Born 90 Years Ago Today in the Tar Heel State, the Nashville Sideman Turned Southern Rock Pioneer Who Recorded With Bob Dylan
Charlie Daniels, born in Wilmington, North Carolina, 90 years ago, became a Nashville session musician and a pioneer of country music blended with rock, folk and bluegrass. His best-known song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”, became a major hit in 1979 and helped bring the Charlie Daniels Band wide success.
Daniels began playing professionally with the Misty Mountain Boys in 1953 and later wrote songs for other artists, including Elvis Presley. In Nashville, he played on Bob Dylan’s *Nashville Skyline* and recorded with artists such as Leonard Cohen and Ringo Starr. The band’s signature hit sold more than a million copies, topped the country chart, reached No. 3 on the pop chart and won a Grammy; Daniels died in 2020, aged 83.
In short
- Charlie Daniels was born 90 years ago in North Carolina.
- His band’s 1979 hit won a Grammy.
- He played on Bob Dylan’s *Nashville Skyline*.
Explained simply
Charlie Daniels was an American singer, songwriter and fiddle player who helped bring country music together with rock, folk and bluegrass. He began playing professionally as a teenager and later worked in Nashville as a session musician, performing on recordings by artists including Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Ringo Starr.
Daniels also wrote songs for other performers, including Elvis Presley, before finding broad success with the Charlie Daniels Band. Its best-known song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”, reached listeners beyond country music and won a Grammy. Daniels died in 2020, aged 83.
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