Classic Country Spotlight is a weekly series covering legendary artists from country music’s past. Whether you still listen to the timeless hits or hope to become better acquainted with an older sound, classic country will never die. Brought to you by Val Turgeon.
Since 1971, the legendary Charlie Daniels has been gifting us with country sounds and he hasn’t stopped. The Charlie Daniels Band’s newest album Off the Grid will be released Apr. 1, 2014 and this month the CDB kicks off the “Off the Grid Tour.” You can catch the band June 27 at Liberty Savings Bank Block Party in St. Cloud, or June 29 at Country Fest in Cadott, Wisc.
I’m a Fiddle Player Too:
Growing up as an only child, books provided me with the entertainment that was missing from bickering siblings. This taught me to appreciate a good story, which seems to be an element missing in mainstream country nowadays, but it’s what made Charlie Daniels stand out from the rest.
Naturally, the first Daniels song I heard was “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” I joined orchestra in middle school and hoped to learn how to play the fiddle part. Unfortunately, it turns out I’m much better at listening to music than I am at playing it.
This song not only has that crazy fast fiddle, but it tells a story of a battle between Johnny and Satan. In a feud of fiddles, if Johnny wins he gets a fiddle of gold, but if he loses then the devil gets his soul. The story is also told in the music itself. The sound of the devil’s fiddle is complete chaos whereas Johnny’s has more of a melody.
Released in 1979, the song reached no.3 on Billboard’s Hot 100. That same year CDB won the Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal with “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” and they performed the song in the 1980 movie Urban Cowboy.
Songwriting Success:
Daniels played fiddle for both roles in “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” Before he released his own music, Daniels was a Nashville session musician and even played electric bass on three albums for Minnesota’s own Bob Dylan. He also later played fiddle on albums for The Marshall Tucker Band and Hank Williams, Jr.
The first big hit for Daniels came on the 1973 album Honey in the Rock with “Uneasy Rider,” a humorous tale about a man whose car breaks down and he meets some shady characters who hand him a dose of trouble.
Proud of his Southern identity and with no fear to speak his mind, Daniels has used music as an outlet to not only tell stories, but to express messages. Popular songs that garnered attention include “In America” (1980), “Still in Saigon” (1982) and “Simple Man” (1989).
Throughout his career, Daniels songwriting earned him six BMI Country Awards and in 2005 he was honored as a BMI icon at the 53rd annual BMI Country Awards. In 2008 he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Check this out:
Daniels is still makin’ fire on the fiddle. Check him out playing “Orange Blossom Special” in 2005.
The Zac Brown Band performed a cover of “Devil Goes Down To Georgia” at the 2009 CMA Awards. It’s always nice to see a current country band pay tribute to a legend, especially when the performance is as bad ass as this.
But, there’s nothing like the real thing.
What’s your favorite Charlie Daniels song? Let us know in the comments below, or on Facebook and Twitter too!