Danny Schmidt
is an American singer-songwriter based in Austin, Texas where he was born and raised.
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DANNY SCHMIDT TICKETS
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Biography
Schmidt was born 1970 in Austin, Texas, and grew up there. He started playing guitar at the age of 12. At age 20, he discovered he liked the blues after tracking the music of
Jimi Hendrix back through
Muddy Waters,
Mississippi John Hurt, and
Lightning Hopkins all the way to old country gospel and spirituals. He bought an acoustic guitar and eventually discovered the likes of
Dylan,
Neil Young,
Tom Waits and
John Prine who taught him about poetry and the melody of words.
After three years of college he joined the
East Wind Community in the
Ozark Mountains of southern
Missouri for a year. He then became part of the
Twin Oaks Community in the
Blue Ridge Mountains of
Virginia for about four years, where he met fellow singer-songwriter
Devon Sproule. At 25 Schmidt began writing songs—a developing talent which ultimately earned him the 2007
Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk award.
[1]
In 1999, he settled for a while in
Charlottesville, Virginia where his songwriting flourished and he started sharing his songs with the public. That year he released his first recording, an album titled
Live at the Prism Coffeehouse
. In 2001 he released
Enjoying the Fall
. 2003 brought his third collection of songs,
Parables & Primes
, taking on mystical overtones and a sort of magical-realism reminiscent of
Gabriel Garcia Marquez, or
Aesop.
He was part of the original
group of Charlottesville songwriters—which included such artists as Brady Earnhart, Danny Schmidt, Stratton Salidis, Jan Smith, Lance Brenner, Browning Porter and Jeff Romano—who would go on to do a series of concerts together, the first CD of which was recorded in 2001. He's appeared in each of the four performances since, including the latest November 2007 at the Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville.
[2]
The debut
performance in Charlottesville convinced fellow singer-songwriter, and future good friend
Paul Curreri to make his home there.
Schmidt,
Curreri, and
Sproule became housemates, with Paul and Devon marrying soon after.
Curreri's wrote and recorded a letter in song form to Danny, who responds in yet-to-be-produced
Two Guitars
(which he has started to perform in 2009). Danny recorded his fifth album
Little Grey Sheep
(2008) in the
Curreri/
Sproule home, with Paul serving as production engineer.
In 2005 saw Schmidt’s music spread far and wide, with tours up and down the east coast and west coast, as well as tours of Alaska, the United Kingdom, Italy, The Netherlands, France and Italy.
Religion
Born into a Jewish family, he does not feel his religion is either distinct or critical to understanding his art. As he puts it, when discussing his song
Sad Songs Walking
:
Insert the text of the quote here, without quotation marks.
Musical style
Danny Schmidt's writing spans from deeply-rooted Appalachian mountain gospel to haunted English balladry, from syncopated Piedmont country blues to vagabond protest folk-stumpery.
[4] He is considered a troubadour in the tradition of
Townes Van Zandt,
Bob Dylan,
Leonard Cohen, and
Dave Carter. He delivers his songs with a quiet power, informed by a complex understanding of humanity. In the Spring 2008 issue of
Sing Out! magazine, journalist Matt Watroba noted that Schmidt's arrangements are powerful, his performances are laid-back yet energetic, while his lyrics are sheer poetry.
[5]
"Stylistically and musically, Danny's writing spans an impressively diverse reach, from deeply-rooted Appalachian mountain gospel music
—gospel to haunted Ballad (music), English balladry, from syncopated Piedmont blues
"With beautifully crafted, lonesome pines music and complex beguiling words, he would've fitted neatly on the bill at any '60s coffee house alongside Townes Van Zandt or Leonard Cohen."
—Andy Fyfe, Q Magazine
"The songs are fascinating and intriguing, even mysterious. The singing is warm and unassuming, letting the stories lead him. The melodies are captivating."
—Marilyn Rea Beyer, WUMB
Awards, honors, distinctions
- He was one of six winners of the 2007 award selected from 32 finalists who performed during the 2007 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Concerts on May 26 & 27.
- He signed with Red House Records in November 2008, joining such other notable artists as The Wailin' Jennys, Loudon Wainwright III, Robin & Linda Williams, John McCutcheon, and Ramblin' Jack Elliott on the label.
- He was part of the original
group of Charlottesville songwriters—which has come to include such notable artists as Paul Curreri and Devon Sproule—the first CD of which recorded in 2001. He's appeared in their performances since, including the latest November 2007 at the Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville. [2]
- Sixty of his songs, lyrics, and arrangements from five albums have been published in
(2008).
Discography
- Live at the Prism Coffeehouse
(2000) The Orchard—ASIN: B00001ZWI8
- Enjoying the Fall
(2001) —ASIN: B00005RTQX
- Make Right the Time
(2003) Live Once Records—ASIN: B000CAGHXW
- Parables & Primes
(2005) Live Once Records—ASIN: B000A2H5K6
- Little Grey Sheep
(2008) —ASIN: B000YHL8K0
- Instead the Forest Rose to Sing
(2009) Red House Records
Compilations
- King of My Living Room
(2001) recorded at LA.B Space theater, Charlottesville, Virginia—ASIN: B000CAFY5Y
- King of My Living Room
(2003) recorded at , University of Virginia, Charlottesville, September 5, 2003; performed "Stained Glass"—ASIN: (unknown)
-
(2008) , "Little Drummer Boy" performed with
See also
- Red House Records
- Charlottesville, Virginia
- Austin, Texas
- Paul Curreri
- Devon Sproule
- Folk music
- Blues music
- Singer-songwriter
- Twin Oaks Community
- East Wind Community
References
- 2007 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk award
- King of My Living Room History
- Star Maker Machine "Drinkin' Songs: The Danny Schmidt Edition", March 11, 2009.
- Austin360.com review
- Sing Out! Magazine, Spring 2008
- South Padre International Music Festival Danny Schmidt profile
- King of My Living Room History