One of 11 children born in a cotton-pickin’, Mississippi delta town, Charley now owns the farm where he worked in the fields as a child but still remains as humble as the day he was born.

Celebrating 40-plus years in the entertainment business, his latest Australian tour has been a sell-out success, with audiences right around the country responding warmly to the man whose music has been part of the fabric of their lives.

Every song he sang was a memory. Every word he spoke was gold.

His rapport with the audience was evident from the first few bars of Six Days on the Road.

Hit after hit, so many they had to be put into medley form, were brought to life with a voice that’s still as sweet as honey, and a hot, six-piece band who love their job – you can tell.

More than half the band members have been with Charley for 18 years or more. Keyboard player Danny Hutchins joined Charley’s band more than 36 years ago.

It’s the kind of job where you play for the sheer enjoyment of watching the crowd’s reaction.

His support act, 22-year-old New Zealand vocalist Bevan Gardiner and his duo partner Georgie Daniell, sang a selection of John Denver songs, which form the soundtrack of a new stage production, Take Me Home, which will tour Australia in July-August 2014.

Pictures speak a thousand words, so I’ll let the images from the night tell the story.

Thanks for coming, Charley. Australia still loves you, 40 years down the track.