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Politically Incorrect And |
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FEATURE
by Tom Lounges
In the last few years, this All-American good ol’ boy has grown
well beyond being just a fiddle-playing music star.
In many ways, Daniels has become the Will Rogers of the new
millennium.
While the humble Daniels may dispute such a comparison, his new
book -- “This
Ain’t No Rag: Freedom, Family And The Flag” – is chock
full of thought-provoking chestnuts of Southern-fried wisdom.
While he opines on a variety of topics –– from guns laws to
God in our schools –– Daniels is quick to point out that he is no
expert. “I’m just an
average guy who uses the common sense the Good Lord gave him,” he
said. “I’m just an
average guy who uses his Constitutional right of Freedom of Speech.”
Daniels new book –– sure to get a four star rating in
conservative publications like “The National Review” –– is a natural follow up from an
artist who took an unwarranted amount of heat for following his heart
and writing a couple of patriotic songs following the 9/11 tragedy.
Rebuffed by the White House in July 2001 for not being
politically correct and politically sensitive, Daniels defied attempts
to censor his heart-tugging musical salute to America and it’s brave
patriots. He stood his ground and cancelled his appearance in
Washington.
Unapologetic if he offends some folks with his enthusiastic
flag-waving, Daniels is truly the last vestige of old school America.
He is the kind of man that this son of a like-minded WWII
veteran, greatly admires and respects.
Someone deserving of a pat on the back for refusing to bend to
pressures from the liberal left.
A brand new CD collection –– Freedom
And Justice For All –– is a solid musical companion piece to
his new book.
The 14 song set –– his 43rd career album –– features a
bevy of patriotic-themed Daniels chestnuts like “Still
In Saigon,” “America I Believe In You” and “In
America.”
It also includes the two 2001 which prompted Daniels to climb on
top of his Pro-America soapbox –– “The
Last Fallen Hero” and “This
Ain’t No Rag, It’s A Flag.”
Charlie Daniels and his faithful CDB entourage are back on the
road to support these latest ventures.
Though he turns 67-years-old while visiting the Star Plaza,
Daniels still averages 125-150 live concert dates each year.
“I’m a player. I’m a musician. What
else would I be doing, sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair?
The Good Lord willing, I’ll keep playing my music as long as
people continue to show up to hear us.
I have no intention of slowing down.”
Few folks realize that Charlie Daniels was among the first
artists to organize the “festival tour concept.” His “Volunteer
Jams” set the precedent for road shows like “OzzFest,” “Warped” and “Lollapalooza.”
“We started doing the ‘Volunteer
Jam’ shows back in 1974 and did them pretty much every year after
that, until a just few years ago. The
‘Jam’ concept was pretty
unique when we started doing them. We’ve had some great talent on
those shows.” Among the many music
stars who took part in Daniels’ “Volunteer
Jam” over the years were –– Ted
Nugent, Tanya Tucker, Steppenwolf, The Allman Bros, Billy Joel, B.B.
King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Travis Tritt, Leon
Russell and even...(gulp!)...Pat Boone!
A variety of charities benefitted from the “Volunteer
Jams,” and while he rarely hosts the all-star events anymore,
Daniels still does his share of philanthropy work in other ways.
He proudly has a chair on the St.
Jude’s Children’s Hospital Fundraising Board.
He also donates his time, talent and dollars to a variety of
other lesser known children’s charities, such as The
Galilean Home in Kentucky, The
Angelis Home in Florida, and the Starkey
Developmental Center in Kansas. There are others as well who reap
rewards through the efforts of this big-hearted Tennessean with a
ten-gallon hat.
Daniels also does his part for our nation’s military personnel.
Just this summer, he performed some “Spirit
of America” shows, including one last month at the Great Lakes
Navel Base here in Chicago.
“A lot of entertainers go overseas and perform with the USO,
but too often we forget the troops who are serving America right here on
our bases,” said Daniels. “These ‘Spirit Of
America’ shows were put together by a gentleman named Robert
Rosenthal who wanted to do something for the troops stationed on bases
here and their families.”
The Great Lakes show was a thrill for Daniels. “I looked out
from the stage and saw thousands of guys and gals sitting on the tarmac
in their uniforms, just really getting into the music,” said Daniels.
“God bless ‘em for what they do.
It is always an honor for us to be able to play for our
troops.”
Since parting ways in the 1990s with his long time label, Epic
Records, Daniels started his own imprint.
His Blue Hat Records,
distributed by Audium
Entertainment, has been home to not only his last few traditional
CDB albums, but also to assorted specialty releases. Having his own
label has allowed this seasoned Son of the South to record music that
ranges from Christian Spirituals, to bluegrass, to children’s music.
“I don’t miss all the politics and red tape that is involved
in being with a major label,” said Daniels, whose self-titled debut
solo album hit stores in 1971.
Prior to that, Daniels had been an in-demand Nashville session
player on albums by numerous big names, including a young Bob Dylan.
In 1971, he stepped up and helped spearhead the Southern Rock
movement along with The Outlaws, Pure Prairie
League, Wet Willie, The Marshall Tucker Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
During his 35 year run as a fiddle-playin’ and guitar pickin’
recording star, Daniels has racked up hits for both the rock and country
charts.
Among the CDB’s biggest hits are –– “The
Devil Went Down To Georgia,” “Uneasy Rider,” “Long Haired
Country Boy,” “The Legend Of Wooley Swamp,” and the Stars ‘n
Bars anthem, “The South’s
Gonna Do It Again.” “I may do another gospel album sometime soon,” he said, noting with pride that he is a staunch Christian soldier. “Having Blue Hat allows me to do pretty much what I want, when I want. I don’t have to watch the clock or meet someone’s timetable. Blue Hat affords me the kind of creative freedom that any artist loves to have.”
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They
just don’t come any more Red, White & Blue than Charlie Daniels...
