Charlie Daniels has passed away. The country music icon was 83 years old when he died on Monday, July 6, after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke at a hospital near his home.
Charlie rose to prominence with “Uneasy Rider,” which landed in the Top 10 on the charts in 1973. The song, from his third studio album, Honey in the Rock, kicked off a series of success that spanned almost 50 years, including “In America,” “Drinkin’ My Baby Goodbye,” “In America,” and his biggest hit, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
Charlie was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2008, and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.
“I literally fell against my wife,” Charlie recalled to The Boot, speaking of his invitation to join the Hall of Fame. “My first thought was, ‘Did she really say what I thought she said? Am I mistaking what she’s saying? Did she tell me that, or am I just imagining she said that?’ And then when it really turned out that it actually happened, and I confirmed it, I don’t really know what my thoughts were. It was kind of surreal, to be honest — like going to the North Pole and seeing Santa Claus, that kind of feeling.”
Charlie just released the humorous video quarantine video, “Geechi Geechi Ya Ya Blues,” starring Alabama’s Randy Owen, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ray Stevens, Larry Gatlin, Crystal Gayle, Rhonda Vincent, Lorrie Morgan, Collin Raye, TG Sheppard and T. Graham Brown. The song was first included on his 2018 Beau Weevils — Songs in the Key of E record.
“I still marvel at my son, Charlie Jr., for being able to take all these people, who were in totally different places, record them remotely and put the whole thing together for such a fun video,” Charlie said of the video. “I’m just an analog guy living in a digital world. Thanks to all my friends for helping out.”
Charlie planned on hosting his Volunteer Jam in 2020, but decided to postpone the star-studded show, due to COVID-19 concerns, adding 38 Special, The Allman Betts Band and blues artist Cedric Burnside. The new additions joined an already impressive lineup, which includes The Marshall Tucker Band, Chris Janson, Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy, Delbert McClinton, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Mickey Gilley, Pure Prairie League and comedian Dusty Slay, among others.
“Volunteer Jam is alive and well and is moving from September 2020 to February 22, 2021,” Charlie announced in June. “The Jam turns 46 years old this year and this could be the best one yet.”
Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
