Southern rock Charlie Daniels Band to perform

MORRISTOWN — The Charlie Daniels Band performs its greatest hits and a few songs with a touch of the holiday spirit at Mayo Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $39 to $79.

From his Dove Award winning gospel albums to his genre-defining Southern rock anthems and his CMA Award-winning country hits, Charlie Daniels.is still a road warrior at 77.

Raised among the longleaf pines of North Carolina, Daniels began his career playing bluegrass music with the Misty Mountain Boys. After moving to Nashville in 1967, he began making a name for himself as a songwriter, session musician and producer. Elvis Presley recorded a tune Daniels co-wrote titled "It Hurts Me," which was released on the flip side of "Kissin' Cousins." He played on such landmark albums as Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline and tried his hand at producing on the Youngbloods' Elephant Mountain and Ride the Wind.

His own unique voice as an artist emerged as Daniels recorded his self-titled solo album in 1970 for Capitol Records. Two years later he formed the Charlie Daniels Band and the group scored its first hit with the top 10 "Uneasy Rider." Since then the CDB has populated radio with such memorable hits as "Long Haired Country Boy," "The South's Gonna Do It Again," "In America," "The Legend of Wooley Swamp" and his signature song, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," which won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1979 as well as single of the year at the Country Music Association Awards.

"I love what I do," says Charlie of his 50-plus years in the music business. "I look forward to entertaining people. When show time gets here, I'm ready to go, ready to go play for them. It's a labor of love."

Any conversation with the legendary artist, however, rarely includes any of his accomplishments. He'd rather shine the spotlight on the many causes that are close to his heart. He's always been a staunch supporter of the military, and for the past several years has headlined a special concert each spring at David Lipscomb University benefiting the Yellow Ribbon Program which provides scholarships for veterans. In 2012 he welcomed Chris Young, Rascal Flatts, Darryl Worley, the Grascals and actor Gary Sinise to Lipscomb for a great evening of music.

Daniels also lends his time and talent to numerous other charitable organizations, including the Jason Foundation Golf Classic, an organization that targets teen suicide prevention, and the Galilean Children's Home in Liberty, KY, which provides a home for abused and neglected children.

The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For more information or tickets contact the box office at 973-539-8008 or www.mayoarts.org.