By Robert Lopez
Enquirer contributor

Musician Charlie Daniels was at the Tennessee License Bureau on Sept. 11 last year when his son called. He became angry then, and he remains angry.

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Daniels What: Charlie Daniels Band When: 7 p.m. Sunday Where: Music Hall Tickets: $15-$45 at Ticketmaster outlets, 562-4949 and online at www.ticketmaster.com

"It was a terrible day for America," he says. "Watching those towers go down just tore my heart open. I think we all need to get angry and stay angry."

During the past year, Mr. Daniels has traveled the country memorializing victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. On tour to promote his latest album, Redneck Fiddlin' Man, he will set his patriotic sentiments to music when he performs at Music Hall Sunday.

Last month he played on the west lawn of the Capitol as part of the one-year anniversary commemorations, and was especially moved while in New York.

"New York is a big city; something like 8 million people. But even in a city that size 2,800 lives is still a big loss," he says. "I met a lady who lost her husband and father-in-law, as well as a guy who was one of the very last people to come out of the towers. There's all kinds of stories and experiences. It's very sad."

On the album, he pays his respects with "The Last Fallen Hero," a tribute to the firefighters and emergency workers who took part in rescue efforts during and after the attacks.

"A lot of times (when a tragedy occurs) many people will feel the same way, but are unable to articulate those feelings into words," Mr. Daniels says. "Somebody can articulate that for them and create music that means a lot to them."

Recently, Mr. Daniels aired his views on CNN when he called in during an episode of Talk Back Live concerning the 9th Circuit Court's decision to declare the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional.

"Regardless of whether or not anybody wants to admit it, this is one nation under God," he said. "If you don't like it (the pledge) you can walk out the door when they say it, or plug your ears. I'm not going to stop saying it."

Mr. Daniels' concerts reflect his love of America. In addition to saying the Pledge of Allegiance on stage, he also performs a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." He tries to keep his show family-friendly.

"Basically its just good, clean entertainment," he says. "That's what we want people to take away."

Sometimes referred to as the "Big Daddy of Southern Country Rock," Mr. Daniels says his influences include rock, bluegrass and black gospel. He was part of a wave of musicians, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers Band, who pioneered the twangy Southern rock sound in the early '70s.

He got his start in the music business shortly after graduating from high school in 1955 when he set out with his band, the Jaguars. They recorded a self-titled song in 1959 and over the next decade collaborated with such artists as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Ringo Starr. Mr. Daniels went solo in 1970.

Though he is best known for his 1979 hit "Devil Went Down to Georgia," Mr. Daniels has sung praises to the Lord in recent years, winning a Grammy for his work on the album Amazing Grace 2: A Country Salute to Gospel. In January his band released How Sweet the Sound: 25 Favorite Hymns and Gospel Greats.

"I was raised in a Christian home and was exposed to Christian music, very, very early on in my life. I don't even remember when I first started hearing it," Mr. Daniels says. "One of the first songs I learned was 'Kneel at the Cross.'

"I haven't really moved more toward Christian music. Most of my show is secular. I'm just a Christian musician who enjoys doing Christian music."