The devil may have gone down to Georgia, but on May 19, he’s coming to Santa Fe. That’s Charlie Daniels' signature song, of course, and he’s bringing his show to the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino for one night only to benefit the Espanola Valley Humane Society.
“We’re thrilled to have The Charlie Daniels Band perform for us once again,” said Christine Gabaldon, Buffalo Thunder’s Director of Marketing. “He’s a true entertainer and this promises to be a memorable evening.”
Few artists have left a more indelible mark on America’s music scene than Charlie Daniels, who has been performing for fifty-plus years. Over the course of his career, Charlie has been inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and Musicians Hall of Fame. He’s been presented the Pioneer Award by the Academy of Country Music and was honored as a BMI Icon in recognition of his songwriting. He’s also received a star on the Music City Walk of Fame and in 2016 was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Most recently, he’s written his memoir titled, “Never Look at the Empty Seats,” which will be released this October.
But music isn’t his only passion. Charlie Daniels lends his time and talent to numerous charitable organizations as well, and the Espanola Valley Humane Society’s mission has proven to be a remarkable fit.
“I have a very unique opportunity because of being in the music community, you try to give back to some extent. I do feel like people should. We should all do as much as we can,” Charlie says of using his celebrity status to aid worthy causes.
And the Espanola Valley Humane Society is indeed worthy. Established in 1992, their mission is to end animal suffering due to overpopulation and preventable disease in underserved communities. Now celebrating their 25th anniversary, the Society’s goal is to find every dog and cat in their care a loving, happy home. When surrendering a pet becomes the only option, no animal is ever turned away. According to the organization’s Executive Director Bridget Lindquist, the Society has touched the lives of more than 143,000 companion animals since opening its doors.
“We manage a city-owned animal shelter,” Lindquist said. “That means that 91% of contributions go directly to the animals in our care. We have limited available resources to do that job so the partnership with this special performance goes a long way in raising both awareness and donations.”
In addition to the benefit concert, Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino is addressing animal welfare in its own unique way by creating a dog park on its property, Gabaldon said. The official ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 4pm on the same day as the concert, and the public is invited to attend.
The Charlie Daniels Band Benefit Concert is expected to sell out with a capacity of 1500 people. Limited VIP packages are available that include a concert ticket and photo opportunity with Charlie Daniels himself for $99. Tickets are available at the casino box office or online at tickets.com.
