It was the follow up to the CDB's Saddle Tramp album, and there was a packed house at the Kiel Opera House, probably one of the best places to see a show in St. Louis at the time.
Piled in a van, we listened to the CDB all the way down to the Opera house for the show, but I'll never forget how somber it was going back, as we heard the crash updates and listened to the Skynryd tunes on K-SHE in a way never before, or since.
It was the same night that Charlie wrote about in his tribute to Ronnie Van Zant on the Million Mile Reflections album. There was no announcement made at the concert, and as far as I know, the crowd had no idea what had just happened to the Skynryd plane as it ran out of fuel, way down in Mississippi.
The following winter, in January 1979, Rick Ulrich and I loaded up his El Camino, and "put on our hats to get back to Tennessee" to see the CDB and their guests at Volunteer Jam V. We took the passing lane to Nashville, rented a room at an old hotel, and arrived early for the show. That night we saw Charlie sing Reflections for the first time.
It was October in St. Louis town,
When we heard that the "Free Bird" had fell to the ground;
And we all said a prayer before we went down
To play.
And Ronnie, my buddy, above all the rest,
I miss you the most and I loved you the best,
And now that you're gone I thank God I was blessed
Just to know you.
Chorus
But it's all right now;
Keep on singin' loud;
It's all right now;
Heaven should be proud.
That song still sends chills down my spine. At the Volunteer Jam, it was also the night that we heard Freebird played as an instrumental for the first time. A spotlight shined on the mike stand that night where Ronnie had stood for so many concerts. Later when the band finally regrouped in 1987, Skynryd would play their signature song with Ronnie's hat placed on the mike. But for this first night hearing Freebird played without lyrics, it became an enormous event that served as a healing process for Southern Rock fans everywhere.
Charlie Daniels dedicated the band's next album to Ronnie Van Zant. Charlie's dedication is engraved in Ronnie's gravestone.
A brief candle, both ends burning
An endless mile, a bus wheel turning
A friend to share the lonesome times
A handshake and a sip of wine.
So say it loud and let it ring
That we're all part of everything
The present, future and the past
Fly on proud bird, your're free at last