The Charlie Daniels Band

The Charlie Daniels Band formed in Nashville in the early 1970s, blending country, bluegrass, blues, and southern rock into a barnstorming live act. Charlie Daniels (1936-2020) began as a session musician and songwriter — Elvis Presley recorded his co-written It Hurts Me — before forming his own band. The Devil Went Down to Georgia (1979) became one of the most recognizable fiddle songs in American history, reaching number one on the country charts and crossing over to pop radio. Daniels played fiddle and guitar, running a Gibson Les Paul through Marshall amplifiers for his rock moments and picking up an acoustic fiddle for his country work. The band's live album Volunteer Jam documented their reputation as one of the great American road acts.