An In depth Interview with Chris Daniels
Chris Daniels: is not related to Charlie or Jack or Bill — though often asked that question. Starting as a 17 year old songwriter and guitarist back in the 70s when he played with David Johansen, (before the New York Dolls) and later with Russell Smith (after The Rhythm Aces), Chris has preformed thousands of shows, touring with his current band Chris Daniels & the Kings for 33 years. He has worked making records and performing with some of the most respected musicians in the business including Sonny Landreth, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, David Bromberg, Al Kooper, Bill Payne, and Don Was to name only a few. He was the founder of the Telluride After Hours Jam playing that festival on and off for ten years beginning in 1975. For the past 4 years he’s served as the festival MC.
Professor: Chris Daniels is an Assistant Professor at the College of Arts & Media, University of Colorado Denver campus. He began teaching songwriting and guitar at Arapahoe Community College in 2001. In 2007 he was awarded the “Adjunct Professor of The Year” award from that college. That same year Chris was given the honor of a position as an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Denver teaching music business.
Awards: Chris Daniels was inducted into the COLORADO MUSIC HALL OF FAME in 2013 with the likes of Judy Collins, John Denver, Joe Walsh, and Poco. He was a Grammy co-nominee for his writing and performance with Al Jarreau, Hubert Laws and Dee Dee Bridgewater on Jumpin Jazz Kids, plus numerous Westword Music Awards, album awards and critiques awards. He’s also received awards for excellence in teaching.
Survivor: In 2010 Chris was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and given a less than 25% chance of survival for 5 years. As he says, “Every day is a gift!”
Guitarist and band leader: Chris has served as musical director with his band when the Kings backed Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, John Oats, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Johnnyswim, Joe Walsh, Michael Murphy, Amy Grant, Richie Furay, Randy Owen (Alabama), Francine Reed, The Coaster, Drifters, Platters, Bo Diddly, Was Not Was, Mary Wilson, Bonnie Raitt, Percy Sledge, solo members of Little Feat, Sam Bush, John Cowan and many others.
Singer: Chris has been featured on commercials all across the US and Canada for McDonalds, Ford, Coors Beer, Village Inn and many more.
Songwriter: He’s worked with Gary Nicholson, Al Kooper and Bill Payne to name only a few. His songs have appeared on albums by Hazel Miller, Tom Wassinger and David Bromberg to name only a few.
Record Producer: He’s known for several CDs including the award winning Hazel Miller recording, “ICONS”, featuring standards and guests like famed trumpeter Ron Miles, Andy Sydow’s “Reasons For Departure”, and Magic Music’s soundtrack release for the documentary film called “Everything is Floating” scheduled for release in 2018 and produced by Lee Aronhson from The Big Bang Theory.
Music for TV: Chris has had his recordings used for everything from regional TV broadcasts, the Friday morning news theme for NBC Channel 9 News to national shows like “men In Tress” on the ABC television network.
Executive Director: Chris served as the head of the world’s second largest folk music school and concert organization, Swallow Hill Music Association for 5 years during which time the organization won both the Governor’s Award and the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.
Chris & the Kings played their first show on March 14, 1984. Chris has toured Europe 21 times and they’ve played in the States from South Carolina to Seattle, New York City to LA. The seven piece band, called “funky-blues” by the Europeans, is an all out “horn band” celebrating great horn-driven blues, R&B, funk, and rock n’ roll. They have been compared to Little Feat, “John Hiatt meets Tower of Power” and “Keb Mo with horns.”
Daniels’ 15th CD “Blues With Horns” is a collaboration of new songs and some of the best horn-drenched classics from the likes of Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Bobby Blue Bland to name only a few,
Starting in 1991, six years after their first show, the got a record deal from Provogue Records the band made a name for themselves touring Europe: playing for the Queen of Holland at the 50th Year VE Day Celebration and at Europe’s famous Parkpop Rock Festival for 450,000. They have headlined festivals from the Mediterranean to the North Sea. They have had number one records on Holland’s number one rock show, “Countdown Café” and had front-page success with cover articles in De Telegraph and De Standard in Amsterdam and Brussels.
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