‘Deuces’ Wild Bangor-bound Charlie Daniels partners up with a who’s who list of country stars for latest album

Charlie Daniels has always been something of a one-man duet.

In his music, there’s his gravelly half-spoken, half-sung vocals that blend harmoniously with his frenetic fiddle playing.

Now Daniels, 70, has decided to try a more traditional approach with his new duet album “Deuces,” released Oct. 9 on his own Blue Hat Records label.

“Deuces” includes a who’s who of country music, with others from the fields of pop and bluegrass as well: Gretchen Wilson, Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Dolly Parton, Darius Rucker, Del McCoury, Brenda Lee, Brooks & Dunn and Brad Paisley, among others.

Why, after nearly 50 years in the business, do a duet album now?

“It seemed like an idea whose time had come,” Daniels, who will play at 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Bangor Auditorium, explained in a phone interview. “I was working on another album, and my manager mentioned that I’d never done a duet album. So we started calling around, and got a lot of positive responses. Trying to find a time to get together was the hardest part.”

In addition to new versions of Daniels’ own songs, “Deuces” includes covers of tunes by Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Cash, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan.

It didn’t faze Daniels to record with vocalists who had abilities superior to his own.

“I am what I am, with my strong points and weak points,” he said. “I knew they were worlds above me, so that’s why I wanted them.”

“Deuces” is Daniels’ second album released this year, the first being the album “Live From Iraq.” That album was recorded during the Charlie Daniels Band’s four performances in that war-torn country.

Daniels, a supporter of the U.S. military, has long toured overseas to perform for servicemen.

“I realize the importance of the military and the job it does,” he said. “I grew up in coastal North Carolina [during World War II], and I remember that the tankers carrying oil from there to Europe were attacked. I remember when Pearl Harbor was bombed, and that was a real kick in the head to everybody. It was considered a very noble thing to volunteer for service. It was one of those points in the country’s history when we either got the job done or we weren’t going to be here. And what stood between us and the bad guys was the military.”

Daniels added another title to his resume this year: editor, as he worked on the book of essays “Growing Up Country.”

The veteran musician laughed at that description, adding, “They wanted me to write the introduction and find people interested in contributing to the book. So I guess I was an editor and didn’t know it.”

Despite a half-century of making music, Daniels has no desire to slow down.

“There’s an infinite amount of notes that can be played and an infinite number of words that can be put together,” he said. “So you never run out of challenges. A lazy mind is the enemy of creativity. I’m aware I’m in a very competitive business and that I need to stay on top of the situation.

“I’m doing what I love to do, being what I want to be,” he added. “How can you not feel excited about going to work every day?”

For tickets to the Charlie Daniels Band concert, with opening act Earl Scruggs, call 990-4444 or 775-3331 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.