Charlie Daniels - His Life And His Guitars

Charlie Daniels

Charlie Daniels, one of the most beloved Country Rock musicians of our time, passed away recently. He was 83 years old.




According to his son, on July 6th, Charlie suffered a hemorrhagic stroke at his home and was rushed to the Summit Medical Center in Nashville.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie Daniels had suffered heart problems in 2013, the year that a pacemaker was installed, and he had been on blood thinners ever since that episode, His son said the blood thinners were what caused his death, since emergency personal could not get him to stop bleeding.

Charlie, Hazel, and Charles Jr.

Daniels leaves behind his wife, his son, Charlie Jr and three grandchildren.

Though most of us know Charlie Daniels as a fiddle player, from his 1979 international hit song The Devil Went Down To Georgia, Charlie’s first venture into music was as a guitar player.

Cherry Sunburst Gibson Les Paul

Through the years he has mostly been seen with flame cherry burst Les Paul's, but he started his career out playing other guitars.

Charlie Daniels as a child

Charlie Daniels was born in 1936, and by 1955 he graduated from high school, and was already playing guitar, mandolin, banjo, and fiddle in a number of bands. He decided early on that he wanted a career In music.

By 1964 he had moved to Nashville, and co-wrote a song called It Hurts Me, which was recorded by Elvis.

Charlie Daniels in
the studio with Bob Dylan

Charlie worked as a Nashville session musician, and played guitar and bass on three of Bob Dylan’s albums, including Nashville Skyline. He produced albums for The Youngbloods, and for himself. He had a number 4 song in 1973 called Uneasy Rider.

The Marshall Tucker Band
Charlie Daniels on the right

Daniels then went on to play fiddle in The Marshall Tucker Band.

1979 Volunteer Jam

He later organized an annual event known as The Volunteer Jam.

By 1975 he had a hit LP called The South’s Going To Do It Again. Four years later he had his mega hit song, The Devil Went Down To Georgia.

Charlie Daniels at The Grand Old Opry

Throughout his life time Charlie Daniels won numerous accolades including becoming a member of the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, he won numerous BMI Awards, and in 2007 was inducted as a member of The Grand Old Opry.

Charlie Daniels on King Of The Hill

Daniels has done some voice over work, and commercial work. But his first love was playing music before his fans.

Charlie Daniels Political Views

You may or may not agree with Charlie Daniel’s political views. He was a staunch outspoken conservative pro-American, and was never ashamed to speak his mind, be it in writing, talking or in music.

Daniels was a supporter of Jimmy Carter, and played at his inauguration, but he also defended George Bush and his handling of The Iraq War.

The South's Going To Do It Again

Charlie wrote and recorded pro-American songs including The South’s Going To Do It Again, In America, and Simple Man.

The Charlie Daniels Band

His band’s website and Face Book page became sounding boards for Charlie to speak out for what he believed, and against politicians and acts that were in his opinion detrimental to The United States.

Charlie and Hazel Daniel Middle State
University Military and Veterans Center

Charlie used his fame to champion being a patriot. He supported the Middle State Tennessee Veteran’s Center as a spokesman and donor. He was beloved by military veterans as well as the nation's military.

The earliest photos I can find of Charlie Daniels show a much different fellow than the bearded, cowboy hat wearing man we have all come to know.

Young Charlie Daniels with Harmony Guitar

When he was a kid his first guitar was a Harmony Archtone H1214.

Charlie Daniels Gibson ES-125TD

In the first picture I found of Charlie playing professionally he  he has an old Gibson ES-125TD from about 1964.

Charlie Daniels Band - Gretsch 6120

For his first version of The Charlie Daniel's Band, he was playing a Gretsch 6120 with an unusual finish. This guitar would later be  put in The Musician's Hall Of Fame.

Charlie on Telecaster

Charlie said that when he went to live and work in Nashville he got a Fender Telecaster. Charlie is also said to have played bass guitar on a number of recordings.

1955 Gibson J-45

Charlie said he also owned an old Gibson J-45 acoustic and a small Gibson amplifier. He said the Gibson acoustic only cost around $65.00, so he must have purchased it used in the early 1960's.

Daniels with his 1958 Les Paul Standard

When Daniels started The Charlie Daniels Band up, he and his friend, Tommy Crain, went to The Old Time Pickin' Parlor in Nashville looking for guitars. They spotted a 1958 Les Paul Standard Cherry Burst flame top.  He also looked at a Les Paul Gold Top Deluxe that was selling for $400 less.



His friend convinced him that the Cherry Burst looked so much prettier. Charlie bought that guitar, and that is the one he has used throughout his career.  He has named it "The Rosewood Lady" or just "The Lady". Sadly that guitar was stolen.

Daniels with a more recent Les Paul

Throughout the years Charlie Daniels has owned numerous Gibson Les Paul Standard guitars. In 2014 Gibson Brands issued a 1959 Southern Rock Tribute Les Paul Standard.

Charlie with his Christmas Present

For Christmas of 2012 his wife Hazel gave Charlie a beautiful 1959 Les Paul Standard.

Daniel's Gibson SST electric acoustics

Another guitar that Daniels played during concerts was a Gibson Chet Atkins SST model. This is a steel string electric acoustic guitar with a piezo bridge pickup.

Rose Telecaster and Tyler Stratocaster

Charlie Daniels also owned a couple of Fender-like guitars, a Classic Strat, made by Tyler Guitars and a Tele, both made by Jonathan Rose of Nashville.

Charlie Daniels Taylor Dreadnaught

Charlie Daniels also owned a beautiful Taylor Dreadnaught acoustic guitar. In his younger days he played a Martin Dreadnaught with a Barcus Berry pickup.

Julianne O'Hara

I dedicate this article to the memory of my little sister, Julianne (Julie) O'Hara who passed away suddenly on July 30th, 2020. She was loved by her family, and many friends, colleagues, and students. She is missed and will not be forgotten.


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