Taz. 1944-2011. RIP

This is sad news. Taz is an original, and I am glad I bought his album and got to shake his hand this summer when he was in town. The following is from Charlie's Soapbox.

Taz

Friends

This is the hardest soapbox I've ever written.

This morning about 4:15am I got the news that I had lost one of my oldest and dearest friends, Taz DiGregorio. He was killed in a one-car accident on I-40, East of Nashville when he was driving to catch our tour bus to go on the road.

As I write this, I am still somewhat in shock and have not fully accepted that there will be an empty spot on stage right where Taz's keyboards set for over forty years.

I honestly don't know what it's going to feel like when I walk back on stage for the first time without him, but one thing I do know, the music will go on, but it will never be quite the same.

Taz's wailing organ and rowdy piano were a mainstay in The CDB style since our very first records in the early 70's.

His tender piano intro to "Carolina I Remember You", his jazzy organ solo on "Birmingham Blues" and the signature riff he wrote for "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" were as much a part of The CDB sound as the songs themselves.

I traveled a good part of the world with Taz. We've been broke down on the roadsides of America, stranded by an air traffic controller's strike in Paris, stood together at the Berlin Wall and the 38th Parallel, walked the streets of Hong Kong, London, Amsterdam, Dublin, Juarez, Sydney, and a thousand little towns you've probably never even heard of.

We've stormed the Big Apple, the Big Easy, the Rockies, the Smokies, Clamtown, Beantown, the Midlands and the Maritimes and lit up the Daddy of 'Em All in Cheyenne Wyoming.

We've been in jail in Louisiana, rained on in Raleigh, shot at in Baghdad and left behind a trail that stretches millions of miles, thousands of shows and zillions of memories.

Taz was there through some of the toughest stretches of my life, when my dad died suddenly, through my battles with cancer and stroke and during the years it took me to pay off massive debts from a bad business arrangement.

Conversely, he shared some of the highest moments of my life, when my son was born, when we had our first gold record, when I was inducted into the Musician's Hall of Fame and when I became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

At this early stage of the game, it's hard for me to think about what the future will be like without Taz in it, but I know one thing…

There is an empty place in my life today that nobody else will ever fill.

I will miss you my friend.

Love never dies.

William Joel DiGregorio
Born January 8, 1944
Southbridge, Massachusetts

What do you think?

Pray for our troops, and for our country.

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

More news, which really just repeats what Charlie said in a more clinical fashion can be found all over the web -- here's a link. 






Back To Top

Live setlist @CDBFan

I'm tweeting the show in pleasanton, California. Check @CDBFan for the info at twitter.com

Rest In Peace, Tommy Crain

Not a lot to say about this sad news! Tommy Crain was a smoking guitar player and helped make the CDB the band that it is today. Here's a copy of one of the obits, and a poem, by Charlie Daniels.


From Billboard:

John Thomas "Tommy" Crain, a guitarist in the classic Charlie Daniels Band lineup of the 1970s-'80s who enjoyed a 15 year run with the band, died Jan. 13 in Franklin, Tenn. He was 59.

Crain, a Nashville native, played on more than 20 CDB albums and co-wrote more than 60 songs with the group. He was co-writer and co-arranger of many classic ones, including the Grammy-winning "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," and the writer/vocalist on such CDB classics as "Cumberland Mountain Number Nine," "Blind Man" and  "Franklin Limestone," from the some of the band's best-selling albums ("Saddle Tramp," "Nightrider," "Full Moon" and "Million Mile Reflections").

Charlie Daniels Band, "Blind Man"

"Tommy Crain will always be a part of the CDB family and his music will always be a part of the CDB sound," Charlie Daniels said in a statement. "We have lost a good friend and the world has lost a unique, creative and precious human being.  We send our deepest condolences to the family of our brother Tommy Crain. You were special, buddy. We're gonna miss you."

Prior to joining the CDB, Crain played in such popular local outfits as the Flat Creek Band (with his brother Billy) and Buckeye (which played Daniels' first Volunteer Jam in 1974) before joining Daniels and company in 1975, when Southern rock was king. Though not as well-known as some of the other Southern rock guitar slingers of the day, Crain was an influential musician much appreciated by fans, and an integral architect of the CDBs unique blend of rock, blues, country and improvisational jamming.

Crain was a versatile musician, adept on all stringed instruments including guitars, banjo and the pedal steel. The CDB toured relentlessly at the arena level during Crain's tenure, and he left the band in 1989 to devote more time to his family.

At the time of his death, Crain was employed by Rogers Remodeling and Southbound Trains, both of Franklin, but kept one foot in music as the leader of Tommy Crain and the Crosstown Allstars of Atlanta.

Crain was preceded in death by his daughter, Ella Helen Crain. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Thomas Crain (Helen), his wife, Melissa Williams Crain, daughter Ann Crain McDuffee, grandson Hunter McDuffee, brother Billy Crain (Sandy), sister Sherry Crain Arledge (James) and many nieces and nephews.

Details are pending on a memorial service to be held for friends and family. Donations can be made to the Nashville Local Chapter of Musicians On Call.

From Charlie Daniels, on his site:




I Remember Tommy

For a thousand nights he stood by my side with the rest of the boys in the band

When he'd grab that Les Paul by the nap of its neck, it was just like part of his hand

Ol' T.C. was a natural; it came easy for him his fingers would fly like the wind

It was way past just thinking about what lick to play, that guitar would do magic for him

He took me to heights I may never have known if he hadn't come into my life

When you'd trade licks with Tommy, you'd best bring it all, because that's what he did every night

We were too hot to handle and to wild to tame and the jams were bodacious and loud

Some nights the music would take us so high that's it seemed we were up in the clouds

Late nights on the bus with my brothers in arms rolling on toward tomorrow nights' stage

Pickin' old country songs on acoustic guitars still pumped from the music we'd played

The good times the bad times the road and the crowds yes the memories roll on without end

Of a time in my life when we burned up the stage with Ol' T.C., my brother, my friend

Rest in peace, old friend. Thank you for passing my way.

Love,

Charlie Daniels

CHARLIE DANIELS Drops in on Widespread Panic

Southern Rocker, CHARLIE DANIELS Drops in on Widespread Panic

MUSIC NEWS- Legendary southern rocker, Charlie Daniels rocked the house last night (October 6) in Nashville when the legendary musician joined jam-band Widespread Panicat the historic RymanAuditorium.  Daniels surprised the sold out audience when he appeared on stage, fired up his fiddle and jammed on “Ain’t Life Grand,” “Who Do You Belong To” and “When You Coming Home.”  The crowd roared throughout and remained on their feet, giving the performance a standing ovation.

Daniels was invited byWidespread Panic to perform with them on their third night of sold out shows in Nashville.  Daniels said, “I was honored to be asked to play with WSP.  It was a fun night of jammin' with a group of great musicians.”

( Pictured l to r: WSP’s Jimmy Herring, Daniels, WSP’s John Bell.  Photo: Dean Tubb)

The Charlie Daniels Band continues their tour in support of the band's current release,Land That I Love, on Blue Hat Records/E1 Entertainment.  The band’s signature song, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia,” was released back in 1979 and continues to be in demand.  

WSP has a tradition of allowing taping of their shows, so it's all archived online. Here's this show and Charlie comes in during the second set.

http://panicstream.com/streams/wsp/2010_10_06/player.html


Article from Musicnewsnet.com

Charlie Daniels, Unsung Singing Hero

Charlie Daniels, Unsung Singing Hero

By L. Brent Bozell (Archive) · Friday, September 10, 2010

It was some 30 years ago when I first caught a Charlie Daniels concert. He was the backup to the Marshall Tucker Band at the old Capital Centre outside Washington, D.C., and that night, he stole the show. When he finished his blazing set, the audience erupted and brought him back for an encore. When the Marshall Tucker Band finished their rather good performance, it made no difference -- the capacity crowd roared for yet another performance from Charlie Daniels."

It's a metaphor for his life. At a time when he should deservedly be disappearing into the shadows, he's back -- with the crowd roaring once again. Despite recovering from a stroke and nearing his 74th birthday, Charlie still plays about 100 concerts per year, including Sean Hannity's "Freedom Concerts" to benefit the children of our fallen and disabled U.S. soldiers through Ollie North's Freedom Alliance. So much has Charlie become ingrained in the "Freedom Concerts" (he performed in all eight shows this year) and in the effort to support our military worldwide that he deserves his own tribute. He is America's unsung singing hero.

It would be nice if patriotism were in style in the music industry. It is so in the country music universe, but in other circles, there is no quicker way to become a pop culture pariah than following this path. Months after 9/11, ABC anchor Peter Jennings scratched out country singer Toby Keith from an Independence Day special because his songs were deemed too "mean" in their anger at our attackers. NBC put on country singer Steve Earle to sing sympathetically about American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh and his prayers for martyrdom. The Dixie Chicks publicly declared their embarrassment with President Bush for his declaration of war against terrorism and were hailed by the elites. That's what one does to earn accolades.

In recent years, I've come to know Charlie Daniels personally, enough so that I can say with confidence that this man just isn't looking for tributes. One gets the feeling that at his age, having accomplished so much, he just doesn't need them. He does it because he loves America and wants to honor the military by performing at the "unique and heartwarming" freedom concerts to entertain crowds full of "hard-working, God-fearing patriotic folks, the salt-of-the-earth middle Americans who have fought our wars, raised good citizens and kept the wheels of progress moving forward in this nation for over 200 years."

"Patriotism to me is always in style, but now -- especially now -- we need a little shot in the arm," he says.

He remembers that it can take a catastrophe to make people remember their common national bond: "9/11 was definitely a wakeup call to everybody about our country and about how precious it is -- about what can happen here and what did happen here. It never happened here before, and it showed we're a lot more vulnerable than we used to be. So as we go along, we forget about those pictures of the planes crashing into the trade towers and all the things that went on that day."

In 2006, CBS "Early Show" weatherman Dave Price asked him why at his age he was performing for soldiers in Iraq. Charlie's answer was precious: "I can't carry a gun ... you know, I can't fight, but I can darn sure carry a guitar and pick, so that's why I'm here." On CBS last year, Price recalled, "With all the great acts that are generous enough to give their time, when Charlie Daniels steps in front of these soldiers and sailors and Marines, it's like ... unreal."

The Charlie Daniels Band has performed for U.S. troops all over the world, not just in Iraq, but everywhere from Germany and Bosnia to South Korea to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Their brand-new album, "Land That I Love," underlines a strong theme in Charlie's music. That's a snapshot of his career, an apt description of a love affair with his country that he has expressed in music for over a half-century.

He was welcomed into the Grand Ole Opry Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2009. The Opry honor was announced while he was working for charity again, picking and fiddling for the Christmas for Kids benefit at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Martina McBride walked on stage with a small gift box containing the honor.

But Charlie has brought a much larger basket of gifts to this country and its fighting men and women. He deserves every honor that comes his way. Those of us who can consider Charlie Daniels a friend are honored that way.

New CDB Album Land That I Love is Available Now

The Charlie Daniels Band released Land That I Love today. It's available everywhere now.

Tracks include:

My Beautiful America
America, I Believe In You
American Farmer
Let Freedom Ring
(What This World Needs Is) A Few More Rednecks
This Ain't No Rag, It's A Flag
Still In Saigon
The Last Fallen Hero
In America
Star Spangled Banner
Freedom And Justice For All
Iraq Blues
Simple Man
Red Skelton's Pledge Of Allegiance
Summer Of 68'

Charlie Daniels hosts 'America’s Opry Weekend Star-Spangled Special'

Charlie Daniels fans will get a chance to spend Independence Day weekend with the country/Southern rock mainstay, at least via radio.

He's set to host the America’s Opry Weekend Star-Spangled Special, which will feature live Grand Ole Opry performances, current country hits and patriotic tunes (expect music from the likes of Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, and the host).

The special is a fitting lead-up to Daniels' upcoming release: He'll issue a compilation dubbed Land That I Love on August 10, with patriotic songs and two new tunes, 'What This World Needs is a Few More Rednecks' and 'Iraq Blues' (those new songs will also be made available digitally on July 4)."

From:
Charlie Daniels hosts 'America’s Opry Weekend Star-Spangled Special

Check out:
http://www.opry.com/news/2010/06-17.html

Programmers interested in the America's Opry Weekend Star-Spangled Special should contact Sue Falco at Westwood One at (212) 641-2012 or sue_falco@westwoodone.com. America's Opry Weekend presents top artists' performances from the Opry stage each week. The show is serviced by Westwood One and airs on country radio stations across the country and on the Armed Forces Radio Network.