Dan was born and raised in sunny Oakland, California where he developed his talents as an artist and musician at an early age. Beginning guitar at age eleven after the orchestra was cut from the public schools, he was classically trained and soon moved into playing the blues and writing lyrics.
As a kid, he was exposed to a wide variety of culture and music, taking pride in the diversity and underdog character of his hometown. On the weekends in the mountains, he got hooked on lots of Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, George Jones and others. From junior high all the way through early college, the blues, punk rock, funk, and hip hop greatly influenced his songwriting.
At the University of Oregon he played in a locally infamous power trio combining punk, funk, and Oakland hip hop, having head-bangers and break-dancers alike pack Eugene venues and spill lots of Pabst. After a transfer to San Francisco State, slam poetry, jazz, and reggae became more prominent musical influences.
Dan's post-college travel took him to Wyoming and the Colorado Rockies where he followed the traces of 19th century folklore and traditions. After his spiritual journey he moved to Portland, Oregon and was turned onto bluegrass and roots music. Years later in Central Texas and the Austin area, another slew of styles were integrated into the songwriting and living in a vibrant music community proved to be advantageous.
Combining all of his cultural influences, Dan now promotes a monthly band showcase called "Bands of the Bay" in Oakland, continuing break the mold in the world of music.
Join the experience as Dan keeps holding down his position in left field, belting out the tunes and leaving behind the quieter voices of his generation.