Charlie Daniels Plows His Own Road

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997 | 5:24 a.m.

1997 HAS BEEN A YEAR OF FIRSTS for Charlie Daniels, who released his new label debut, "Blues Hat," and freshman children's album "By the Light of the Moon: Campfire Songs and Cowboy Tunes."

A Renaissance man at heart, Daniels, who heads up the Charlie Daniels Band, which moves into the Imperial Palace on Dec. 7, is at ease playing a variety of styles, from country to Southern rock, gospel and jazz. To be sure, this virtuoso of musicianship totals much more than the sum of his parts.

In addition to music, the long-haired country boy behind the hell-raising fiddle writes books, works with the nation's literacy program and spends countless hours raising funds for a variety of charities.

Last year, Daniels was acknowledged for his efforts with an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.

"When I was asked to speak at the ceremony, I wanted to give the students some in-sights into what I've learned along the way, some things to remember when they learn that it is going to take considerably more than a degree to make a success of life," Daniels said.

One such road that emerges from the way Daniels has been able to keep his fans happy through his 40-some-year career is trust in one's self and the courage to pursue the dreams that make us who we are.

"When I make music the way somebody else wants me to, it makes me feel bad. And since I don't like to feel bad, I've decided I'm only gonna make music the way I want to make it," said Daniels, who threw out the record-making formulas when he went into the studio for Blues Hat.

Be sure to check out the CDB when it rumbles into the Imperial Palace and you, too, will be glad Daniels does it his way. To be honest, no other way would be half as entertaining.

Performance information

Where: Imperial Palace

When: Dec. 7

Information: 794-3261