Charlie Daniels‘ legacy lives on, even after his passing. His signature song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” landed at No. 1 on the all-genre iTunes sales chart, as fans flocked to his music after learning of his death.
The surprising success of the song, which hit the top of the charts one week after Charlie’s death, toppled Luke Bryan’s “One Margarita” from the No. 1 spot.
In all of the chaos and emotion of last week, this happened. – TeamCDB/BW #RIPCharlieDaniels 🙏🏻https://t.co/UeCwuXhwWh
— Charlie Daniels (@CharlieDaniels) July 17, 2020
“The Devil Went Down to Georgia” was originally included on Charlie’s Million Mile Reflections album, released in 1979.
“We had gone in and rehearsed, written, and recorded the music for our Million Mile Reflections album, and all of a sudden we said, ‘We don’t have a fiddle song,'” Charlie told Songfacts. “I don’t know why we didn’t discover that, but we went out and we took a couple of days’ break from the recording studio, went into a rehearsal studio and I just had this idea: ‘The Devil went down to Georgia.’
“The idea may have come from an old poem that Stephen Vincent Benet wrote many, many years ago,” he added. “He didn’t use that line, but I just started, and the band started playing, and first thing you know we had it down.”
Charlie passed away on Monday, July 6, after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke.
“The man I’ve known for 55 years, who, along with my mom, have always been there for me is gone,” Charlie’s son, Charlie Daniels, Jr., shared on social media. “We’re still shell-shocked. I know he’s only gone in the physical sense, I have no doubt that at 9:52 AM on Monday morning on July 6th, dad heard ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant,’ and I know that I will see him again.”
Daniels, Jr. concluded the lengthy post by praising the 83-year-old for the impact he left, on everyone.
“He was the strongest man I’ve ever known,” the son boasted. “The best father, the best boss, the best friend I could ever ask for. My mom and I miss him terribly.”
Daniels, Jr. also hinted that the Charlie Daniels Band wouldn’t end with the loss of the group’s founder and leader.
“This isn’t the end,” he vowed. “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.”
I love Charlie’s music sadden my heart to see him go to the Lord but ya know those Angels are having a great time with him there
On the same day he passed away later that night we had a son we named him Charles Daniel Higginbotham that’s what his music ment to us
Loved his music since “Uneasy Rider”, had the honor to finally meet him about 8 years ago. Since then and many texts, DMs, and face to face meetings later, I came to consider him a friend. I rejoice in knowing I will see him again.