For the Charlie Daniels Band, the show must go on, at least in some way, even without the band’s founder and namesake. Charlie Daniels‘ son, Charlie Daniels, Jr., share the future of the Charlie Daniels Band, as part of a lengthy post on social media.
“First of all, the CDB social media accounts will stay active, and we’re going to keep tweeting some of Charlie’s daily tweets, a scripture, ‘Never Forget 9/11,’ ‘Benghazi ain’t going away,’ ’22 VETERANS COMMIT SUICIDE EVERY DAY!!,’ and more,” Daniels, Jr. said. “I know he would want us to keep that going. We still have anniversaries, birthdays, new merchandise and music to offer, the Volunteer Jam will likely morph into a tribute show. I’m hoping to get some input into some remixed/remastered classic CDB albums, and some vault material for future releases and dad just finished a novel, which we’re going to try to edit and get it ready to be shopped.
“So, this isn’t the end,” he added. “It’s just a new direction for everyone, but dad’s music will survive long after his passing. We will keep his legacy alive, and do our best to extend it and keep it going for future generations of fans.”
The only son of Charlie and his wife, Hazel, also thanked people for the outpouring of support ever since his father unexpectedly passed away on the morning of July 6, and suggested what people can do to make the country music icon’s legacy continue.
“My mom and I would like to say thank you for all the thoughts and prayers over the past week, and we have needed every one of them, and even more, if possible,” Daniels, Jr. said. “Again, instead of flowers, please donate to The Journey Home Project which aims to help veterans adjust to civilian life. It was one of his greatest passions. You can donate here.”
Daniels, Jr. closed his post by praising his father for the impact he made on so many people, in so many ways.
“This week, I’ve heard a lot of people say that dad was ‘The best there’s ever been,'” he said. “And I have to agree, he was, and I don’t mean fiddle players. What do you think? Pray for our troops, our police, our country and the peace of Jerusalem. God Bless America.”
Earlier in the post, Daniels, Jr. shared some of the heartbreaking final moments he had with his father.
“The emotional roller coaster this week has been overwhelming,” he admitted. “It started at 5:45 AM when mom called me crying and said that I needed to get up to their house right now, that dad was sick. My first thoughts were that somehow – despite not having hugged my parents in over 4 months, and any time I had to be in close proximity to them I was masked – dad had gotten infected with COVID-19.
“I quickly drove up to the house and found mom and dad on the upstairs porch and dad was slumped over in his chair, I asked him if he could breathe, he nodded and tried to say yes, but it was obvious that he was very weak,” added Daniels, Jr.
The post went on to explain that because Charlie was on blood thinners, not much could be done once the second stroke occurred.
“He was prescribed a blood thinner as part of his treatment, and it probably kept him from having another stroke for 10 years,” Daniels, Jr. said. “That and his pacemaker, and in December of 2018 he had cardiac catheter ablation surgery to improve his heart rhythm, which increased his energy even more. But unfortunately, the blood thinner is what did him in this time. Because his blood wasn’t clotting, the blood kept pouring into his brain stem.
“We asked if there was anything, ANYTHING that could be done,” he added. “He said they could try to reverse the effects of the blood thinner and see if they could stop the bleeding. But by the time the meds kicked in, they weren’t getting any brain activity. Mom had already been summoned, and we said our goodbyes.”
Vince Gill, Gretchen Wilson, Trace Adkins and Travis Tritt honored Charlie at his memorial service on July 10. The service can be watched in its entirety here.