Daniels at the CMAs, Oct. 1988, Nashville.

“Charlie and I connected the first time we ever met. We felt like we were relatives, seriously. I have many fond memories of Charlie. Probably my favorite memory with Charlie was when Charlie was doing his album Deuces and he asked me to write a song for him, which I did called “Daddy’s Old Fiddle.” I went out to his studio in Mt. Juliet to record it. And spent the whole day. We had a wonderful time in the studio recording the song. Afterwards I spent the rest of the day with Charlie and Hazel. We cooked and we ate and we ate and we laughed. We had so many similar memories in our childhood and growing up. I honestly felt like I was visiting a favorite cousin. They felt like family to me. Charlie was the warmest, sweetest most kind-hearted person I have ever met with a great sense of humor. When I heard of his passing, I felt like someone in my family had passed. I treasure all of my memories but that one is outstanding because it has to do with me creating something for him and then getting to reminisce with him and Hazel. It was a perfect Charlie-Dolly day.”

“Charlie was bigger than life, and I always thought he was going to be there…That’s what he meant to everybody he came in contact with. There was nobody better. He treated everybody with respect.”
–    Dave Snowden, CEO, Triangle Talent

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Paula Szeigis with Charlie Danils at the Grand Ole Opry

“Charlie Daniels was my boss and dear friend.  He was a giant of a kind man who was loved by everyone.  Charlie always had time to stop and talk to a fan, sign an autograph or have his photo taken.  As his publicist I most appreciated how generous he was with his time.  Charlie would make himself available for the thousands of interviews I asked him to do whether they were early morning or late at night. I have so many fond memories of my 44+ years with Charlie, from the night he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry to his inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Musicians Hall of Fame to my numerous NYC media trips with him, and our many heart to heart conversations that I will forever cherish.”
  –Paula Szeigis, Charlie Daniels Publicist.

“If I had to describe Charlie Daniels in one word, it would be consistent. I met Charlie as a 19-year-old kid and what I remember most was how kind he was to me that consistency and kindness remained the same for all the years I was his friend. I’m grateful for that.”
–    Vince Gill

“It was magical being around Charlie. As much time as we spent together, I hope that some of that special magic wore off on me.”
-Doug Gray, The Marshall Tucker Band

“ Charlie took me under his wing very early in my career. He was a mentor and one of my biggest cheerleaders. Most everything I learned about the business side of the music business, I learned directly from Charlie. His personal inspiration and his musical inspiration will never be forgotten.”
–    Travis Tritt

(Courtesy Charlie Daniels Estate) –
Charlie and Hazel Daniels

Courtesy Billy Crain) –
BILLY CRAIN Billy Crain and Charlie Daniels

“I have so many stories that I don’t know where to begin!! I’ve know Charlie since 1972 and we stayed in touch till the day he died. I had the pleasure of playing in a band in 2018 with Charlie called The Beau Weevils. It was a great blues project and even after knowing and opening shows for Charlie for years, I never realized how great a guitar player that he was until that project. Those hours we spent together alone in the studio are one of my all-time favorites and getting to play in a band with him onstage was like a spiritual experience. I finally felt what my brother TC felt every night up there with Charlie. God bless that man for all that he did for me and my family, and countless others…”
— Billy Crain

“The first time I saw Charlie was in 1971 at a club called Max’s Kansas City on Union Square in downtown New York. He was in a duo with Jerry Corbit called Corbit & Daniels. It was a rocking soulful kind of country rock band and they left a very strong impression. A few years later I heard ‘Uneasy Rider’ on the radio and thought it was very clever and quite funny. Then came Fire On The Mountain in 1974. That record made a profound impact on me and resonated with an entire generation. It ushered the CDB into the ranks of the new phenomena of ‘Southern Rock,’ along with the up and coming Marshall Tucker Band, the Lynynrd Skynyrd band, and, of course, the Allman Brothers Band. The first time the Outlaws played with the CDB was at a county fair in Knoxville in the summer of 1974. That night Charlie gave the band its first bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey and gave me the cowboy hat right off his head. That hat meant the world to me and Charlie and I enjoyed a friendship for years to come….Charlie was also an incredible band leader and how he treated his co-workers, was a model for me. Charlie’s passing leaves an unfillable gap on the landscape of popular music and his incredible talent and personality is now that of legends.
–Henry Paul, Outlaws, Henry Paul Band

(Tom Hill/Getty Images) –
Gary Rossington, Charlie Daniels, Artimus Pyle, Robert Nix and Allen Collins at reception for the DIR Superjam I on July 30, 1978 in Atlanta.

“I would just like to say what a privilege it was and great honor to have Charlie as a friend.  He was one the best men I ever met.  Charlie’s talent was unbelievable, he could play anything and sing and write like no one else. I’m so proud of him for all he did for the military and all wounded soldiers and all the Charities  he played for and supported.  I could go on all day, but I miss him and think about him often. God bless his family. And as Charlie would say, ‘God bless the USA’”
— Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd

 “When I think of Charlie Daniels, I will always and forever think of the looks on our audiences’ faces when the CDB would kick into “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” on the Opry stage. It was electric. There was something about the combination of that beloved man on that famous stage singing that unforgettable song that would bring a diverse group of people together for a raucous standing ovation every single time. Charlie’s performance of “Devil” was the ultimate closer, so much so that superstars in our business would simply refuse to follow him on the Opry. I know, however, that they are all very proud to now follow in the trailblazing footsteps he left behind.”

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Hazel, Charlie and Charlie Daniels, Jr.

“Every time I saw Charlie, I was reminded of the speech he gave at his Opry induction reception in January 2008 where he quoted Psalm 37:4: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Being an Opry member had been a longtime desire of his heart, and he was so very grateful to be invited.  Thank you, Charlie, for your dedication to the Opry and the countless performances that were always guaranteed to bring our audience to its feet. To quote Johnny, you’re “the best that’s ever been.”– Gina Keltner, Director of Opry Talent Scheduling & Logistics

“When I think of Charlie Daniels and the impact he made on my life, two words come to mind — God and Patriot.  For me, Charlie was larger than life, not necessarily in stature, but in the way he lived his life by always passionately embracing what he held most dear — his wife and son, the CDB family, God and the United States Military…Charlie was one of those rare individuals who did not simply “talk the talk”.   He “WALKED the WALK” every day.   He wasn’t embarrassed or afraid to speak openly about his faith in God and Jesus Christ.  So many people came to know God as their savior because of Charlie Daniels…. I miss his daily “tweets” and “Soap Box” stories.  Charlie believed “only two things protect the United States — the Grace of Almighty God and the United States Military”.   My heart breaks that his incredible voice is silenced now but his words and wisdom will live on through eternity for those who were lucky enough to be a small part of his life.

(Getty Images) –
(Original Caption) Charlie Daniels (3rd from left), the entertainer who dedicated his last album to “gut-rotting whiskey and hellatious fights” says he will not play gentle music just to please “damn Yankees drinking martinis” at Jimmy Carter’s inaugural reception. Daniels said he plans to play the same brand of foot-stomping Southern music he and his band have always produced. They are (from left), Charlie Hayward, Tom Crain, Daniels, Joel Digregorio, Don Murray and Fred Edwards.

(Courtesy MTG) –
George Strait, Louis Messina Charrlie George Strait, Louis Messina Charlie Daniels at the T.J. Martell’s Nashville Honors, Feb. 2017

“I’ve known Charlie since September of ‘75. He was on the show that opened the Superdome (now Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans) starring the Allman Brothers,  Marshall Tucker Band, The Charlie Daniels Band and Wet Willie. After that, we became great friends. I remember doing a bunch of dates with him and they didn’t do as well as I hoped for him. As a young promoter, I was upset I felt that I let him down. He called me into his room to comfort me and gave me such encouraging words to lift my spirits, and those words helped launch my career. What a great man, friend, artist – just one of a kind. Charlie will always have a place in my heart, and his music and spirit will last forever.”

(Courtesy Tony Conway) –
Charlie Daniels’ induction into the country Music Hall of Fame (l-r): Tony Conway, Loretta Lynn, Randy Owen, Marty Stuart, Charlie Daniels

(Courtesy Pam Matthews) –
Pam Matthews, Charlie Daniels, Middle State Tennessee President Sidney A. McPhee and student Jordan Toddlse at the Grand Ole Opry

“It’s no exaggeration to say that Charlie Daniels was a larger-than-life character in the country rock chronicle. If Volunteer Jam was his only contribution — and it most certainly is NOT — he would still be a legend.  But music is only part of the Charlie Daniels story.  Christmas 4 Kids, The Journey Home Project, the Charlie & Hazel Daniels Veterans & Military Family Center at Middle Tennessee State University, The Angelus, Charlie Daniels Scholarship for Heroes, his Stars for Stripes tours in Kyrgystan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq & Germany — this is a only a partial list of Charlie’s extraordinary charitable works and his indelible impact on the American culture.”

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Angela Wheeler on her wedding day with Charlie and Hazel Daniels

“Charlie and Hazel have been my “Tennessee Mom and Dad” for 30+ years. My family and I have shared so many Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter holidays at their home, my daughter and I cooking in the kitchen with Hazel, preparing for the wonderful meals, baking cookies and dying Easter eggs.   The CDB is more like a big family than just a job. Over the last 29 years I have worked for Charlie and The CDB, when people ask me “what do you do for Charlie?” My answer has always been “anything he says” and it was true, he was such an honorable man and boss that there was never any doubt in my mind that what was asked was always the right thing. He was a wonderful artist, entertainer and human being.  His faith in the Lord was an example to all who knew him.”
–    Angela Wheeler

“Charlie was the embodiment of the Journey Home project for veterans, and the epitome of the Southern gentleman. He made you feel like you were on his level. We were extremely proud of the charity work and to have so many great military and police force veterans, and other noteworthy people, who are there for a common cause and coming together for a massive event that Charlie was a big part of creating.”  

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Charlie Daniels with Alex Hodges. “I remember it being after a sold out arena show at the Nassau Coliseim in Long Island, NY in late 70s. Someone suggested Charlie put his big cowboy hat on my head. Fun.”

“I would never have been to the World Trade Center if not for Charlie Daniels. He was raising money for the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. He set an example for everyone. There was a big buffet and spread, with governors and officials in attendance. Later that day, when we left, I asked him, ‘Does it ever get old getting these awards?’ And he said, “I appreciate every single one of them and every fan. I’m just happy to be here to deliver some music and have the ability to play it.”
— Alex Hodges, CEO, Nederlander Concerts

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“These photos were taken in Korea in 2009, I don’t know why I’m wearing his hat, but we were getting ready to get on a helicopter, probably in Seoul, with my earplugs and lots of jewelry on. I think I’m probably taking his photo with the helicopter pilot. The other photo is on the same helipad, a 41-year-old familiar sight – David Corlew and Charlie waiting on a plane, helicopter, bus, whatever.

“Charlie became one of my best friends and my biggest supporters.  A great memory is when Marcie and I were honored at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum at the Louise Scruggs Forum in February, 2018.  He and Hazel were in attendance which was special and I had to try so hard not to F-bomb during the Q&A for the entire evening.  Too many memories to write a couple of sentences.  Korea, Japan, China, Europe, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kyrgyztan, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Australia, all over the US and Canada – it was a great adventure, never dull!  I’ll miss him.”  
– Bebe Evans, Charlie Daniels, Tour Coordinator