2001 Soap Box Archives

Memories

It’s Monday morning, and this year’s Fan Fair is just a memory. There were a lot of changes this year, change of locations for the artist’s booths and the live shows. Of course some people liked the changes, others didn’t. Personally I think it’s just going to take some getting used to as all new things do. This year’s Fan Fair was special to me, in fact more special than any other one I can remember because of the opening of the Charlie Daniels museum in downtown Nashville. I can take no credit for the fantastic job that Ginger and her people did except to have lived the life which is celebrated there. It took a mountain of work to put it together and here and now I want to say my heartfelt thanks to all the friends who helped Ginger climb that mountain. Great job folks. We had the grand opening with an acoustical performance by the band and I think a good time was had by all. Walking through the museum which contains pictures and momentos of my life from the earliest years to the present day, is like a trip down memory lane. This picture prompts thoughts of another time, another place when the most important thing in my life was whether it was going to rain too much to play baseball the next day. And that picture reminds of the formative years when I was paying my dues and learning my way around the music business. Pictures of a very young Charlie and Hazel proudly holding our precious new born baby. In one case are the awards I’ve won during my many years in show business, CMA Awards, a Grammy,ACM Awards, a Playboy Award, The Living Legend Award, The Pioneer Award and so on. And the gold and platinum albums which are the ultimate awards. I once drove in a celebrity car race and they even have my racing outfit and helmet. Was I really able to get into that little thing at one time? There’s the guitar which was stolen and misusing for over thirty years, the guitar that Toy Caldwell used to play which Abby, Toy’s wife, gave me after his untimely death and the national steel bodied guitar that Ronnie Van Zandt walked into our dressing room one night before a show in Jacksonville, Florida and gave to me. There’s fiddles and hats and boots and ropes and a saddle, momentos of my love for the west. There’s the hat that Casey Tibbs gave me which still has the backstage pass on it. There’s a picture of the great Dale Earnhardt and myself, pictures with presidents and pickers and just plain folks. If any of you folks get to Nashville and have the time and the inclination, check out the museum. It’s real close to the hard rock cafe on second avenue. I think you’ll enjoy it. Of all the really neat things that happened to me during Fan Fair the most special was when my son Charlie introduced me at the grand opening of the museum. His sincere and articulate words went straight to my heart and misted my eyes. It was a wonderful experience and one I will treasure always. I know that the column has been a little self indulgent this week but I got such a special from seeing so much of my life laid out for the world to see and I just wanted to share it with you all. Thanks to all you who came and to all you who will come. I’d really like to hear from some of you and find out what you thought.

Pray for our troops.

What do you think?

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

 

©Copyright The Charlie Daniels Band