On Monday, July 6th, 2020, publicist Don Murray Grubs confirmed that Country Music Hall of
Fame inductee Charlie Daniels had passed away at the age of 83, having suffered a severe
hemorrhagic stroke.
"Charlie Daniels has died. Daniels, of course, most famous for that hit song, 'The Devil
Went Down to Georgia.'"
Born October 28th, 1936 in Wilmington, North Carolina, Daniels was a staple of the country
music community, having enjoyed a career that spanned more than five decades. He reportedly
spent nearly 12 years in a bar band called Jaguar, with early novelty tracks like "Robot
Romp." Later moving on to work as a session musician, his early gigs included contributions
to albums by Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. In 1964, "It Hurts Me," a song co-written
by Daniels and music producer Bob Johnston, was released as an Elvis Presley single. Daniels
himself wouldn't receive national attention until 1973 with the release of his third album,
Honey In The Rock. The record's breakout hit, a novelty number called "Uneasy Rider," cracked
the Billboard Hot 100, topping out at number nine.
But the accomplishment that brought Daniels directly into the international spotlight
came in 1979. That's when The Charlie Daniels Band released "The Devil Went Down to Georgia,"
the now-ubiquitous country foot-tapper that peaked at number three, somehow, at the same
time that "My Sharona" was topping the charts.
The surprise success of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" brought Daniels worldwide fame,
charting in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., New Zealand, and even the Netherlands.
A decade after its release, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" was certified platinum, with
over one million verified records sold, according to the RIAA. Its colorful narrative and undeniable
beat made the song an easy target for covers, parodies, and reimaginings. Bands running
the gamut of genres from Primus to Michelle Lambert have performed renditions of the tune,
substituting fiddles for harmonicas, electric guitars, and in at least one case, gold turntables.
Notably, the song was covered by Steve Ouimette for 2007's Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
As part of the level, the player is tasked with beating a CGI devil in a rock off, which
Charlie Daniels took exception to, due to the fact that it was possible for the devil
to win. Initially calling the inclusion of the song, quote, "kind of amazing" and describing
his excitement at the prospect of, quote, "a whole new generation of kids...discovering
it" in an interview with the Fort Myers News-Press, Daniels would later loudly express his distaste
with its presentation. In a statement on the musician's blog, Daniels said:
"I would never grant permission for some company to create a video game version of a song I
wrote in which the devil wins a contest…I'm sorely disappointed with the company who owns
the copyright for not policing the situation. As it is they have allowed these people to
violate the very essence of the song."
Charlie Daniels was never shy about sharing his opinions on matters personal or political.
When his song, "The South's Gonna Do It Again," became an advertising staple for a Louisiana
chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in 1975, Daniels made the bold choice of speaking out publicly
against the group, stating, quote, "I'm damn proud of the South, but I sure as hell am
not proud of the Ku Klux Klan. I wrote the song about the land I love and my brothers."
In 1976, he shared public support for Jimmy Carter's presidential run, and Carter helped
to revive the public image of "The South's Gonna Do It Again" by utilizing it as his
campaign song. Daniels performed at Carter's inauguration the following year, and later
stated in Mark Kemp's Dixie Lullaby book that Carter was, quote, "the most honorable man
to hold the office of president of the United States of America in my lifetime."
In his later years, Daniels' political leanings skewed totally to the right. His 1980 single
"In America" found new life as a boot-stomping patriotic anthem after the 9/11 terrorist
attacks, and his support of President George W. Bush was pronounced throughout the 2000s.
His blog, Charlie Daniels' Soap Box, found an audience with early writings with titles
like "An Open Letter To The Hollywood Bunch," in which he criticized liberals in the entertainment
industry.
"I used to identify myself as a democrat, but the democratic party just kinda walked
away from me."
According to the Tennessean, Daniels is survived by his wife Hazel and his son, Charlie Daniels
Jr.
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