Posted on 09.15.2020

Saying Goodbye to Another Old Friend - CDB Guest Soapbox

*NOTE* CDB guitar tech, Roger Campbell, penned this ode to a dear old friend, and we wanted to share it with you today. – TeamCDB/BW

No, no one has died, but yet we lost a faithful and beloved member of the CDB family today.

With no 100 plus shows, fairs or festivals to transport the band's equipment to, the truck is no longer needed. Rather than it sitting empty and rusting away, the decision was made to sell it. This week she joined the Mason Sound Company fleet, where she will continue to haul sound gear to shows, whenever that starts happening again. 

Like any old friend, l hate to see her go, but knowing she’ll still be out there at it gives me a good feeling. 

She started serving the CDB in 1993 when it was decided that a new truck was needed to go with the new buses. They were ordered and came into service that year. First, the band/crew bus, Lady LaRue, named in honor of Charlie’s dear mother who had passed away in March, hit the road in 1993. Then in the spring of 1994, they were joined by the second “Twin Pines Rambler," Charlie and Hazel's bus. I don’t know why, but for some reason, the truck was never christened with a proper name. Oh, there were times when a hotel clerk or stage manager would say, “You have to move that !!&$!! truck right now!” Other than those times, she was referred to simply as "the truck.” 

The cargo box, where the band instruments and everything needed to do a show rode, is 27 years old and is the only original part remaining. A new chassis and engine rebuild was added in 2001 and the current motor was installed in 2016. Now depending on whose math you use, she has probably delivered the gear to almost 3,000 shows and traveled close to 3 million miles! When the “Million Mile Reflections” album came out, I asked Charlie how he knew we had traveled a million miles? He said, “We do about 100 thousand miles a year, so 10 years equals a million miles!” You don’t argue with the boss! Jimmy Potts, who has been the driver for the last 17 years, says that the box has 2.6 million miles, the new chassis 1.5 million miles and the new engine has 300,000 miles. He ought to know as he was behind the wheel for most of those miles! 

Now things don’t last that long without being taken care of. Every winter all the vehicles were completely gone over with a fine-toothed comb and any needed maintenance was performed. They were made road-ready for the coming year’s shows. I can recall only two or three occasions when something happened and she had to miss shows during the touring season!

If you ever witnessed the CDB fleet rolling down the highway or pulling into a venue in your town, you may not have known who was riding in the vehicles, but you could tell someone took a tremendous amount of pride in their job. The fleet was always clean, polished and shined like new! It was not unusual to see Dean Tubb out in the parking lot washing his bus after making a long, all night drive! You knew he was tired and ready to sleep, but just like a good cowboy seeing to his horse and livestock, he would take care of the bus before taking care of himself.

I would feel bad for the drivers on days off when the band guys would be off on adventures or just relaxing and I would be headed to the nearest golf course because the drivers would be looking for a water source. Once found, they would haul out the mops, pails, brushes, ladders and an endless supply of soap, cleaners and polishes needed to do the job. If anyone returned to the bus for some reason they were likely to be either accidentally or on purpose sprayed with the water hose! I would feel even worse for them when after spending their downtime cleaning and polishing to get up the next morning and drive into a dusty or muddy fairgrounds and mess up all their hard work from the day before. 

Now, we could have leased a new truck and buses every year, lots of outfits do, but Charlie liked to own his and it gave everyone a sense of pride and made us want to take care of the nice things he provided. After all, the bus I rode on was like a second home to me and I think everyone felt the same way. We certainly spent as much time in them as we did at home!

The truck also carried a stationary bike and treadmill that were unloaded and setup in Charlie’s room everyday so he could get his exercise in on his preferred type of equipment. For this reason, a short style truck was chosen over a semi-tractor rig so it could maneuver the tight corners in parking lots that a “big rig” would not have been able to make. 

The truck also carried the merchandise that was sold at shows and the person in charge of selling it. The “tee-shirt guy” rode in the sleeper while the driver drove. Now this was not always the best situation because often times a seasoned older driver was paired with a younger man and they didn’t necessarily have anything in common. They were confined to tight quarters for extended periods of time. There were never any big problems that I’m aware of, but when Chris Potts, Jimmy’s son was hired to sell the merchandise, there was never a better team in the truck. 

Chris also became the “day man” and would drive the truck to the venue for setup which allowed Jimmy to get a good day’s rest and be ready for the next night’s drive. There were no personality problems between them; they looked out for and took care of each other. Almost every day before it was time for Chris to setup his merchandise booth, he would be changing a headlight, charging the air conditioner or any other of hundreds of things needed done to ensure the safe operation of the vehicle. He would also stock their cooler with his dad’s favorite drink, Pepsi, and a wide variety of caffeinated drinks for himself.  

Jimmy would arrive at the show with the band and have time to eat dinner and go over his log book and look at the route to prepare for the nights drive. As soon as the show was over he would be standing in the back of the truck ready to load the gear. It was my job to line the cases up in the order that he needed them to work the “jigsaw puzzle “that had to be solved for all the cases to fit. When the last case was loaded and secured the door came down and she was off to the next one!

There were a few old fans like Tim and Karolyn Robinson, who would stay until the truck was loaded. I guess they thought that was part of the show too! I know they were waiting to say goodbye, but I bet they could have loaded the truck themselves, if they had to; they’d seen it done so many times! 

Charlie always said that everybody’s job was important and I just couldn’t let such an important member of the crew go without a proper send-off!  So long, ole girl! Ride on! 

We’ll see you down the road...

Roger Campbell

August 26, 2020

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Check out "Geechi Geechi Ya Ya Blues" from Beau Weevils - 'Songs in the Key of E'

 

 

Comments

Keep On Trucking
Amen Roger a very interesting read, appreciate all the information and it just goes to show why I was never a betting man. I would have sworn that your equipment truck was newer than a 94 because I always thought it had a Sterling emblem on it and Freightliner did not buy out Ford's Louisville division until 97 re-branding them in 98. No question about it sir, the CDB fleet always shined. Wishing you all well in your future endeavors, nuff said God Bless
Posted by Plowboy
The Truck
Earl White also put a lot of miles on that truck. He always called the truck "ole red". I was fortunate enough to travel some of those miles with him. A favorite trip we went on was for New Years show in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Charlie invited all the families to go. Me, Earl, and our kids made that trip in "ole red". Such a wonderful trip with wonderful memories.
Posted by Teresa
Truck
It really hurts to see things go
Posted by Matt
Roger Campbell Soapbox
Roger, What a very nice story to share with everyone. I bet if that box could talk it would have a few stories of its own.
Posted by Robert
Saying goodbye
That was a beautifully written tribute to a dear friend. It makes me sad to know I will never see that truck again- because I will never roll into a CDB show again. But I love all those guys- especially those Potts boys! They are the best.! ❤️
Posted by Diane
Wrench
The musician's and mechanic's magic carpet. Likely the gear she hauls in the future will have a mystical and sweeter tone.
Posted by Mike
The "TRUCK"
Thank you Roger for the article and thank you also for taking care of Charlie.
Posted by Jim
Roger’s Soapbox
Thank you Roger for the tour crew backstories. That was an interesting perspective. I saw the CDB live twice and was impressed by the quality & professionalism of the shows. Also impressive is how long the band and crew stayed together. That says a volumes about how great the CDB and all the crew were! Best Regards to you all.
Posted by Linda
Team CDB/BW
Getting to know & love many of you, gave me 5 of the best years of my life. May you all, "Roll on for Eternity over The Highway in Heaven! with Love, Respect & Fond Memories, Big Mick
Posted by "Big Mick"
A Truck With No Name
Charlie Jr, back in the day America had a hit with the song "A Horse With No Name" maybe you want to increase your credits to 1.7666 and write a song about this truck :) I have heard a lot of truck names over the years and most you could look at and see how the name fits, such as the Gray Ghost. But the funniest one was called the "stripper", After inquiring as to how the truck got it's name the gentleman said that he bought it brand new without a bed cause he was going to build it in his shop. One thing led to another, he got busy with other projects and before he realized it, he had a new Peterbilt setting there, having it's second birthday, with zero miles. While procrastinating at supper his wife said the truck was just like a stripper, nice to look at but not much good for anything else.....nuff said God Bless Plowboy
Posted by Plowboy
"The fleet was always clean, polished and shined like new!"
That reminds me of Steelcase. Steelcase is from West Michigan, where I'm from. This company is well-known for its trucks being kept clean. A Steelcase truck is always washed just before arriving at its destination. Company policy. It's their way of making themselves presentable. It's something this company and The Charlie Daniels Band have in common. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Roger Campbell Soapbox 9/15/20
What a terrific soapbox. Thank you for sharing the memories.
Posted by JoAnn