Chronicle: As reported earlier via Breaking News, Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Daniels passed away this morning (7/6) at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, TN from a hemorrhagic stroke. He was 83. Daniels was a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for his contributions to Southern rock and bluegrass in addition to country and was best known for his chart-topper “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” Other hits from the Charlie Daniels Band included “The South’s Gonna Do It Again,” “Long Haired Country Boy,” “Uneasy Rider,” “The Legend Of Wooley Swamp,” “Drinkin’ My Baby Goodbye” and “What This World Needs Is A Few More Rednecks.” With his distinctive voice and look, Daniels frequently appeared as himself in television, movie and animated series roles, including Murder, She Wrote; Urban Cowboy and King of the Hill. As a Nashville session musician, Daniels played on recordings by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and the Marshall Tucker Band, among others.

Daniels also organized his Volunteer Jam concerts based in Nashville, the latest of which had recently been postponed until next year due to COVID-19 (CAT 6/19). Additionally, Daniels founded The Journey Home Project with manager David Corlew in 2014 to help veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Daniels joined the Grand Ole Opry in 2008, the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2009 and was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016 (CAT 3/29/16). “Today, our community has lost an innovator and advocate of country music,” says CMA CEO Sarah Trahern. “Both Charlie and [wife] Hazel had become dear friends of mine over the last several years, and I was privileged to be able to celebrate Charlie’s induction into the Opry as well as tell him that he was going to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. I will always remember the look of sudden shock and delight on his face as he realized he would be in the Hall of Fame Rotunda for the ages. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends at this sad time.” This afternoon, fans lined the streets of Mt. Juliet, TN as Daniels' body was escorted through his adopted hometown by the police department; watch here. See his complete CMHoF biography here. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Midwest/Wausau, WI VP/MM Brett Lucht died July 3 in a drowning accident while celebrating the holiday weekend with his family. He was 50. “Brett has been an important part of our family; he built and led a winning team of people in Wausau,” says Pres./CEO Duke Wright. “We are all shocked and saddened by this tragic accident. Our prayers go to his family.” Lucht joined the company in 1998 as a marketing consultant and had served as VP/MM since 2004. News-Talk WSAU posted a tribute to Lucht, who also oversaw Country WDEZ, here. Family members have launched a GoFundMe, and a memorial Facebook group has been created here.

Songwriter Craig J. Martin passed away July 3. Best known as a cowriter of “Don’t Take The Girl,” released by Tim McGraw in 1994, Martin’s songs were also cut by George Jones, Rod Stewart and The Backstreet Boys. In a sad twist of fate, Martin was preceeded in death by his “Don’t Take The Girl” cowriter, Larry W. Johnson, just a few weeks ago (CAT 6/19). A GoFundMe has been launched to assist with expenses; arrangements are pending.