Music1 min(s) read
Published 17:28 06 Jul 2020 GMT
Country Music legend Charlie Daniels has died earlier today (July 6) at the age of 83.
Perhaps best known for his 1979 hit 'The Devil Went Down To Georgia', representatives for the Country icon revealed that the cause of death was a hemorrhagic stroke.
Per the press release, the beloved Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member died at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee.
A statement from his representatives read:
"Few artists have left a more indelible mark on America's musical landscape than Charlie Daniels. An outspoken patriot, beloved mentor, and a true road warrior, Daniels parlayed his passion for music into a multi-platinum career and a platform to support the military, underprivileged children, and others in need."
Throughout his legendary music career, Daniels accumulated a string of accolades and awards, including his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, and becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
'The Devil Went Down To Georgia' reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1979, and eventually led to Daniels winning the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance.
[[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBjPAqmnvGA]]
Speaking to The Oklahoman about the success of the track, Daniels said in a 2019 interview:
"I never cease to be amazed by what that song has done for us.
"A friend of ours that's mountain climbing, he’s over in Chile, and he sent a note and he said, 'Crossing over from Chile into Argentina and Charlie’s on the radio doing Devil Went Down To Georgia.'
"It always amazes me when I hear about something like that. It's just been a great song for us."
Daniels added:
"It is fun to play and one of the reasons it’s fun to play is because that’s the one everybody wants to hear. You know when you get to that every night it’s gonna a song everybody’s gonna recognize and everybody’s gonna get into. So, it's definitely a high point of the night.
"We close with that. There’s nothing we have to follow it with. We’ve climbed all the heights we can, it’s time to leave."
Our thoughts are with Daniels' family, friends, and fans at this tragic time.
