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Charlie Daniels Receives Surprise Invitation to Join Grand Ole Opry

Charlie Daniels, Grand Ole Opry, Urban Cowboy

Charlie Daniels was officially invited to join the Grand Ole Opry on November 19 at the Ryman Auditorium where he was hosting his annual Christmas For Kids event.

Charlie Daniels has been a singer, fiddler, and guitarist since the 1950s, performing music in a variety of genres including country, Christian, rock, and soul.

During the first years of his career, Daniels worked with some well-known musicians as a session musician including working on three of Bob Dylan’s albums. Additionally, he worked on Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen music recordings. In 1964, Daniels co-wrote a song, “It Hurts Me,” which was performed by Elvis Presley.

Daniels recorded his first album in 1971 entitled Charlie Daniels. However, it wasn’t until 1972 that he had his first hit song, “Uneasy Rider,” which came from his second album, Honey in the Rock. His 1975 album Fire on the Mountain was certified as double platinum.

Perhaps one of his most notable accomplishments is his 1977 song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” which won a Grammy Award, topped the pop and country charts, won three trophies from the Country Music Association, became part of the movie Urban Cowboy, and became popular internationally.

Some of Daniels’ other albums include Full Moon, released in 1980, Windows in 1982, Me and the Boys in 1985, Christmas Time Down South in 1990, The Door, released in 1994, By the Light of the Moon in 1997, A Merry Christmas to All in 2002, and Live from Iraq, released earlier this year.

On the evening of November 19, 2007, during the hosting of his annual benefit for Christmas For Kids, Charlie Daniels was presented with an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry, a country radio show, which has been on the air since 1925.

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Martina McBride who is currently a member of the Grand Ole Opry presented Daniels with a card that read: “Peace, joy, love, and wishes fulfilled. These are the timeless treasures of Christmas. Thank you, Charlie, for all you’ve done to make Christmas wishes come true for thousands of children through the years. Now it’s time to make a wish come true for you, too. You’re officially invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Thank you.”

After receiving his official invitation to join the Opry, Daniels hosted the rest of his benefit in front of the famous Opry barn backdrop with the Opry microphone on center stage.

According to the press release on Charlie Daniels’ website the Vice President and general manager of the Opry said, “Charlie Daniels’ songs and musicianship are nothing less than legendary. He’s known worldwide as one of country music’s true icons, and all of us with the Opry are excited to welcome into our family of new stars, superstars, and legends.

Daniels will be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry later this winter during an episode of the show.

For more information about the Grand Ole Opry, please visit their website: www.grandoleopry.com.

Sources:

Charlie Daniels: Charlie Daniels Invited to Become Grand Ole Opry Member:
http://www.charliedaniels.com/news/news-041.htm

Charlie Daniels: Biography:
http://www.charliedaniels.com/bio-charlie.htm

Wikipedia: Grand Ole Opry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Ole_Opry

Wikipedia: Charlie Daniels:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Daniels