 Dan
was born and raised in Monterey, California.
He came to Colorado to attend college at UNC in Greeley. After
a twenty-nine year career, Dan retired from public education
in May, 2002. ("I began teaching when I was eight.")
All twenty-nine years were spent in Jefferson County Public
Schools. For nearly twenty years Dan worked with deaf, hard-of-hearing,
and other disabled students at the Warren Technical Vocational
High School in Lakewood. In 1993 Dan founded Long View High
School, also in the Jefferson County school system. Long View
is the smallest school in the largest school district in Colorado
with a student body of approximately fifty students in grades
ten, eleven, and twelve. Dan has taught classes on The Civil
War, World Wars I &II, American Indian History, Language
Arts, The Law, The Twentieth Century, Chess, and several other
topics. His love for music led to a variety of music appreciation
classes from American Roots Music, to Jazz, Blues, Bluegrass,
and even a class on the music of Bob Dylan. "I got turned
on to Bob Dylan in 1963 and remain convinced that he is the
most important songwriter of the Twentieth Century. Two-hundred
years from now people will still want to listen to his songs."Long
View High School has been an incredible experience for me, a
true labor of love. I was given the rare opportunity to design
and start a school focusing on what I believe to be most important
in education, beginning with creating an enjoyable atmosphere.
Don't get me started, I could go on for a long time about what
I think works and doesn't work in public education." Dan's
motto for Long View High School is, LEARN TO LOVE TO LEARN.
"I guess that sums it up for my educational philosophy."
(Plus it's a palindrome.) "Leaving Long View and teaching
is a huge move for me and it's not an easy step to take. I will
always look back with love and the fondest memories."
Dan began playing guitar in high school
with his musician friends. "Don't even ask me how a kid
growing up on the ocean in Monterey started to love stuff
like bluegrass and old-time music. Only a few of us did back
then and there but it got under my skin and stayed."
Dan's CD, Old Cars and Old Guitars was released in January,
2000. Old Cars is packed with all original songs, many of
which the family band sings on a regular basis. "Nothing
is more fun than to hear my family, or anyone else for that
matter, sing one of my songs." After finishing his own
CD, Dan and son, Kyle, began work on Kyle's project, Kyle's
Big Hit. "Kyle is the real singer in the family but Maura
is right behind and singing more beautifully every day."
Both Dan's and Kyle's CDs were recorded at Raven Studios in
Englewood, Colorado under the watchful eye of longtime pro
Jim Ratts. "What a treat to work with and watch Jim in
action. Kyle and I both learned a ton and had a ball in the
process. There just aren't better people to be with and work
with than Jim and (wife) Salli." Jim and Salli front
the longtime Colorado favorite, Runaway Express. Salli Ratts
did the wonderful artwork, design, and layout on Kyle's Big
Hit. Dan greatly enjoys reading, both to Kyle and Maura, and
on his own. He also likes spending time with his eldest son
Dallas, and his family. Dan is a grandfather to Lachlan,six
years old (and getting fiddle-ready) and three-year-old Claire.
. Although a busier music schedule is forcing him to cut back
on his "other job," Dan has spent ten seasons vending
at the Colorado Rockies baseball games. "I was there
for game one in 1993 to 2004 and have been at most of the
home games since. I've never missed a home opener. I love
baseball.
Dan and family frequent numerous music festivals
and contests and the like and plan to continue to enjoy them
now that he's retired. He backs up Maura and Kyle in fiddle
contests, and enters male vocal, songwriting, and mandolin
contests himself, taking many honors.
Ainsworth, NE Songwriter Contest 2005-First
place “Almost Done"
Winfield, KS
Songwriter Contest 2004- First place “That's
Texas For Ya”
Winfield, KS
Songwriter Contest 2003- First place “Tumbleweed
Jack”
Winfield, KS Songwriter Contest 2002- First
place “Crosses By the Roadside”
Ainsworth, NE Songwriter Contest 2002-First
place “A Day to Remember”
Winfield, KS Songwriter Contest 2001- First
place “Baseball, Baseball”
Winfield, KS Songwriter Contest 1999- First
place “Old Cars and Old Guitars”
Winfield, KS Songwriter Contest 1998- First
place “Mexican Widow” & “Grand
Junction”
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