CDB News by CDBfan.com

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 03:15:00 +0000

Charlie has a new album coming out 8/26/16. All new Cowboy music!

Charlie Daniels has successful pacemaker surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:54:00 +0000

Charlie Daniels has successful pacemaker surgery
Mar 28, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) — A representative for Charlie Daniels says the 76-year-old country singer is recovering after having a pacemaker implanted Thursday.

Daniels was diagnosed Monday with "a mild case of pneumonia." Tests at a Nashville, Tenn.-area hospital revealed that he needed a pacemaker to regulate his heart rate. He's scheduled to be released Friday.

Daniels said in a statement that he's feeling better and looking forward to spending Easter with his family.

His Saturday and Sunday performances at Middle Tennessee State University have been canceled. Concerts with his band on April 5 in Englewood, N.J., and April 6 in Newark, Ohio, have been canceled and will be rescheduled. His tour will resume April 11 in Lynchburg, Va.

Daniels has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for five years. His hits include "The Devil Went Down to Georgia."

Take Back The USA

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:37:00 +0000

Charlie's got a new single out!

The tune is available on iTunes, and the official press release is below:

(Nashville, Tenn. – Oct. 25, 2012) Legendary Country music artist Charlie Daniels has released his latest single on Blue Hat Records, titled “Take Back The USA.”

Two versions of the single have been released, with one including a narrative of a bible verse from Chronicles 7-14. Listen to “Take Back the USA” on iTunes here.

Alabama’s Teddy Gentry and Charles English of Music Brothers Productions produced the song. Songwriter and multi instrumentalist Bobby Terry contributed lyrics, along with Gentry and English. Distributed through Megaforce Records/MRI and Sony/Red Distribution, the song is a plea to the people of the United States to “Take Back The USA.”

“I think it speaks volumes about how a lot of people in this country feel right now,” says WQNU Program Director Shane Collins. “It’s easy to hear how Charlie paved the way for the Jason Aldeans and Eric Churchs of today.”

Adds Captain Jack of Nashville’s Renegade Radio, “Charlie Daniels is saying what is on ALL our minds in his new release, ‘Take Back The USA.’ It’s GREAT and the audience LOVES it!”

“In a time where music has lost much of its meaning and heart, Charlie Daniels  reminds us that patriotism is a way to reach millions and millions of Americans,” says SiriusXM Patriot 125 producer Ray Muccio. “It’s time for us as Americans to ‘Take Back the USA,’ and Charlie Daniels has paved the road for other artists to reach out to all Americans and remind them of the importance to vote on November 6th and take back the country we know and love so much.”

“This song reminds me why I love Country music,” says WKMK Program Director Marty Mitchell. “For over half a century, Charlie Daniels has continued to carry the patriotic torch for Country music.”

For more information, visit www.CharlieDaniels.com.

Source: Aristo

Pop Music

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 23:14:00 +0000

Charlie Daniels has been around longer than the Beatles, and does not spell his name like someone's password like ke$ha does. Using that as a segue, here's a little information that you will find interesting and disappointing at the same time, unless you are a Gleek.

Created by: MusicProductionSchools.net

Taz. 1944-2011. RIP

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 03:30:00 +0000

This is sad news. Taz is an original, and I am glad I bought his album and got to shake his hand this summer when he was in town. The following is from Charlie's Soapbox.

Taz

Friends

This is the hardest soapbox I've ever written.

This morning about 4:15am I got the news that I had lost one of my oldest and dearest friends, Taz DiGregorio. He was killed in a one-car accident on I-40, East of Nashville when he was driving to catch our tour bus to go on the road.

As I write this, I am still somewhat in shock and have not fully accepted that there will be an empty spot on stage right where Taz's keyboards set for over forty years.

I honestly don't know what it's going to feel like when I walk back on stage for the first time without him, but one thing I do know, the music will go on, but it will never be quite the same.

Taz's wailing organ and rowdy piano were a mainstay in The CDB style since our very first records in the early 70's.

His tender piano intro to "Carolina I Remember You", his jazzy organ solo on "Birmingham Blues" and the signature riff he wrote for "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" were as much a part of The CDB sound as the songs themselves.

I traveled a good part of the world with Taz. We've been broke down on the roadsides of America, stranded by an air traffic controller's strike in Paris, stood together at the Berlin Wall and the 38th Parallel, walked the streets of Hong Kong, London, Amsterdam, Dublin, Juarez, Sydney, and a thousand little towns you've probably never even heard of.

We've stormed the Big Apple, the Big Easy, the Rockies, the Smokies, Clamtown, Beantown, the Midlands and the Maritimes and lit up the Daddy of 'Em All in Cheyenne Wyoming.

We've been in jail in Louisiana, rained on in Raleigh, shot at in Baghdad and left behind a trail that stretches millions of miles, thousands of shows and zillions of memories.

Taz was there through some of the toughest stretches of my life, when my dad died suddenly, through my battles with cancer and stroke and during the years it took me to pay off massive debts from a bad business arrangement.

Conversely, he shared some of the highest moments of my life, when my son was born, when we had our first gold record, when I was inducted into the Musician's Hall of Fame and when I became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

At this early stage of the game, it's hard for me to think about what the future will be like without Taz in it, but I know one thing…

There is an empty place in my life today that nobody else will ever fill.

I will miss you my friend.

Love never dies.

William Joel DiGregorio
Born January 8, 1944
Southbridge, Massachusetts

What do you think?

Pray for our troops, and for our country.

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

More news, which really just repeats what Charlie said in a more clinical fashion can be found all over the web -- here's a link.

Back To Top

Live setlist @CDBFan

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:34:00 +0000

I'm tweeting the show in pleasanton, California. Check @CDBFan for the info at twitter.com

Rest In Peace, Tommy Crain

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 03:50:00 +0000

Not a lot to say about this sad news! Tommy Crain was a smoking guitar player and helped make the CDB the band that it is today. Here's a copy of one of the obits, and a poem, by Charlie Daniels.

From Billboard:

John Thomas "Tommy" Crain, a guitarist in the classic Charlie Daniels Band lineup of the 1970s-'80s who enjoyed a 15 year run with the band, died Jan. 13 in Franklin, Tenn. He was 59.

Crain, a Nashville native, played on more than 20 CDB albums and co-wrote more than 60 songs with the group. He was co-writer and co-arranger of many classic ones, including the Grammy-winning "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," and the writer/vocalist on such CDB classics as "Cumberland Mountain Number Nine," "Blind Man" and "Franklin Limestone," from the some of the band's best-selling albums ("Saddle Tramp," "Nightrider," "Full Moon" and "Million Mile Reflections").

Charlie Daniels Band, "Blind Man"

"Tommy Crain will always be a part of the CDB family and his music will always be a part of the CDB sound," Charlie Daniels said in a statement. "We have lost a good friend and the world has lost a unique, creative and precious human being. We send our deepest condolences to the family of our brother Tommy Crain. You were special, buddy. We're gonna miss you."

Prior to joining the CDB, Crain played in such popular local outfits as the Flat Creek Band (with his brother Billy) and Buckeye (which played Daniels' first Volunteer Jam in 1974) before joining Daniels and company in 1975, when Southern rock was king. Though not as well-known as some of the other Southern rock guitar slingers of the day, Crain was an influential musician much appreciated by fans, and an integral architect of the CDBs unique blend of rock, blues, country and improvisational jamming.

Crain was a versatile musician, adept on all stringed instruments including guitars, banjo and the pedal steel. The CDB toured relentlessly at the arena level during Crain's tenure, and he left the band in 1989 to devote more time to his family.

At the time of his death, Crain was employed by Rogers Remodeling and Southbound Trains, both of Franklin, but kept one foot in music as the leader of Tommy Crain and the Crosstown Allstars of Atlanta.

Crain was preceded in death by his daughter, Ella Helen Crain. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Thomas Crain (Helen), his wife, Melissa Williams Crain, daughter Ann Crain McDuffee, grandson Hunter McDuffee, brother Billy Crain (Sandy), sister Sherry Crain Arledge (James) and many nieces and nephews.

Details are pending on a memorial service to be held for friends and family. Donations can be made to the Nashville Local Chapter of Musicians On Call.

From Charlie Daniels, on his site:

I Remember Tommy

For a thousand nights he stood by my side with the rest of the boys in the band

When he'd grab that Les Paul by the nap of its neck, it was just like part of his hand

Ol' T.C. was a natural; it came easy for him his fingers would fly like the wind

It was way past just thinking about what lick to play, that guitar would do magic for him

He took me to heights I may never have known if he hadn't come into my life

When you'd trade licks with Tommy, you'd best bring it all, because that's what he did every night

We were too hot to handle and to wild to tame and the jams were bodacious and loud

Some nights the music would take us so high that's it seemed we were up in the clouds

Late nights on the bus with my brothers in arms rolling on toward tomorrow nights' stage

Pickin' old country songs on acoustic guitars still pumped from the music we'd played

The good times the bad times the road and the crowds yes the memories roll on without end

Of a time in my life when we burned up the stage with Ol' T.C., my brother, my friend

Rest in peace, old friend. Thank you for passing my way.

Love,

Charlie Daniels

CHARLIE DANIELS Drops in on Widespread Panic

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 22:00:00 +0000

Southern Rocker, CHARLIE DANIELS Drops in on Widespread Panic

MUSIC NEWS- Legendary southern rocker, Charlie Daniels rocked the house last night (October 6) in Nashville when the legendary musician joined jam-band Widespread Panicat the historic RymanAuditorium. Daniels surprised the sold out audience when he appeared on stage, fired up his fiddle and jammed on “Ain’t Life Grand,” “Who Do You Belong To” and “When You Coming Home.” The crowd roared throughout and remained on their feet, giving the performance a standing ovation.

Daniels was invited byWidespread Panic to perform with them on their third night of sold out shows in Nashville. Daniels said, “I was honored to be asked to play with WSP. It was a fun night of jammin' with a group of great musicians.”

( Pictured l to r: WSP’s Jimmy Herring, Daniels, WSP’s John Bell. Photo: Dean Tubb)

The Charlie Daniels Band continues their tour in support of the band's current release,Land That I Love, on Blue Hat Records/E1 Entertainment. The band’s signature song, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia,” was released back in 1979 and continues to be in demand.

WSP has a tradition of allowing taping of their shows, so it's all archived online. Here's this show and Charlie comes in during the second set.

http://panicstream.com/streams/wsp/2010_10_06/player.html

Article from Musicnewsnet.com

Charlie Daniels, Unsung Singing Hero

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:31:00 +0000

Charlie Daniels, Unsung Singing Hero

By L. Brent Bozell (Archive) · Friday, September 10, 2010

It was some 30 years ago when I first caught a Charlie Daniels concert. He was the backup to the Marshall Tucker Band at the old Capital Centre outside Washington, D.C., and that night, he stole the show. When he finished his blazing set, the audience erupted and brought him back for an encore. When the Marshall Tucker Band finished their rather good performance, it made no difference -- the capacity crowd roared for yet another performance from Charlie Daniels."

It's a metaphor for his life. At a time when he should deservedly be disappearing into the shadows, he's back -- with the crowd roaring once again. Despite recovering from a stroke and nearing his 74th birthday, Charlie still plays about 100 concerts per year, including Sean Hannity's "Freedom Concerts" to benefit the children of our fallen and disabled U.S. soldiers through Ollie North's Freedom Alliance. So much has Charlie become ingrained in the "Freedom Concerts" (he performed in all eight shows this year) and in the effort to support our military worldwide that he deserves his own tribute. He is America's unsung singing hero.

It would be nice if patriotism were in style in the music industry. It is so in the country music universe, but in other circles, there is no quicker way to become a pop culture pariah than following this path. Months after 9/11, ABC anchor Peter Jennings scratched out country singer Toby Keith from an Independence Day special because his songs were deemed too "mean" in their anger at our attackers. NBC put on country singer Steve Earle to sing sympathetically about American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh and his prayers for martyrdom. The Dixie Chicks publicly declared their embarrassment with President Bush for his declaration of war against terrorism and were hailed by the elites. That's what one does to earn accolades.

In recent years, I've come to know Charlie Daniels personally, enough so that I can say with confidence that this man just isn't looking for tributes. One gets the feeling that at his age, having accomplished so much, he just doesn't need them. He does it because he loves America and wants to honor the military by performing at the "unique and heartwarming" freedom concerts to entertain crowds full of "hard-working, God-fearing patriotic folks, the salt-of-the-earth middle Americans who have fought our wars, raised good citizens and kept the wheels of progress moving forward in this nation for over 200 years."

"Patriotism to me is always in style, but now -- especially now -- we need a little shot in the arm," he says.

He remembers that it can take a catastrophe to make people remember their common national bond: "9/11 was definitely a wakeup call to everybody about our country and about how precious it is -- about what can happen here and what did happen here. It never happened here before, and it showed we're a lot more vulnerable than we used to be. So as we go along, we forget about those pictures of the planes crashing into the trade towers and all the things that went on that day."

In 2006, CBS "Early Show" weatherman Dave Price asked him why at his age he was performing for soldiers in Iraq. Charlie's answer was precious: "I can't carry a gun ... you know, I can't fight, but I can darn sure carry a guitar and pick, so that's why I'm here." On CBS last year, Price recalled, "With all the great acts that are generous enough to give their time, when Charlie Daniels steps in front of these soldiers and sailors and Marines, it's like ... unreal."

The Charlie Daniels Band has performed for U.S. troops all over the world, not just in Iraq, but everywhere from Germany and Bosnia to South Korea to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Their brand-new album, "Land That I Love," underlines a strong theme in Charlie's music. That's a snapshot of his career, an apt description of a love affair with his country that he has expressed in music for over a half-century.

He was welcomed into the Grand Ole Opry Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2009. The Opry honor was announced while he was working for charity again, picking and fiddling for the Christmas for Kids benefit at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Martina McBride walked on stage with a small gift box containing the honor.

But Charlie has brought a much larger basket of gifts to this country and its fighting men and women. He deserves every honor that comes his way. Those of us who can consider Charlie Daniels a friend are honored that way.

New CDB Album Land That I Love is Available Now

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:54:00 +0000

The Charlie Daniels Band released Land That I Love today. It's available everywhere now.

Tracks include:

My Beautiful America
America, I Believe In You
American Farmer
Let Freedom Ring
(What This World Needs Is) A Few More Rednecks
This Ain't No Rag, It's A Flag
Still In Saigon
The Last Fallen Hero
In America
Star Spangled Banner
Freedom And Justice For All
Iraq Blues
Simple Man
Red Skelton's Pledge Of Allegiance
Summer Of 68'

Charlie Daniels hosts 'America’s Opry Weekend Star-Spangled Special'

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:13:00 +0000

Charlie Daniels fans will get a chance to spend Independence Day weekend with the country/Southern rock mainstay, at least via radio.

He's set to host the America’s Opry Weekend Star-Spangled Special, which will feature live Grand Ole Opry performances, current country hits and patriotic tunes (expect music from the likes of Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, and the host).

The special is a fitting lead-up to Daniels' upcoming release: He'll issue a compilation dubbed Land That I Love on August 10, with patriotic songs and two new tunes, 'What This World Needs is a Few More Rednecks' and 'Iraq Blues' (those new songs will also be made available digitally on July 4)."

From:
Charlie Daniels hosts 'America’s Opry Weekend Star-Spangled Special

Check out:
http://www.opry.com/news/2010/06-17.html

Programmers interested in the America's Opry Weekend Star-Spangled Special should contact Sue Falco at Westwood One at (212) 641-2012 or sue_falco@westwoodone.com. America's Opry Weekend presents top artists' performances from the Opry stage each week. The show is serviced by Westwood One and airs on country radio stations across the country and on the Armed Forces Radio Network.

Charlie at the CMAs

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:27:00 +0000

In case you missed it here's Charlie and some other unknowns at the CMAs this year.

For you and your wife: Charlie Daniels and Amy Grant

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:43:00 +0000

Charlie Daniels, Amy Grant, Kix Brooks, Gretchen Wilson and some other folks are playing an acoustic set at Lipscomb University in Nashville next Tuesday, March 23 at 7:00 pm. The keynote speaker is General Tommy Franks, whose boot led the butt kicking in Afghanistan.

The event, called Operation Yellow Ribbon, is an effort to raise tuition money for veterans.

It's about $14 after ticketmaster gets their share. More information about the event is available at the Operation Yellow Ribbon site:
http://yellowribbon.lipscomb.edu/

Charlie's soapbox: Different Strokes

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:57:00 +0000

Click here to read Charlie's own account of the stroke he suffered on January 15th:

http://www.charliedanielssoapbox.com/view_topic.php?id=8835&forum_id=4

Not good news: Charlie suffers stroke

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:36:00 +0000

Despite the condition, the country legend will not cancel any shows.
John Hall
Charlie Daniels suffered a mild stroke this past Friday while snowboarding* in Colorado. The country music star noticed his left hand getting numb after getting off his snowmobile. When the left side of his face began growing numb as well, he quickly descended the mountain to check into Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango.

By the time Daniels had checked in to Mercy Regional, he had lost so much coordination he had to be escorted in by wheelchair.

After initial treatments to loosen the blood clot, Daniels was airlifted to the Swedish Medical Center in Denver where tests confirmed that he had a stroke. He was released last Sunday.

Daniels, moved by the incident, recommended afterward that anyone believing they might be experiencing a stroke not procrastinate. "You only have three hours from the time you feel a stroke coming on," said Daniels. "Don't play with your life, get help."

*Note: He was snowmobiling.
from celebritycafe.com

Does Charlie Daniels Play a Mean Fiddle?

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 06:44:00 +0000

The new Charlie Daniels Gieco commercial is now available on youtube, in case you've missed it on ESPN...Check it out here!

Christmas is coming early this year!

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 06:15:00 +0000

From CharlieDaniels.com

CHARLIE DANIELS RELEASES A CHRISTMAS BLUEGRASS CD/DVD
Charlie Daniels will release a new Christmas cd/dvd in mid-October on Blue Hat/Koch Records. The collection of Christmas standards features guest performances by . Jewel, The Grascals, Aaron Tippin, Kathy Mattea, and more. Songs include O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy To The World, The Christmas Song and Silent Night.

Tiger Woods names baby after Charlie

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:29:00 +0000

Tiger and Elin Woods welcomed their second child into the world Sunday night. Charlie Axel Woods joins sister Sam Alexis into the Woods fold. Everyone knows Tiger has been playing the fiddle since he was 4-months-old and idolizes Charlie Daniels.

From the Golf channel.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Keyboardist Billy Powell Dead at 56

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:01:00 +0000

The piano player for the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd has died at his northeast Florida home.

Keyboard player Billy Powell called 911 about 12:55 a.m. Wednesday saying he was having trouble breathing. Rescue crews performed CPR, but he was pronounced dead at 1:52 a.m., said Orange Park Police Lt. Mark Cornett.

Powell, 56, who has a history of heart problems, missed a Tuesday appointment with his doctor for a cardiac evaluation. A heart attack is suspected. No autopsy will be performed because Powell's cardiologist will sign the death certificate, Cornett said.

The Jacksonville-based band was formed in 1966 by a group of high school students — famously, it took its name from a P.E. teacher they disliked, Leonard Skinner. Powell joined the group around 1972, the year before they released their first album, "Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd."

It became one of the South's most popular rock groups, and gained national fame with such hits as "Free Bird," "What's Your Name" and especially "Sweet Home Alabama," which reached the top 10 on the national charts in 1974.

The band was decimated on Oct. 20, 1977, when their chartered plane crashed in a swamp near McComb, Miss.

Six people were killed — lead singer Ronnie Van Zant; guitarist Steve Gaines; and his sister, vocalist Cassie Gaines; as well as an assistant road manager, the pilot and co-pilot.
Powell was one of the survivors.

Two years after the accident, Powell and fellow members Allen Collins, Gary Rossington and Leon Wilkeson formed the Rossington-Collins Band. It broke up in 1982.

Powell was on hand again in 1991 when a revived version of the band put out a new album, "Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991" and launched a tour in Baton Rouge, La., where the band was headed in 1977 when the plane crashed. Fans who kept their tickets from the canceled 1977 concert were admitted free.

The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

New Charlie DVD coming soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:54:00 +0000

Charlie Daniels plans DVD release
Friday, September 26, 2008 – Charlie Daniels will release a live concert DVD package "Preachin', Prayin', Singin' with Charlie Daniels & Friends: Live From Nashville," Koch Records on Nov. 11.
Daniels performed in Nashville in 2005 to debut songs from his Grammy-nominated bluegrass-gospel album "Songs From the LongLeaf Pines." Daniels surprised his Country Music Hall of Fame audience by inviting several of his personal bluegrass heroes up on the Ford Theater stage to jam. Guest pickers included Mac Wiseman, members of the Scruggs family (Earl, Gary and Randy) and McCoury family (Del, Ronnie and Rob) as well as singers Sharon, Cheryl and Buck White.
The DVD features commentary from Daniels as he reflects back on the early days of The Charlie Daniels Band, playing with The Earl Scruggs Review in the late '60s and the music of close friend Wiseman.
Other features include intimate interviews and behind-the-scenes conversations with Daniels, Scruggs, Wiseman and others who participated.

Don't fiddle with Daniels' pride

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:24:00 +0000

Don't fiddle with Daniels' pride | Cincinnati Enquirer | Cincinnati.Com:

"Don't fiddle with Daniels' pride
Concert preview

By Chris Varias • chrisvarias@gmail.com • July 4, 2008
Comments Read Comments(1) • Recommend • Print Print • Email Email • Click To Listen Click To Listen • Type Size: A A

With his snow-white beard and healthy frame, Charlie Daniels could be mistaken for Kris Kringle if he wore the red-velvet get-up. But the jolly old fiddler, who became a country-rock superstar with the 1979 crossover hit 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia,' is more of an Uncle Sam type of guy.
Advertisement

Daniels says he doesn't mind working on Independence Day, when his Volunteer Jam traveling show with .38 Special and Shooter Jennings rolls in to Blue Ash.

'The Fourth of July has always evoked some thoughts, if you take the time to do it. I wonder sometimes if some people even know what it is and what it means. It's a day that we declared our independence and became one nation under God of free people. It's the day when the American dream was born. I am thankful to the people who fought and died and shed blood to protect our rights.'

Daniels talked about some recent events in his career, including his most recent album of duets with the likes of Brad Paisley (coming to Riverbend next Friday), Dolly Parton and Darius Rucker, and his induction to the Grand Ole Opry.

Question: On your latest record, "Deuces," there's a couple of tunes written by Bob Dylan, whom you did session work for on records like "Nashville Skyline" and "New Morning." He's somebody who started as a protest singer, but now he steers clear of the finger-pointing songs. On the other hand, you don't shy away from mixing politics and music. Do you have any thoughts on the different approaches?

Answer: One time we did a song called "Three Angels," and we were sitting there listening to the playback, and Dylan said, "I wrote that about three angels they put on a church across the street from where I was living, and they lit them up at Christmastime." When the album came out, some guy wrote this thing about Dylan's insight into humanity with the three angels and all this stuff, and I thought, "Man, he wrote it about Christmas decorations." That's the point about Dylan, with somebody like that who's so unique with words, you don't really know. Of course some of the stuff was protest stuff. He was kind of the father of it, the intellectual side of it anyway. My stuff, I don't look at it as political. I just look at it as being patriotic, as far as "In America" or "This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag."

Q: You have some bluegrass players on your latest CD. I've never thought of you as a bluegrass musician, even though you're country music's most famous fiddler. Where does bluegrass figure into what you do?

A: It's the first music I ever played. I was a bluegrasser before anything else. Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs were on the radio at the time in Raleigh, N.C., and we just idolized them. We couldn't be the Foggy Mountain Boys (the name of Flatt and Scruggs' band), so we were the Misty Mountain Boys. I cut my teeth on bluegrass.

Q: Why did you get out of bluegrass?

A: I got fascinated about the time rock started happening with Elvis and Carl Perkins, where someone who played guitar could now play rock music. The first rock song I ever did was "Tutti Frutti." I'd go to fiddler conventions and sing it with a bluegrass band. I started heading in that direction. I got an electric guitar and here we went.

Q: What did it mean to you to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry?

A: It's absolutely wonderful. They've always been good to us. We could always go to the Opry and play when we were in town. But it's not the same. It creates a different feeling (to be inducted). I've been an admirer of the Opry for so long. It's the first radio show I can remember listening to as a kid. It's kind of hard to articulate, but suffice it to say it's a tremendous honor.

Charlie went back to Topeka. Cause it rained the first time.

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:28:00 +0000

CJOnline - Daniels to return to Stampede on Sunday: "Daniels to return to Stampede on Sunday
Music legend to make up concert rained out Thursday night
By Bill Blankenship
The Capital-Journal
Published Friday, June 27, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. CDT

MANHATTAN — Charlie Daniels isn’t the sort of guy who lets a Kansas thunderstorm push him around. Heck, the guy took on a devil in Georgia.
Print E-mail Comment

The American music legend who was prevented by bad weather from taking the stage Thursday night on the opening night of the Country Stampede will return for a makeup show Sunday.

The festival’s official radio station, 94.5 Country, just announced The Charlie Daniels Band will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday on the main stage. The acts before him will shorten their sets by a few minutes each to accommodate Daniels.

The 71-year-old Daniels has reached iconic status in American music. He has released 50 albums, and his projects have encompassed a variety of genres, from blues to Southern rock to country to bluegrass.

Daniels won a Grammy Award in 1979 for “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” his best known song.

Last fall, Kansas-born country star Martina McBride joined Daniels on the stage of Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium to invite him to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry, in which he was inducted Jan. 19.

Bill Blankenship can be reached at (785) 29"

Twin Pines Twins - Fillies, that is

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:59:00 +0000

Mid South Horse Review

Colorful Twins Make Their Debut

Charlie Daniels and his wife Hazel proudly show off the two newest additions to the Twin Pines Ranch—twin Paint fillies. Photo courtesy of Twin Pines Ranch.

At Charlie Daniels’ Twin Pines Ranch

After devoting more than 25 years to raising quality Paints and advancing the American Paint Horse breed, country- rock legend Charlie Daniels recently received the prize of a lifetime at his Twin Pines Ranch a set of healthy, twin Paint fillies.

The now spunky and vivacious twins, sired by ranch stallion HLF Smokin Ace and out of Ms Paseos County AQHA, were born in the fields of the Lebanon, Tenn., ranch during the morning hours of April 23.

According to the American Paint Horse Association s (APHA s) database, which contains the names of nearly 1 million American Paint Horses, only 323 twins have been registered by the association since its inception in 1962.

While it is unusual for a mare to give birth to twins and even more rare for both foals to be healthy, the twins known as Okie and Rose around the ranch seem to be like any normal young Paints.

The health and vitality of the foals can be attributed to Twin Pine s Ranch Manager Thurman Mullins, who has been caring for them around the clock. When the twin Paints were first born, Mullins, like any dedicated horse owner, was concerned that they would be weak and unhealthy.

We were real tickled when we first realized we had twin Paint foals, said Mullins. Then all the negatives I ve heard about twin foals started jumping around in my head, but so far we have been very blessed.

Since their birth, the twins have been under the constant supervision of either Mullins or two of the other long-time ranch hands, Leroy Crawford and his son Derrick. One of his main priorities has been making sure each foal receives enough milk from the dam and that she accepts both foals. When Mullins observed that one of the foals was starting to look weaker than the other during their first week, he decided to step in. Through careful observation, a little innovation and a lot of patience, he bottle-fed the healthier foal to distract her from her mother, allowing the weaker foal to drink the mare s milk. It s been that kind of dedication and intuitiveness over the past several decades as a breeder and rancher that have earned Mullins the steadfast respect of Charlie Daniels.

Within a week I discontinued the bottle and then I felt comfortable enough to ask Charlie [Daniels] what we were going to name them, said Mullins.

All in the name

As the foals continue to grow and get stronger, and the crew at Twins Pines Ranch is busy caring for and registering the many foals being born at the ranch. Because the twins are a special addition to the ranch, Daniels has decided to register the fillies as Twin Pines Okie and Twin Pines Rose for his wife, Hazel.

But Hazel doesn t know it yet, said Mullins. She s from Oklahoma and loves to be outside gardening so Charlie decided he wanted to name Okie and Rose after the volcanic rock formations in Oklahoma known as Okie Rose s.

With such special names and being the first twins born at Twin Pines, the ranch doesn t anticipate selling them anytime soon.

Ambassadors for the breed

Ever since the beginning of Twin Pines Ranch nearly 30 years ago, Daniels has wanted one thing a working operation. He has always said, I ve got friends who have cows they ve never seen and horses they ve never sat on. I want cows I can work and horses I can ride.

With that philosophy in mind, Twin Pines became the first breeder of Corriente cattle east of the Mississippi and has owned Paint Horses from the start. In fact, one of Daniels all-time favorite horses and the reason his ranch continues to own Paint Horses is Rialtos Lady, whose dam was one of the first registered American Paint Horses.

Daniels is a well-known ambassador for APHA and has been involved in a myriad of community outreach projects over the years, mostly centered on helping children. He has donated many prized Paint foals to help raise additional funds for a variety of causes and has even gone so far as helping pay for the new owners APHA membership fees and registration transfer fee.

Two years ago, APHA awarded Daniels its Legendary Achievement Award for his work over the past 25 years in breeding American Paint Horses and spotlighting their beauty, versatility and athletic talents. APHA also issued him a lifetime membership certificate.

A modest Daniels said it ranked among his top honors. That put APHA in prestigious company, considering Daniels was recently inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and owns a long list of awards and honors from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music.

Now the twins of Twin Pines become part of Daniels colorful legacy.

As Charlie would say himself, the reason he has all these Paints is simply because he likes driving from his house to the road, looking out into the pasture and -seeing all the color, said Mullins.

Daniels Says He Still Has Much to Do in Music

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Fri, 23 May 2008 23:58:00 +0000

From Redorbit

Daniels Says He Still Has Much to Do in Music
Posted on: Friday, 23 May 2008, 15:00 CDT

By Nathalie Baret For the Journal

"People ask me what fires me up after all these years," Charlie Daniels said in a phone interview from Myrtle Beach, S.C. "I tell them I sincerely love doing what I do for a living. It's exhilarating to me. It's in my blood. I wouldn't trade it for anything."

At 72, Daniels seems remarkably at peace. With 50 years of being in the music business, his checklist includes scoring hits like "Uneasy Rider" and the unforgettable "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," earning gold and platinum records that he keeps tucked away in his basement, and a trophy case full of Grammy, Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music and Gospel Music Association awards that are on display in his very own downtown Nashville museum.

There's more: Add two books he's written, one of essays, the other of short stories, and a third that credits him as editor on "Growing Up Country," a book of dissertations by musicians, celebrities and Southern politicians. He's the voice behind the "Road Dog" truckers channel on Sirius Satellite radio, he's listed in the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, and for those who didn't know, he recorded a children's album titled "By the Light of the Moon: Campfire Songs and Cowboy Tunes."

Are there more hills to climb?

"Sure," said Daniels. "I'd love to do something with B.B. King. I'm a big blues fan of his work. But I'm still working on my first hill -- I want every album to go platinum and every show sold out. I haven't got to that yet, but it's on my wish list."

The legendary entertainer may have some wishes left to fulfill, but on the flip side, he's been blessed with some unexpected, stellar career highlights. His most recent addition was on Jan. 19, when his lifelong dream came true.

During last year's "Christmas for Kids" show, an annual benefit that Daniels hosts to raise money for underprivileged children "so that kids can get on buses and go to large retail areas and go shopping," the singer/ songwriter received a sweet surprise from country star Martina McBride.

"Martina comes out during the show and announces, 'Thanks for doing these shows. Now it's time to make a wish come true for you, too,' " he said. "To be honest, I had no idea what was going on until she actually said that I was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. I was at a loss for words, which isn't an ordinary state of affairs for me because I'm very seldom like that. But I was that night. I've seen the tape of it, how I reacted at the time, and it was like this unconscious, 'Wow!' "

The fleet-fingered guitarist and fiddle player has had several more surprises surface during the last five decades. One timeless moment includes "It Hurts Me," a song he co-wrote that was picked in 1964 to be the B side of a record by one of his all-time heroes.

"I didn't know Elvis Presley was going to use it," Daniels said. "I grew up cutting my teeth on WSM, a 50,000-watt radio station out of Nashville that played his music and aired the Opry shows. I was a big fan of his. So when a friend of mine and I wrote that song and submitted it, we really had no idea he was going to record it."

Spurred by the success of that track, Daniels moved to middle Tennessee to do session work. His guitar playing, which to some producers was considered too loud, appealed to Bob Dylan, who welcomed Daniels' eclectic, independent style and hired him to play on three of his LPs: "Nashville Skyline,""New Morning" and "Self Portrait."

Gretchen Wilson Receives GED From Charlie Daniels

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Smith) — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:37:00 +0000

From CMT: May 16, 2008

Gretchen Wilson received her GED certificate, the equivalent to a high school diploma, from Charlie Daniels on Thursday night (May 15) at First Baptist Church in Lebanon, Tenn. Wilson, who dropped out of school in the ninth grade, passed the test in April. She is expected to release her fourth album later this year. Near the beginning of his address, Daniels declared, "Gretchen Wilson, I am so proud of you." Wilson famously referenced Daniels in the lyrics of her breakout debut single, "Redneck Woman."