Born: October 28, 1945 Primary Instrument: Vocal
Central Indiana entertainer Daniel A. Young is a singer and musical performer specializing in “American Songbook” standards, jazz tunes and romantic ballads.
On January 15, 2007, Dreamwalker Media released “A Place to Dream” / Daniel A. Young Sings Jazz Standards. The recording features pianist/arranger Ken Fary, and several of the Indianapolis area’s finest jazz musicians, including Jack Helsley on bass, Sam Withrow on drums, tenor sax solos by Michael Stricklin (three tracks), and trumpet or flugel horn by Jeff Conrad (three tracks).
Over three decades, Daniel (D.A.) Young was a part-time studio session singer and small-club performer around Central Indiana, appearing often as a solo act, or with his own group, D.A. & the Convictions. A prolific songwriter, he frequented open stages around the city to try out material and find potential fans. In the 1990’s, he produced an art-rock/pop demo compilation called, “My Favorite Stranger,” released independently in October 1998. A second song collection, “Soul to the Wheel” was completed in 2005 (available on-line at CD-Baby.com)
After a hiatus to finish his college degree, Daniel returned to musical activities, performing standards and ballads with a new line-up of D.A. & the Convictions in numerous local appearances, including the 2002 Indy 500 Champagne Ball, The Main Street Stage at the Indiana State Fair, three cocktail events for The Perfect Wedding Guide, and three grand opening parties for Eddie Merlot's restaurant in Indianapolis, as well as other private events.
Over the last three years, Daniel has expanded and refined his repertoire of standards, and become a more confident and capable vocal performer. He has methodically redefined himself as a jazz singer, with a listenable and appealing voice perfectly suited to traditional pop and jazz standards. Daniel sings classic tunes by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, Jerome Kern, Rogers & Hart, Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington, and others. In solo performing, Daniel accompanies himself on jazz-style guitar.
In 2005 and 2006, he has performed solo at numerous Indy-area wine bars, including Brix, A Zionsville Bistro; Eddie Merlot's, D'vine Wine Bar, and Deano's Vino in Fountain Square numerous times. Currently, he performs one Saturday a month at Deano’s Vino.
Planning and rehearsals with pianist/arranger Ken Fary for a traditional jazz CD began in March 2006, and recording at The Lodge Studios was started in late July. Recording and mixing for the ten-song album of standards was completed in late September. The CD, titled “A Place to Dream” was released to record stores and on-line vendors in January 2007. It has been submitted to a national on-demand distribution service, and can be ordered at any record store in the U.S.
