The 2015-16 McCain Performance Series is set for a kickoff just as rousing as the one Bill Snyder’s Wildcats will get next Saturday. Legendary musician Charlie Daniels and his band will perform at 7:30pm Thursday night in what is sure to be an evening to remember.
In a career that spans seven decades, Daniels has charted songs on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Country charts. Since notching his first hit tune, the novelty song “Uneasy Rider” in 1973, he has released more than 50 studio albums, toured the world, and won over legions of fans. He is a member of both the Grand Ol’ Opry and the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville.
Daniels love of music began very early. He formed a band just after graduating from high school, and his career has been a non-stop journey ever since. The 78 years young Daniels says he feels blessed to be able to do something that he truly enjoys, and sees no end in sight. “As long as people want to hear me, and as long as the Good Lord gives me the health to do it, yeah, I’ll be here doing it”.
His hits include “Long Haired Country Boy”, “In America”, “The Legend of Wooley Swamp”, “Simple Man”, “Boogie Woogie Fiddle Country Blues”, “Still in Saigon”, and “Drinkin’ My Baby Goodbye”. In 1979, he released what became his signature song; the fiddle driven “The Devil Went Down To Georgia”. It spent a week at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country chart, and enjoyed a two week stay at #3 on the Hot 100 chart. The song was honored as Single of the Year by the Country Music Association and earned the Charlie Daniels Band a Grammy Award.
“Our main aim is to entertain you” he said when asked about what fans could expect from the live show. “That’s what we’re all about. From the time we walk on stage to the time we walk off”. His devotion to entertaining the fans was clearly evident in 2008, when his performance on Thursday night at the annual Country Stampede festival was rained out. KMAN’s sister station B1047 had arranged to take a group of Wounded Warriors from Fort Riley back to meet Daniels, but the weather had other plans. Normally, in a situation like that, the entertainer would not be obligated to perform and could pick up their paycheck and be on their way. But that’s not how Charlie Daniels saw things. With an off-day on Sunday, Daniels and his band returned to Manhattan from Chicago to make good on their performance.
“We got a call…the guys from Fort Riley were disappointed that they wouldn’t get to hear us play. So that did it!”, recalled Daniels.
At the time, I was coordinating the meet-and-greet for those wounded soldiers, and I’ll never forget the big smiles when I was able to tell them the good news; that they’d get to meet Charlie after all. It remains a highlight of my radio career.
Wayne Rouse, the President of Country Stampede, also remembers the occasion. “Charlie felt bad that his fans didn’t get to see him. The amazing part was that he could’ve just gone home to Nashville.”, said Rouse. “He brought his whole crew and band back to Manhattan. He is a very rare find in the industry. He is a great man. I will never forget his honesty and dedication to his fans. We are very grateful”. To help with expenses, Rouse and Country Stampede paid for the fuel…a significant expense when you consider the tour buses and tractor trailers involved in such a journey.
His dedication to the men and women in uniform has always been very strong. Daniels’ has played several shows overseas, and does not mince words when asked why showing support to the military is so very important to him. While it might be good public relations for a celebrity to proclaim a love of the military, Charlie Daniels truly has an incredibly steadfast respect for those in the Armed Services.
“I was five years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed. We took the war very seriously in my part of the country. And I learned very early on there’s only two things that protect America, and that’s the grace of God and the United States Military”, he says with conviction. “It was that way then, it is that way now, and it will be that way as long as America remains a free and sovereign nation”.
That support for those in uniform is also evident an organization called “The Journey Home Project”, which provides relief and assistance where needed for men and women returning home with physical injuries and/or emotional trauma. Whether it’s counseling, education assistance, or even some home furnishings, The Journey Home Project is there to lend a helping hand. Recently, Daniels headlined the 40th Annual Volunteer Jam (his fan club members are called “volunteers”), an all-star concert in Nashville. Eric Church, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Travis Tritt, Alabama, and more joined forces and raised more than $300,000 for the organization. Daniels himself is Chairman of the Board, devoting both talents and time to the cause.
For more information, check out http://thejourneyhomeproject.org/
In addition to entertaining countless fans, recording new music, and devoting time to his charitable projects, Daniels and Hazel (his wife of 51 years) spend time at The Twin Pines Ranch, their home near Mt Juliet, TN. The couple has one son, Charlie Jr, who works as part of his 30-person team. Daniels also can be found on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. And yes, that is actually Charlie Daniels tweeting before and after shows, or while relaxing at home.
It was pointed out that his concert Thursday night comes just two days before the K-State football season opener. Daniels is a sports fan, and had this to say about Wildcat Head Coach Bill Snyder. “I think he’s had a great career there…I think he’s done an incredible job with his team. He’s a contender every year. Good coaches are hard to find”, said the die-hard Tennessee Volunteer fan, “so you’d better hang on to him (Snyder)”!
The Charlie Daniels Band features Bruce Brown and Chris Wormer (guitar), Pat McDonald (drums), Charlie Hayward (bass), and Shannon Wickline (keyboard). Daniels called them “one of the best bands I’ve ever had. They’re always challenging me to keep up with them”.
Tickets are still available at press time. They can be purchased online at http://www.k-state.edu/mccain/tickets/, for as little as $29.00.