On Wednesday, June 9, country music icon Marty Raybon had the honor of recognizing country legend Charlie Daniels with the 2010 Patriot Award from Operation Troop Aid. Raybon presented the award at the Charlie Daniels Fan Club Party during this year’s CMA Music Fest in Nashville. The award recognizes Daniels for going above and beyond to support deployed soldiers.
Raybon was a natural choice for presenting the award, as his own son is serving overseas, making him a strong supporter of the troops and wounded warriors. After the presentation, Daniels invited Raybon to join him in playing some songs on stage.
The singer’s first single “Daddy Phone” from the debut album At His Best, on the independent label GrandVista, the former Shenandoah frontman continues to receive steady airplay at country stations around the U.S., while the single and its dramatic video has also received spins on Country Music Television (CMT). During a “Keep It Or Sweep It” competition last holiday season, “Daddy Phone” received nearly three times as many votes to add it to the network’s rotation as fellow Grammy winners the Zac Brown Band. “Daddy Phone” was written by GrandVista owner David Mastran, who penned the compelling tune from personal experience.
And just in time for summer, Raybon released an infectious second single “The Heat Is On,” one of five songs he wrote or co-wrote for the album—a unique achievement in a genre where most singers become iconic for singing songs penned by others.
After nearly three decades as a top force in country, bluegrass and gospel music, the iconic singer makes a bold declaration in titling his sixth solo album At His Best. Like other genre greats who refuse to rest on their laurels—Reba McEntire, George Strait, Alan Jackson—the man and his music continue to be fresh and timeless. The new album incorporates his lifelong love for folk and bluegrass within the mainstream country.
