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Singer, songwriter, poet, statesman, cowboy philosopher, patriot, common man...these all describe the man who is probably the best-known figure in Southern Rock. His name is Charlie Daniels.
He came to Nashville around 1970, looking for a place to play his music. Since then, he has found plenty of places, in homes, on radio stations, in vehicles, all over the world. And he kept playing, too. I don't know if it is physically possible to actually have a full collection of CDB music - it seems there's always one more album. And his albums are not just "filler" either. Each and every one is a treasury of Southern Rock / Country music in its own right.
Even the official Charlie Daniels Website (www.charliedaniels.com) misses several albums. The intent of this site, as with all of the other Southern Rock sites, is to provide a history and information guide. In Charlie's case, you may find that there is an album that is not included here. If you do, please e-mail me so I can correct the oversight. Give me as much information on the new album as possible, so I can research it.
Charlie Daniels was a talented musician from his early years. He formed a band in high school called the Misty Mountain Boys and later was a member of the Rockets, performing the hits of the day. This was way back in the 1950s, before Southern Rock. Charlie later wrote songs for the likes of Elvis Presley and played with Bob Dylan before finally arriving in Nashville to begin his solo career.
With most Southern Rock bands, there are ups and downs, victories and catastrophies. The Charlie Daniels band is unique in that it has performed consistently year after year. Why is anybody's guess, but I prefer to believe it's because of the band members' attitudes, because they do what they do for the enjoyment of it, not for the fame. Whatever the reason, this one aspect alpne sets the Charlie Daniels Band apart from their counterparts and places them squarely on a pedestal amidst their piers.
Charlie also lost a good friend that year. Ronnie VanZant, the lead vocalist and founder of Lynyrd Skynyrd, died in a plane crash near McComb, Mississippi. Charlie and Ronnie were close. So close, that, in the 1979 release, Million Mile Reflections, he wrote a tribute song to him, as well as the following poem that appears on the back of the album cover:
A brief candle both ends burning
Charlie Daniels
Charlie's dedications to Ronnie would have to wait for the next album.
It also included another mega-hit for the CDB. The Devil Went Down To Georgia became an immediate classic and sent sales soaring. On another note, drummer Don Murray was replaced by James W. Marshall, but this was still much the same band that had been together since 1975.
Also released in 1980 was the Charlie Daniels Band's Christmas album, titled "Christmas Time Down South". In it, Charlie turns his unique style to the true meaning of Christmas, and gives a look into the heart and soul of the South.
One of the new songs was from their foray into the theater. The Charlie Daniels Band had the opportunity to write the theme for a recently released hit movie, "Stroker Ace". Demand for a recording of the theme song, combined with the greatest hits included on the album, made it a "can't miss" release.
Click on any of the above album covers for more info on them.
In 1971, he produced his first album, simply titled Charlie Daniels. But Charlie was not destined to be a solo artist; His album went basically un-noticed, despite his obvious talent. Perhaps it was because his name didn't have the recognition of the major bands of the day, or maybe Country music fans weren't ready for his unique sound. Whatever the reason, it was quickly forgotten.
In 1972, Charlie assembled the Charlie Daniels Band, consisting of Charlie, Barry Barnes on guitar, Mark Fitzgerald on bass guitar, Joel "Taz" DiGregorio on keyboards, and Fred Edwards and Gary Allen on drums. They produced the album TeJohn, Grease, and Wolfman. Again, not much notice was given to the new band, but, also again, Charlie Daniels would not give up.
In 1973 they produced their second album, Charlie's third, titled Honey In The Rock. Even though it contained the song "Uneasy Rider", later to become a cult classic, it also went for the most part unnoticed. It would be re-released under the name Uneasy Rider and gain in popularity from the name change.
1974's album, Fire On The Mountain, was the turning point. It included not one, but two songs that would go on to become classics. Both "Long-Haired Country Boy" and "The South's Gonna Do It" were hits, and the Charlie Daniels Band was on it's way to fame and glory. Both songs can still be heard on the radio today.
1975 saw the release of another album, capitalizing on the popularity of "Fire On The Mountain". This time, the title was "Nightrider" and it held to the same musical style that they had established the previous year. The band went through some changes for this album, with Tom Crain replacing Barry Barnes on guitar, Charlie Hayward replacing Mark Fitzgerald on bass guitar, and Don Murray replacing Gary Allen on drums. 
With two popular albums under their belt, the Charlie Daniels Band shifted into high gear. 1976 saw the release of not one, but two new albums, Saddle Tramp and High Lonesome. The band now had a following, and they settled into a pattern of recording hits consistently that would last for a long, long time.
Ronnie VanZant
An endless mile, a bus wheel turning
A friend to share the lonesome times
A handshake and a sip of wine
So say it loud, and let it ring
That we're all part of everything
The present, future and the past
Fly on proud bird, you're free at last.
1978
That album would be "Million Mile Reflections", released in 1979. Not only did it carry the poem above, but one of the songs, Reflections, was a tribute to three fallen musicians. Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, and Ronnie VanZant each had a verse dedicated to their memory. Although each is touching, it is the final verse, dedicated to Ronnie, that brings the emotion out in Charlie's voice. You can hear the pain and grief for his fallen friend.
In 1980, the next album "Full Moon" was released. It was the era of Reagan-ism, of renewed patriotism after the release of the Iranian hostages. Charlie took advantage of this and showed his patriotism with In America.
Or click here for more great Charlie Daniels Band sites!
Charlie Daniels Band Songlist - Arranged Alphabetically or by Release Date
Site design ©1998 by James Douglas Tubbs.