Dan's new cd, “Rearview Mirrors” is the culmination of a fifty year obsession with music. It all started in 1961...

"...I snuck into my brother’s bedroom and stole my father’s Zenith Transoceanic radio which was sitting there, unused in months. My brother had a thing for listening to Prague Radio out of Czechoslovakia; he'd gone so far as to write them (which I’m sure got him on his first government watch list). The number one hit at the time was The Lion Sleeps Tonight by the Tokens. It was my favorite song.

My brother finally noticed the radio was missing and, of course, a fight broke out. I pleaded with my parents: he wasn't using it and hadn’t even noticed it was missing for weeks; I should be able to use it! For once, they agreed with me. I had won the battle!

A few nights later I was secretly listening to it after I went to bed and heard my first late night request hotline show. I snuck out into the living room and called the station to request The Lion Sleeps Tonight. When the DJ found out I was only 6 years old, he put me on the air. The next morning I was a hero to all the students listening illicitly after lights out at Williston Academy, the prep school where my father taught English.

Needless to say, my Dad caught wind of it and I got in trouble. Ah yes, Rock & Roll ! From that point on, I was hooked.

My dad gave me the first two real records I remember. They were Spike Jones Demonstrates Your Hi-Fi or Dinner Music for People Who Aren’t Very Hungry and Songs by Tom Lehrer. My mother never forgave him. I’m thankful to this day (and still have them both).

The first record I ever bought was a 45 of “Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain” sung by Gene Vincent (I think). I never had much money, so I always bought my records from the cut-out bin at our local record store. They sold for 10 cents each or 3 for a quarter. The first album I bought was Twin Cut-outs, a collection of hot rod songs. I was all about the hot rod and surf music until the Beatles.

My Grandfather built me my first guitar. He crafted it out of plywood in his shop in the basement of my father’s barn. The rectangular box had had four nylon strings, tuning pegs like a cheap violin. It had no frets. It’s the one you can see me holding in the picture on my photo page..."

Dan began his musical career in the 60's with his first band, The Rats. Due to issues with curfews, bedtimes and a lack of transportation, he put his career on hold until the early 70's. At that time, he left Beloit College and traveled to Guam. There, he joined Bamboo, a horn band which played island nightclubs and concerts. Over the years, he's been one of the founding members of a number of rock n' roll/blues bands: Apathy, Cottonmouth, Windfall Prophet, Groove Moon and others. He's played across the New England states, in Texas and Colorado (Boulder,Telluride, and Colorado Springs), and, of course, South and Central Florida.

After 30 years playing rock music, he realized that most of the songs he is writing are are Americana or Country tunes. Not being one to ignore the facts, he's acknowledged this new direction with his recent efforts. He's won an honorable mention in the annual Billboard Song contest and has recently released his first professional album, Rearview Mirrors. Dan plays out at various clubs and festivals in the area and is looking forward to expanding his footprint.

Dan lives in Florida, with his wife, Juju. The porch light is almost always on.