Charlie Daniels’ death has left a ‘gigantic hole’ in lives of friends, loved ones, former manager says

Daniels’ longtime best friend and manager of 47 years, David Corlew, told Fox News that in the wake of Daniels’ passing in July 2020 at the age of 83, the organization was renamed to include the Grammy-winning crooner’s namesake and the Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project had received more donations than ever which put the nonprofit on pace to distribute more to veterans than it ever had before.

Corlew said he was 23 years old when he went to work for Daniels in 1973. Now 71, the roadie and righthand has spent the entirety of his adult life with Daniels and the foundation. So 

"I know that he was very proud of and very appreciative of the work that we were doing, so knowing that I'm kind of carrying the flame, so to speak for him," Corlew explained. "Obviously, we can never replace Charlie but what we can do is continue to carry that spirit and the things that he wanted to accomplish."