Country music and southern rock legend Charlie Daniels, best known for The Devil Went Down to Georgia died Monday morning after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke, according to a statement from his publicist. He was 83.
Daniels hit the mainstream in 1973 with the novelty song Honey in the Rock, which appeared on his third album.
Daniels would go on to record hits like In America, The Legend of Wooley Swamp, and Still in Saigon in the early 1980s. The Charles Daniels Band was named the Country Music Association’s instrumental group of the year in 1979 and 1980.
When he wasn’t performing with his own band, Daniels also played the fiddle with the likes of Willie Nelson, Ted Nugent, Roy Acuff, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Crystal Gayle, James Brown, Emmylou Harris, Amy Grant, George Thorogood, Kris Kristofferson, Little Richard, Tammy Wynette, Alabama, Oak Ridge Boys, B. B. King and the Allman Brothers.
Daniels was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.
In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. He was also an avid University of Tennessee sports fan.
He is survived by his wife, Hazel, and son Charlie Daniels, Jr.
Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days.
This is devastating news ... our brother Charlie Daniels has gone home ... hard to process this immeasurable loss ... goodbye Charlie ... until that glorious day ... We KNOW where you are now ... pic.twitter.com/S4etkqiMur
— The Oak Ridge Boys (@oakridgeboys) July 6, 2020
Just learned legendary superstar Charlie Daniels, 83, has died. @CharlieDaniels was the greatest. A wonderful entertainer, Christian gentleman, servant to our veterans like no other, & humble, kind man despite being multi-talented, successful, and hard working. #heartbroken
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) July 6, 2020