The Incredible Story of a Country Music Legend Few artists have left a more indelible mark on America’s musical landscape than Charlie Daniels. Readers will experience a soft, personal side of Charlie Daniels that has never before been documented. In his own words, he presents the path from his post-depression childhood to performing for millions as one of the most successful country acts of all … country acts of all time and what he has learned along the way. The book also includes insights into the many musicians that orbited Charlie’s world, including Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette and many more.
Charlie was officially inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016, shortly before his 80th birthday. He now shares the inside stories, reflections, and rare personal photographs from his earliest days in the 1940s to his self-taught guitar and fiddle playing high school days of the fifties through his rise to music stardom in the seventies, eighties and beyond.
Charlie Daniels presents a life lesson for all of us regardless of profession:
“Walk on stage with a positive attitude. Your troubles are your own and are not included in the ticket price. Some nights you have more to give than others, but put it all out there every show. You’re concerned with the people who showed up, not the ones who didn’t. So give them a show and…Never look at the empty seats!”
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Sadly I wish I would have read this book prior to Mr. Daniels death.
What a great book of an interesting, talented, smart and loving Man.
This Memoir was loaded with so much history and interesting tidbits and facts.
His path to fame and fortune wasn’t always paved with gold but it seems he lived his life true to himself and his beliefs.
I am proud to call myself a fan of Mr. Daniels and was even lucky enough to meet him on two different occasions.
RIP
I am not a huge country music fan but I do love Southern Rock. A few years ago my husband and I went to an outdoor Charlie Daniel’s concert. It was a kind of a let down. He played a few songs and was done. No matter how much screaming the audience done he did not come back out for even a 1 song encore. Ok it was summer, it was outside, the sun was on him, and it in Florida. The songs he did play that day were great and we did enjoy the concert it was just short.
This book though was kind of long winded to me. I appreciate the time he took to let us into his private world though, and most of the book was very interesting. Some of it was very dry but it was what seems an open and honest book.
This book is for the true fans I have to say. I am sure they would give it a 5* rating.
I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com and chose to leave this review.
Told in his uniquely engaging, downhome, conversational style, Daniels reveals an array of insights into his personal and professional life openly and (seemingly) honestly. From his humble beginnings as a kid growing up in various southern U.S. locales during the Great Depression and World War II eras of the late ’30s and early ’40s to his days as an energized young musician coming up on the nightclub scene during the fabulous ’50s and crazed ’60s, “Never Look at the Empty Seats” serves as much as a concise crash course in American history as a personal memoir.
Early on, the (now) 81-year-old entertainment industry vet confesses how the driving force behind writing his book was to offer guidance and inspiration to aspiring artists. In that regard, the key professional takeaway might be the old adage, “It’s not what you know, but who you know,” as Daniels recounts his six decades worth of first-hand experiences working with such music icons as Bob Dylan, George Harrison, The Marshall Tucker Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd and many others. In fact, Daniels’ rapid-fire roll call of performers, producers and promoters with whom he has worked can often be a bit overwhelming.
About two-thirds into his story, Daniels dedicates a full chapter (or more) to addressing his personal faith. While he claims not to be an expert in theology, I would disagree strongly with his transparent assessment. As someone who does have a degree in Bible studies, I found his non-denominational breakdown of Christianity to be crystal clear and absolutely spot-on accurate. In fact, Daniels’ narrative burns brightest when sharing his personal faith perspectives.
From celebrating his incredible personal and professional highs (a 50+ year marriage, sold-out concert tours and platinum-selling records) to revealing heartbreaking lows (Daniels nearly lost his arm in 1980 during a heavy equipment accident and at one time was two million dollars in debt), “Never Look at the Empty Seats” delivers readers a riveting payoff. In sum, Daniels has offered up a bona fide page-turner — a fabulous summertime read, to be sure.
-Christopher Long
(July 2018)