b. Wilmington, North Carolina, October 28, 1936; d. July 6, 2020
Nashville Cat
Charlie Daniels arrived in Nashville in 1967 at the urging of producer Bob Johnston, who also was responsible for bringing Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen to Music City. Johnston used Daniels on a few country sessions, including those of Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins. Daniels never became a top session player—he had other plans for his musical career.
However, the burly musician did prove pivotal to many of the Nashville recording sessions of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. Because Daniels had a strong blues influence, Johnston felt he would fit with the adventurous singer-songwriters.
Daniels first worked with Cohen, playing bass on 1968 sessions for the album Songs from a Room, on 1971’s Songs of Love and Hate, and on 1973’s Live Songs.
Dylan included Daniels on three of his albums: Nashville Skyline (1969), Self Portrait (1970), and New Morning (1970). Daniels also contributed to Ringo Starr’s 1970 album, Beaucoups of Blues, recorded in Nashville. After those experiences, Daniels focused on his own recording career. He released his self-titled debut album in 1970; scored his first pop hit, “Uneasy Rider,” in 1973; and earned a #1 country hit, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” in 1979.
Charlie Daniels used this 1968 Fender Telecaster on sessions for Dylan’s albums Nashville Skyline and Self Portrait. Courtesy of Charlie Daniels
Charlie Daniels used this 1968 Fender Telecaster on sessions for Dylan’s albums Nashville Skyline and Self Portrait. Courtesy of Charlie Daniels
Bob Dylan, Nashville Skyline, 1969
Listen to Charlie Daniels
Selected Songs
Bob Dylan, “Country Pie” (Bob Dylan)
The musicians featured on this recording are Charlie Daniels, electric guitar; Norman Blake, acoustic guitar; Pete Drake, pedal steel guitar; Charlie McCoy, bass; Kenny Buttrey, drums.
From the album Nashville Skyline, 1969. Produced by Bob Johnston at Columbia Studios, Nashville.
Bob Dylan, “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here with You” (Bob Dylan)
The musicians featured on this recording are Charlie Daniels, electric guitar; Norman Blake, acoustic guitar; Pete Drake, pedal steel guitar; Charlie McCoy, bass; Kenny Buttrey, drums.
From the album Nashville Skyline, 1969. Produced by Bob Johnston at Columbia Studios, Nashville.
Bob Dylan, “Time Passes Slowly” (Bob Dylan)
The musicians featured on this recording are Charlie Daniels, bass; Ron Cornelius, guitar; David Bromberg, guitar; Al Kooper, organ; Bob Dylan, piano; Russ Kunkel, drums.
From the album New Morning, 1970. Produced by Bob Johnston at Columbia Studios, New York.
Leonard Cohen, “Diamonds in the Mine” (Leonard Cohen)
Among the musicians featured on this recording are Charlie Daniels, bass; Ron Cornelius, electric guitar; Bob Johnston, piano; Corlynn Hanney, backing vocal; Susan Mussmano, backing vocal.
From the album Songs of Love and Hate, 1971. Produced by Bob Johnston at Columbia Studios, Nashville.
Flatt & Scruggs, “One Too Many Mornings” (Bob Dylan)
Among the musicians featured on this recording are Charlie Daniels, rhythm twelve-string guitar; Lester Flatt, lead vocals and guitar; Earl Scruggs, banjo; Randy Scruggs, electric guitar and lead twelve-string guitar; Josh Graves, dobro; Henry Strzelecki, acoustic bass; Paul Warren, fiddle; Jerry Carrigan, drums.
From the album Final Fling—One Last Time (Just for Kicks), 1970. Produced by Bob Johnston at Columbia Studios, Nashville.
Charlie Daniels, “Trudy” (Charlie Daniels)
Among the musicians featured on this recording are Charlie Daniels, guitar; Jerry Corbitt, guitar; Bob Wilson, piano.
From the album Charlie Daniels, 1970. Produced by Jerry Corbitt at Woodland Sound Studios, Nashville.
Meet the Cats
Best known for his harmonica technique—distinguished by speed, clarity, and exceptional phrasing, Charlie McCoy is a multi-instrumentalist who has been recorded on bass, guitar, keyboards, percussion, saxophone, trumpet, and tuba.
Charlie Daniels proved pivotal to many of the Nashville recording sessions of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. Because Daniels had a strong blues influence, Johnston felt he would fit with the adventurous singer-songwriters.
Ben Keith was a prominent Nashville pedal steel guitarist and dobro specialist before becoming a producer and instrumentalist for Neil Young.
One of country music’s most admired and influential steel guitarists, Weldon Myrick taught himself to play lap steel and, at age thirteen, landed a job on a radio station near his hometown of Jayton, Texas.
Mac Gayden grew up fascinated by the R&B acts he heard in his hometown of Nashville. That interest helped him develop a style as a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter distinctly different from other Nashville studio pros.
Lloyd Green developed an emotional, resonant style of pedal steel guitar playing that gave him a distinct sound apart from other top steel specialists.
At age eighteen, Pete Drake heard steel guitarist Jerry Byrd on the Grand Ole Opry during a trip to Nashville. Duly inspired, Drake purchased a steel guitar in an Atlanta pawnshop. The decision not only changed his life, but impacted the sound of country and rock music.
Pig Robbins earned his stripes by creating the rocking piano on George Jones’s “White Lightnin’.” Over the ensuing decades, his integral role on Music Row recording sessions earned him membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012.
In his distinctive fiddle style, Buddy Spicher combined a rich tonal quality with bluegrass precision and an adventurous sense of swing. After arriving in Nashville, he quickly gained attention as a dazzling instrumentalist capable of handling country, jazz, pop, and rock.
Inspired by Country Music Hall of Fame members Chet Atkins and Earl Scruggs, Wayne Moss’s iconic guitar riffs helped forge the identifiable sounds of country and rock hits.
Norbert Putnam is a widely admired bassist, record producer, and studio owner. He started his career in his teens recording with soul singer Arthur Alexander at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, as part of a renowned rhythm section that included keyboardist David Briggs and drummer Jerry Carrigan.
Grady Martin was a member of a loose collection of legendary studio musicians known as the Nashville A-team. His versatility and creativity as a guitarist also appealed to younger rockers and singer-songwriters who came to Nashville.
David Briggs began playing piano on R&B, pop, and country hits in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in his teens. After a brief stint as a pop singer, Briggs moved to Nashville in 1964 to focus on a career as a studio musician.
Three-time Grammy winner Jerry Reed is most famous for his colorful, catchy story songs steeped in Southern attitude and lore. He was recognized as a groundbreaking guitarist with a guitar technique that gave an extra layer of funky, back-country grease.
The preferred drummer for artists across America—he built a lasting legacy with his work in R&B and rock.
Fred Carter Jr. began his career in northeastern Louisiana playing rock & roll. He backed Dale Hawkins, known for his rock hit “Susie-Q,” and later played with Ronnie Hawkins, Dale’s cousin, in his backing group, the Hawks. Carter left and was replaced by Robbie Robertson before the group evolved into the Band.