My childhood music influence was primarily from my mother’s eclectic 8-track collection; some Eagles, Elvis, Donny & Marie and of course, Kenny Rogers. Then, as a late 80s teenager that had a side job at the local Top 40 radio station, I was like totally focused on U2, Tiffany, INXS, Madonna, Bon Jovi with a little Phil Collins thrown in. Of course, this was mostly listened to on cassette tape in my Walkman while wearing my oversized Flashdance inspired one shoulder sweatshirt.
I never listened to country music until the day that Wrangler wearing park ranger walked into my life. My appreciation grew for THE George Strait, Reba, Tanya, Martina, Brooks & Dunn and, of course, for all that know me now, they know my great admiration and love for the one and only Miss Dolly Parton.
Fast forward to living on a state park in Mountain View, Arkansas and our boys fiddling and playing clawhammer banjo while doing a little jig dancing here and there. It was Cowboy Weekend 2012 and Charlie Daniels was scheduled to play. Now, even a pop princess of the 80s had heard, memorized and sang every word to Devil Went Down to Georgia.
But, I was not prepared for seeing it performed in person or the genuineness of the man behind the fiddle, Charlie Daniels.
A perk of being The Park Wife was that we got meet and greet passes. The Buckley boys loaded up with their “sister”, our sweet Clancey Ferguson, who was known as the Princess of Bluegrass, to go and wait to get our private audience with the man himself.
He was lovely, took interest in our kids and even signed Finn’s very first fiddle. He listened to Clancey play and encouraged her talent. The show was amazing, we had front row seats. And believe me, seeing him in person was an experience. The theatre was filled with people of all ages, singing every word to his songs, clapping and whistling. Our own little mini Opry.
Every time I hear the #devilwentdowntogeorgia,it brings a little pep into my step, happiness in my heart, and great memories for our kids.
A Godly man, I know that the devil went down to Georgia, but Mr. Charlie Daniels is fiddling with the angels in Heaven today.
