He has appeared with such well-known bands as Chet Bogan’s Wolverine Jass Band, Bob Milne’s Sweet Violets, the Dixie Derby Band and the Dixie Rhythm Aces. A well regarded band member as well as soloist, he also encourages and instructs young performers interested in keeping the American tradition of Dixieland music alive in popular culture.

Another facet of Dan’s musical talent is his sideline, with his wife Maureen, as a ballroom dancer, specializing in Lindy Hop and Jitterbug to music of the 30s and 40s. There are even times when audiences are treated to a swing dance during a band performance.

After 27 years as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Detroit/Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Dan retired in 2003 to spend full-time composing and performing music, and expanding his luthier business. He lives part-time in the Detroit area and in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

In his “retirement,” he has also expanded his musical composing and arranging, and spends his “spare time” researching and reading everything he can find about the history of jazz and Dixieland music, particularly biographies of great musicians of the early days of jazz. He has an avocation for archiving music from the entire jazz era, and spends many happy hours transferring old records and tapes onto CD.

Dan is best known for his love of performing, giving audiences a great time and good feelings. And what better than to perform on a banjo built with loving care by the musician himself.