Charlie Daniels…
NEVER LOOK AT THE EMPTY SEATS: A Memoir by Charlie Daniels — Book Review
As I said in my Life & Works post, “I believe that the greatest writers of our Boomer Generation have been our singer-songwriters.” Among my favourites have been the Country singers, especially those Country Outlaws.
And some of those have written great memoirs. CASH: The Autobiography by Johnny Cash. IT’S A LONG STORY: My Life by Willie Nelson. WAYLON: An Autobiography by Waylon Jennings. AN OUTLAW AND A LADY: A Memoir of Music, Life with Waylon, and the Faith that Brought Me Home by Jessi Colter. SING ME BACK HOME: My Story by Merle Haggard. MY STORY by Tommy Hunter. WHAT’S ON TAPP? The Gordie Tapp Story by a guy we Canadian fans knew as Cousin Clem. MY LIFE — IN SPITE OF MYSELF by Roy Clark.
And now I’m here to celebrate Charlie Daniel’s own story — NEVER LOOK AT THE EMPTY SEATS: A Memoir.
“We were whole again, well-rehearsed, hot and ready to go…” Charlie Daniels
Charlie Daniels has done ’em all in his successful Sixty year career. From early Rock&Roll, through Bluegrass, R&B, Gospel, Blues, Country, Southern Country, Campfire Songs and Cowboy Tunes.
It wasn’t that Charlie changed with the times. Charlie had something to offer each time our popular culture changed. He still does. Heck, now he’s posting daily on Twitter. [1]
His book title reflects a life-long belief.
Charlie Daniels & Empty Seats
Starting out, Charlie looked at a lot of empty seats, even in the smallest venues. Where some singers would cut back on their show in this situation, from the beginning Charlie believed that you gave your best, your full program, to the folks who were there. He believed that those folks would bring more people to his next show. And they did.
Play to the full seats, give ’em all your best. That’s how you build a triumphant career.
Born in 1936 in Wilmington, North Carolina, Charlie’s family moved around the South a lot and he attended a number of schools, making and leaving a new set of friends with every move.
He discovered his love of music early on. And taught himself how to play the guitar, mandolin — and the fiddle. In his teens he formed his first band, the Misty Mountain Boys, a Bluegrass group.
From then on, his story is the story of the music of his times.
He went on to play with Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, the Marshall Tucker Band, Barefoot Jerry, Hank Williams Jr, Montgomery Gentry, Kid Rock and more.
Recorded songs included “Jaguar,” “Uneasy Rider,” “The South’s Gonna Do It Again,” “Long Haired Country Boy,” “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” “In America,” “The Legend of Wooley Swamp,” “Still in Saigon,” “Simple Man,” “Let ‘Em Win Or Bring ‘Em Home.” Charlie’s rendition of “Back In The Saddle Again,” written by Gene Autry and Ray Whitley, is a warm blend of Country Rock and memories — from a time when a friend was a friend. Remember?
In 1964, he married Hazel Alexander — an ongoing love story. Together, they built their Twin Pines Ranch in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, where he still raises quarter horses and Horned Herefords.
Our Heroes Had Always Been Cowboys
Like a whole lot of us ol’ country boys, Charlie grew up with Westerns and wanted to be a cowboy someday. But Charlie actually went out and did it. And he even befriended Louis L’Amour, one of my all-time fave Western writers.
In his chapter “Heart of My Heart, Rock of My Soul, You Changed My Life When You Took Control,” he tells us of his faith journey. His belief in the words of Jesus. “Take up your cross and follow Me.” And Charlie tells of the Easter service where he “did a couple of gospel songs and stayed for the rest of the service.”
Because of that faith, because of his passion for music, because of his firm determination, Charlie has built a thriving career.
At the 53rd annual BMI Country Awards, Charlie was honored as a “BMI Icon.” On January 19, 2008, he was given a membership in the Grand Ole Opry, inducted by Marty Stuart and Connie Smith. In October of 2016, Charlie became a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame along with “fellow tar heels Randy Travis and producer Fred Foster.”
Charlie Daniels has lived a Life, eh?
And he still is. Still singing. Writing. Riding. Still moving with the times…
You’ve gotta track down a copy of NEVER LOOK AT THE EMPTY SEATS: A Memoir by Charlie Daniels.
Hope you enjoyed my Tribute to a great Singer-Songwriter, a Patriot, a Christian — Charlie Daniels.
“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe
[1] Yes, Charlie’s posting on Twitter. From daily comments like “22 veterans commit suicide every day,” “Pray for the blue” and “Benghazi ain’t going away!” — to touching, deeply personal sentiments like “Friday the 13th of April 1973 my father, William Carlton Daniels passed away, just before my first hit record, Uneasy Rider took off up the charts. He taught me so much and loved music as much as I do. Been almost a half century now and we still miss you Dad Rest In Peace”
See him on Twitter @CharlieDaniels.
CHARLIE DANIELS Memoir of a Long Haired Country Boy & Cowboy
Update July 6, 2023. It’s been three years today since we lost Charlie Daniels. We’ve still got his music, God bless him, but sure miss his humor and outspoken ways:
“I should be the one to say what I do. It’s just not done that way anymore in Nashville. And I can’t do it the other way.”
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