wTennesseeConcerts Now with over 1,000 Nashville Concert Pictures ******************************************************************************* *************************************************************************************************** The History of the Charlie Daniels Band Volunteer Jam in Nashville by Pat Adams (from the TennnesseeConcerts website) My Memories Of Nashvilles Volunteer Jam by Pat Adams Through all of Charlie Daniels accomplishments, Charlie Daniels may be best known for organizing the genre-bending musical extravaganzas known as the Volunteer Jams, 16 music events over the course of three decades. Some of my best concert memories growing up in Nashville Tennessee, are attending almost all of the Volunteer Jam concerts. The first of the Jams which featured the Charlie Daniels Band & friends on October 4, 1974, took place at Nashvilles War Memorial Auditorium. CDB songs at the Jam included Whiskey, Long Haired Country Boy, Trudy, Georgia, Feelin Free, Be Proud Youre A Rebel, The Souths Gonna Do It, and New York City Rosewood Bed on which the late Joel (Taz) DiGregorio took over the lead vocals. This was the beginning of a Nashville tradition, and several live songs from that Jam were featured on the 1974 triple-platinum album Fire On The Mountain. Volunteer Jam II (1975) took place at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro Tennessee, and was actually made into a movie, billed as The First Full-Length Southern Rock Motion Picture. Not only was I at the concert, but I remember going to see the movie as soon as it came out in the theater. I now own the DVD, which was released in 2007 under the name Volunteer Jam. It can be purchased on Charlie Daniels official website at charliedaniels. This is a video worth buying, if you are in to southern rock. It also features Jam guests Jimmy Hall, Dickey Betts, Chuck Leavell, Dru Lumber and Artimus Pyle. Also featured, some great footage of the original Marshall Tucker Band with Doug Gray, Paul Riddle, Jerry Eubanks, plus late members Toy Caldwell, Tommy Caldwell and George McCorkle. Others performing at the concert included Alvin Lee and Ronnie Stoneman. This event was recorded at a turning point in the history of the CDB. The breakthrough record Fire On The Mountain was riding high on the charts, The Souths Gonna Do It Again, was a hit anthem on FM radio and the band was enjoying a peak moment of popularity that would keep on building. One of the reasons for the first Volunteer Jam was to do some live recordings for Fire On The Mountain, Daniels recalled. The first Volunteer Jam was in a 2,200 seat hall and the second one was in a 13,000 seat hall. Daniels excepted the groups first gold record on stage that night at Volunteer Jam II. Volunteer Jam III-X took place at Nashvilles Municipal Auditorium, between 1976 and the mid-1980s. The Municipal Auditorium Jams have been broadcast nationally on over 250 radio stations and later around the globe. Many were televised on TV specials, including Volunteer Jam X, produced by the one and only Dick Clark. Host Charlie Daniels, had no limit to the genre of music which is featured at the Volunteer Jam concerts including rock, country, bluegrass, gospel, soul, classical, comedy, and last but not least southern rock. My favorite Volunteer Jam concert was Vol Jam V, in January of 1979. This Jam also took place at Nashvilles Municipal Auditorium, and was somewhat of a tribute to Ronnie Van Zant and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Lynyrd Skynyrd reunited for the first time on-stage, since their October 20, 1977 plane crash. They performed the J.J. Cale song Call Me The Breeze, with my friend Taz from the CDB on vocals, then an instrumental version of Freebird, with a spotlight on Ronnie VanZants hat hanging on an empty microphone. Many people in the audience had tears in their eyes. Other CDB members playing with Skynyrd that special night included Charlie Daniels and CDB bassist Charlie Hayward. Leon Wilkeson appeared on stage, but could not play due to injuries from the plane crash. Judy Van Zant and Teresa Gaines also spoke. The show featured other Skynyrd related tributes including Grey Ghost, a tribute to Ronnie Van Zant by the Henry Paul Band, and Reflections by the Charlie Daniels Band. My other memories of the Volunteer Jam Municipal Auditorium concerts include Billy Joel, Ted Nugent with Molly Hatchet doing Mississippi Queen and Carol, Leon Russell, Mickey Gilley, Duane Eddy, Woody Herman, Charlie Daniels with the Jordanaires doing an Elvis Presley medley, Louisianas Leroux performing New Orleans Ladies, Grinderswitch, Vince Gill, Nicolette Larson, Tommy Shaw doing Too Much Time On My Hands, Dwight Yoakam, Papa John Creach, Orleans, Willie Nelson singing his classics Crazy, Night Life and Good Hearted Woman, the late Soloman Burke, Sea Level, Eddie Rabbitt, Poco, the Oak Ridge Boys singing Elvira. Later Jams featured a solo William Lee Golden singing Long And Winding Road, B.B. King, Delbert McClinton doing Standing On Shakey Ground, Ray Price singing For The Good Times, The Outlaws, Bill Medley performing Youve Lost That Lovin Feeling, Quarterflash doing Harden My Heart, the late Boxcar Willie, the late Roy Acuff doing Wabash Cannonball, the late Jim Varney with his comedy, Amy Grant, Tammy Wynette singing Stand By Your Man, Crystal Gayle, Wet Willie doing Keep On Smilin and Street Corner Serenade, John Prine, the Allman Brothers Band with Bonnie Bramlett performing Rambin Man, the Winters Brothers Band performing Sang Her Love Songs and I Cant Help It, Jim Dandy & Black Oak Arkansas, Emmylou Harris, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band doing Mr Bojangles, and B.J. Thomas. Carl Perkins usually performed his big hit Blue Suede Shoes, Link Ray played some mean guitar, the late Ronnie Lane from Small Faces made an appearance, Little Richard removed his shirt and shoes while performing only to throw them to the crowd, Alabama played some mountain music plus a few ballads, a funny Rufus Thomas (with Al Kooper) did the Funky Chicken, and James Brown brought the house down at one Jam performing I Feel Good and a medley of his other big hits. People got excited when they would see people come out because they didnt know who was there and over the years people would never know who would come out. Volunteer Jam regulars included Jimmy Hall usually doing Keep On Smilin, Henry Paul (solo, Outlaws, Blackhawk), Dobie Gray with his hit song Drift Away, Dickey Betts performing Ramblin Man, the late Toy Caldwell and George McCorkle usually doing Cant You See. Lynyrd Skynyrds Artimus Pyle also appeared at many of the Volunteer Jam concerts. (See the videos below) The Volunteer Jam concerts at Starwood Ampthitheater began somewhere around Vol Jam XI (or XII) and took place from the 1980s up until 2000 (the last). They have been the subject of documentary television productions as well as a live appearance on the national broadcast of the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Guests at the Starwood Jams include Don Henley and J.D. Souther) doing Desperado & Youre Only Lonely, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan performing Superstitious, The Judds, a later version of the Marshall Tucker Band, and Little Feat. Volunteer Jam XIII brought back Lynyrd Skynyrd in a second reunion since the plane crash, with a paralyzed Allen Collins speaking to the crowd, not long before his death. This Skynyrd show was the beginning of the new Lynyrd Skynyrd band featuring Johnny VanZant, which still tours to this day. Other acts at the Starwood shows included John Kay from Steppenwolf doing Born To Be Wild, Molly Hatchet flirtin with disaster, the late Bill Monroe performing Blue Moon Of Kentucky, Montgomery Gentry, 1950s idol Pat Boone, Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander playing piano, Travis Tritt, plus Charlie Daniels and Garth Brooks performing Drinkin My Baby Goodbye. Starwood, also brought the first time the CDB performed Devil Went Down To Georgia, before a live crowd. The CDB often showcased their new songs to the Vol Jam crowds. Starwood Amphitheater was torn down in 2007. Volunteer Jam XVI on October 28, 1996 was held on Charlie Daniels birthday. This was a special acoustic jam in Jackson Hall at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Along with the Charlie Daniels Band were Billy Ray Cyrus doing Achy Breaky Heart, Blackhawk (with the late Van Stephenson and Artimus Pyle on the bongos), Lorrie Morgan, David Ball, John Berry, Tracy Lawrence, John Michael Montgomery, Tracy Byrd and many others. Longtime CDB guitarist Tommy Crane returned to the Jam, as did guest Judy Van Zant and others in town for the Freebird The Movie premiere. I have seen the best of the best, by attending these Volunteer Jam concerts. I thank Charlie and the band, for giving me the opportunity to actually see and hear so many great artists and songs. Their were so many performers that I cant recall many of them, after racking my brain, looking through Vol Jam memorabilia and watching old Jam videos. In my opinion, the Volunteer Jam was the greatest regular event, growing up in Nashville. I ran into Roy Acuff at Nashvilles Rivergate Mall (food court) about a year before he died, and we talked about Charlie Daniels and the Volunteer Jam, over a cup of coffee. The last time I saw Charlie Daniels, we also spoke of the Volunteer Jam. A 2007 Volunteer Jam was scheduled for Nashville but was cancelled, due to the closing of Starwood Amphitheater. Daniels was quoted in 2007 as saying We never had any idea how big it would become, broadcasting it all around the world and on Voice of America. We thought it was a hometown thing. We never realized it would become an international event. I hope to see more Nashville Volunteer Jams concerts in Nashville, in the future. As Charlie Daniels says Aint it good to be alive, and be in Tennessee. Some of the information from this article came from Volunteer Jam/CDB memorablia, CDs & the DVD Record World Magazine (November 9, 1974) wrote: Charlie Daniels and his band recently recorded an album of material at a concert at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville. The album featured not only Charlies band, but a jam session with Dickie Betts, of the Allman Brothers Band, Toy Caldwell (of Cowboy) & Paul Riddle from the Marshall Tucker Band, plus others. The others included Joel (Taz) DiGregorio, piano player for the Daniels band, as well as guitarist Barry Barnes, bassist Mark Fitzgerald and drummer Freddy Edwards of the Charlie Daniels Band. Also playing were Jerry Eubanks of the Marshall Tucker Band, Artimus Pyle, Jamie Nichol, Sam McPherson, and of course, Charlie Daniels. Portions of the Jam will be used on an album..... Pure Southern Rock mixed with the funkiest versions of some old country songs youve ever laid your ears on should make the album as good as the concert. Rolling Stone Magazine (November 21, 1974) wrote: Yall stick around boomed the voice of Charlie Daniels, who had just delivered a dynamic set with his own band. Were going to have some people come out here, that can really play. When he reappeared with Dickey Betts and about half of the Marshall Tucker Band, there was that unmistakable feeling of good will let loose within the audience, and it snapped my head..... Joining him, his band and Betts on stage for the Volunteer Jam were Toy Caldwell, Jerry Eubanks, Paul Riddle and Sam McPherson from the Marshall Tucker Band, Artimus Pyle, who works in the studio with Lynyrd Sknyrd, and Jamie Nichol, a young Nashville percussionist. Performance Magazine - Municipal Auditorium Jam review: Performance Magazine The Proof Is In The Grooves. After the thunderous ovation, the crowd still stood for a while, turning to each other and showing off their goosebumps. Heavee! Cashbox Magazine From the 10,000 strong who braved icy winter winds, to the lavish Tennessee Mountain Stage set and on down to the blistering, stock car speed and spunk of Southern Rock, the atmosphere smelled of southern pride and heritage. Charlie Daniels (founder) Dedicated to the ten thousand souls who were such an important part of the Volunteer Jam - THE AUDIENCE. TennesseeConcerts Volunteer Jam & Charlie Daniels pages include: Volunteer Jam Tribute tennesseeconcerts/voljam Volunteer Jam 2000 tennesseeconcerts/marshalltuckerband Charlie Daniels Band Pictures tennesseeconcerts/cdb Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Pages tennesseeconcerts/freebirdplane Volunteer Jam TENNESSEE CONCERTS Nashville Tennessee THE HISTORY OF THE VOLUNTEER JAM IN NASHVILLE Pat Adams & Charlie Daniels TENNESSEE CONCERTS SEARCH ENGINE Search this website Marshall Tucker Bands Toy Caldwell & George McCorkle Cant You See from 1979 : The late Toy Caldwell & George McCorkle from the Marshall Tucker Band at Volunteer Jam V in Nashville Tennessee. Other players include Artimus Pyle from Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Charlie Daniels Band. This was recorded at Nashvilles Municipal Auditorium. youtube/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nGtOc7SZ82s
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 00:25:35 +0000
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