This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
Country Music Icon Charlie Daniels Dies After Hemorrhagic Stroke ¶
July 6, 2020, marked a sad day for country music fans as Charlie Daniels, the legendary musician behind the hit song 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia,' passed away following a hemorrhagic stroke in Tennessee.
Originally a session musician, Daniels worked with icons such as Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, and Leonard Cohen before making a name for himself as the leader of the Charlie Daniels Band, a country-rock group that hosted the annual Volunteer Jam music festival.
Known for his outspoken persona, Daniels often wavered between patriotic and countercultural bents, which was reflected in his music and public statements. His best-known hit, 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia,' reached number one on the country charts and jumped into the top ten pop songs.
The song, which recounts a fiddle player's musical duel with Satan, won Daniels a Grammy in 1979 and has become a classic of country-rock music.
Daniels was also a staunch supporter of veterans' causes and the National Rifle Association, and he often expressed his opinions on his website in a section entitled 'Soap Box.'
His final post celebrated the United States' Independence Day on July 3, but it also sparked controversy with its criticism of anti-racist protests and police brutality demonstrations.
