Danny Schmidt
Encyclopedia
Danny Schmidt is an American
singer-songwriter
based in Austin
, Texas
where he was born and raised and now lives with fellow musician
and singer-songwriter
Carrie Elkin
.
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.
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, 'Make Right the Time'. In 2005 Danny released 'Parables & Primes' a critically acclaimed album taking on mystical overtones and a sort of magical-realism reminiscent of Gabriel Garcia Marquez
, or Aesop
. 2007 saw the release of 'Little Grey Sheep' and 2009 the release of 'Instead the Forest Rose to Sing' - his first release on Red House Records. In 2011 Schmidt released 'Man of Many Moons', also on Red House Records.
He was part of the original King of My Living Room 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.
The debut King of My Living Room 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.
, 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
based in Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
where he was born and raised and now lives with fellow musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Carrie Elkin
Carrie Elkin
Carrie Elkin was born 1974, and is a folk/country singer and musician based out of Austin, Texas where she lives with fellow musician and singer-songwriter Danny Schmidt...
.
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 HendrixJimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
back through Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
, Mississippi John Hurt
Mississippi John Hurt
John Smith Hurt, better known as Mississippi John Hurt was an American country blues singer and guitarist.Raised in Avalon, Mississippi, Hurt taught himself how to play the guitar around age nine...
, and Lightning Hopkins all the way to old country gospel and spirituals. He bought an acoustic guitar and eventually discovered the likes of Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
and John Prine
John Prine
John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s.-Biography:...
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
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
for a year. He then became part of the Twin Oaks Community in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
for about four years, where he met fellow singer-songwriter Devon Sproule
Devon Sproule
Devon Sproule is a musician based for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married musician and singer-songwriter Paul Curreri in 2005. She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for 2009 with Oren Lavie...
. At 25 Schmidt began writing songs—a developing talent which ultimately earned him the 2007 Kerrville Folk Festival
Kerrville Folk Festival
The Kerrville Folk Festival is a music festival held for 18 consecutive days in the late spring/early summer at Quiet Valley Ranch near Kerrville, Texas. The event has run on a yearly basis since 1972. In November 2008, the Kerrville Folk Festival and Kerrville Wine & Music Festival were acquired...
New Folk award.
In 1999, he settled for a while in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
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, 'Make Right the Time'. In 2005 Danny released 'Parables & Primes' a critically acclaimed album taking on mystical overtones and a sort of magical-realism reminiscent of Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez is a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. He is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in...
, or Aesop
Aesop
Aesop was a Greek writer credited with a number of popular fables. Older spellings of his name have included Esop and Isope. Although his existence remains uncertain and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a...
. 2007 saw the release of 'Little Grey Sheep' and 2009 the release of 'Instead the Forest Rose to Sing' - his first release on Red House Records. In 2011 Schmidt released 'Man of Many Moons', also on Red House Records.
He was part of the original King of My Living Room 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.
The debut King of My Living Room performance in Charlottesville convinced fellow singer-songwriter, and future good friend Paul Curreri
Paul Curreri
Paul Curreri, an American musician and songwriter who performs mainly in the folk and blues music styles, was born in Seattle, WA in 1976 and raised in Richmond, Virginia. His brother Matt Curreri is also a performing musician. Paul married songwriter/guitarist Devon Sproule in May 2005 and...
to make his home there. Schmidt
Schmidt
Schmidt may refer to:* Schmidt , including list of people with the surname* Schmidt * Schmidt , a crater on Mars* Schmidt , in Kamchatka...
, Curreri
Paul Curreri
Paul Curreri, an American musician and songwriter who performs mainly in the folk and blues music styles, was born in Seattle, WA in 1976 and raised in Richmond, Virginia. His brother Matt Curreri is also a performing musician. Paul married songwriter/guitarist Devon Sproule in May 2005 and...
, and Sproule
Devon Sproule
Devon Sproule is a musician based for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married musician and singer-songwriter Paul Curreri in 2005. She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for 2009 with Oren Lavie...
became housemates, with Paul and Devon marrying soon after. Curreri
Paul Curreri
Paul Curreri, an American musician and songwriter who performs mainly in the folk and blues music styles, was born in Seattle, WA in 1976 and raised in Richmond, Virginia. His brother Matt Curreri is also a performing musician. Paul married songwriter/guitarist Devon Sproule in May 2005 and...
'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
Paul Curreri
Paul Curreri, an American musician and songwriter who performs mainly in the folk and blues music styles, was born in Seattle, WA in 1976 and raised in Richmond, Virginia. His brother Matt Curreri is also a performing musician. Paul married songwriter/guitarist Devon Sproule in May 2005 and...
/Sproule
Devon Sproule
Devon Sproule is a musician based for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married musician and singer-songwriter Paul Curreri in 2005. She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for 2009 with Oren Lavie...
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: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. He is considered a troubadour in the tradition of Townes Van ZandtTownes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
, and Dave Carter
Dave Carter
Dave Carter was an American folk singer-songwriter who described his style as "post-modern mythic American folk music." He was one half of the duo Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer, who were heralded as the new "voice of modern folk music" in the months before Carter's unexpected death in July 2002...
. 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.
Awards, honors, distinctions
- He was one of six winners of the 2007 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk 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 RecordsRed House RecordsRed House Records is an American independent record label specializing in folk music and is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.The label was originally created in 1981 by Greg Brown as a method to distribute his own music, and is named for a farmhouse in Iowa where he was living...
in November 2008, joining such other notable artists as The Wailin' JennysThe Wailin' JennysThe Wailin' Jennys are a Juno Award-winning Canadian folk trio from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and New York, and they consist of soprano Ruth Moody, mezzo Nicky Mehta and alto Heather Masse. In previous years, the Jennys have also toured with fiddler and mandolinist Jeremy Penner, who is from Ruth's...
, Loudon Wainwright IIILoudon Wainwright IIILoudon Snowden Wainwright III is a Grammy Award-winning American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor. He is the father of musicians Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche, brother of Sloan Wainwright, and the former husband of the late folk singer Kate McGarrigle.To...
, Robin & Linda Williams, John McCutcheonJohn McCutcheonJohn McCutcheon is an American folk music singer and multi-instrumentalist who has produced 34 albums since the 1970s. He is regarded as a master of the hammered dulcimer, and is also proficient on many other instruments including guitar, banjo, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, fiddle, and...
, and Ramblin' Jack ElliottRamblin' Jack ElliottRamblin' Jack Elliott is an American folk singer and performer.-Life and career:Elliot Charles Adnopoz was born in Brooklyn, New York to Jewish parents in 1931. Elliott grew up inspired by the rodeos at Madison Square Garden, and wanted to be a cowboy...
on the label. - He was part of the original King of My Living Room group of Charlottesville songwriters—which has come to include such notable artists as Paul CurreriPaul CurreriPaul Curreri, an American musician and songwriter who performs mainly in the folk and blues music styles, was born in Seattle, WA in 1976 and raised in Richmond, Virginia. His brother Matt Curreri is also a performing musician. Paul married songwriter/guitarist Devon Sproule in May 2005 and...
and Devon SprouleDevon SprouleDevon Sproule is a musician based for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married musician and singer-songwriter Paul Curreri in 2005. She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for 2009 with Oren Lavie...
—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. - Sixty of his songs, lyrics, and arrangements from five albums have been published in The Songs of Danny Schmidt: 1999-2007 (2008).
Discography
- Live at the Prism Coffeehouse (2000) The Orchard—ASIN: B00001ZWI8
- Enjoying the Fall (2001) Live Once Records—ASIN: B00005RTQX
- Make Right the Time (2003) Live Once Records—ASIN: B000CAGHXW
- Parables & Primes (2005) Live Once Records—ASIN: B000A2H5K6
- Little Grey Sheep (2008) Waterbug Records—ASIN: B000YHL8K0
- Instead the Forest Rose to Sing (2009) Red House RecordsRed House RecordsRed House Records is an American independent record label specializing in folk music and is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.The label was originally created in 1981 by Greg Brown as a method to distribute his own music, and is named for a farmhouse in Iowa where he was living...
- Man of Many Moons (2011) Red House RecordsRed House RecordsRed House Records is an American independent record label specializing in folk music and is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.The label was originally created in 1981 by Greg Brown as a method to distribute his own music, and is named for a farmhouse in Iowa where he was living...
Compilations
- King of My Living Room (2001) King of My Living Room recorded at LA.B Space Live Arts theater, Charlottesville, Virginia—ASIN: B000CAFY5Y
- King of My Living Room (2003) King of My Living Room recorded at Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, September 5, 2003; performed "Stained Glass"—ASIN: (unknown)
- Our Christmas Present (2008) Our Community Place, "Little Drummer Boy" performed with Carrie Elkin
See also
- Red House RecordsRed House RecordsRed House Records is an American independent record label specializing in folk music and is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.The label was originally created in 1981 by Greg Brown as a method to distribute his own music, and is named for a farmhouse in Iowa where he was living...
- Charlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
- Austin, TexasAustin, TexasAustin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
- Paul CurreriPaul CurreriPaul Curreri, an American musician and songwriter who performs mainly in the folk and blues music styles, was born in Seattle, WA in 1976 and raised in Richmond, Virginia. His brother Matt Curreri is also a performing musician. Paul married songwriter/guitarist Devon Sproule in May 2005 and...
- Devon SprouleDevon SprouleDevon Sproule is a musician based for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married musician and singer-songwriter Paul Curreri in 2005. She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for 2009 with Oren Lavie...
- Folk musicFolk musicFolk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
- Blues music
- Singer-songwriterSinger-songwriterSinger-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
- Twin Oaks Community
- East Wind Community
Articles, reviews, interviews
- "Danny Schmidt - Man of Many Moons (Red House)" NetRhythms.co.uk; The Latest Album, DVD & Book Reviews - MARCH 2011.
- "Carrie Elkin's Call It My Garden and Danny Schmidt's Man of Many Moons (both on Red House)" by Jeff Burger for No Depression, February 13, 2011.
- "Review: Danny Schmidt ~ Man of Many Moons February 1, 2011 by Matt Watroba for Folk Alley Blog.
- "Danny Schmidt saves the best for last" review of Instead the Forest Rose to Sing by Brendan Fitzgerald, Issue #21.12 :: 03/24/2009 - 03/30/2009 of C-ville Weekly.
- "Danny Schmidt brings original sounds to Homer" by Chris Eshleman in Homer News September 15, 2008.
- "Danny Schmidt: Little Grey Sheep (Waterbug)" review by Matt Watrobain in Spring, 2008 Sing Out!Sing Out!Sing Out! is a quarterly journal of folk music and folk songs that has been published since May 1950.-Background:Sing Out! is the primary publication of the tax exempt, not-for-profit, educational corporation of the same name...
magazine. - "Red House Signs Danny Schmidt!" announcement Red House RecordsRed House RecordsRed House Records is an American independent record label specializing in folk music and is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.The label was originally created in 1981 by Greg Brown as a method to distribute his own music, and is named for a farmhouse in Iowa where he was living...
November 2008. - "Austin-based Jewish musicians play every musical genre" by Andrea Abel, The Jewish Outlook, March 2008.
- Little Grey Sheep review by Jim Caligiuri in Texas Platters section of The Austin Chronicle February 8, 2008.
- "Danny Schmidt: Little Grey Sheep (Waterbug Records)" review by Darryl Smyers published February 20, 2008 in Dallas ObserverDallas ObserverThe Dallas Observer is a free alternative weekly newspaper distributed around the Dallas, Texas . At its inception, it was conceived as a weekly local arts and cinema review publication, with the credo "Advocate for Excellence in the Arts" on the cover. For a time during the early years, the paper...
. - "Danny Schmidt: Little Grey Sheep (Waterbug)" review in January 2008 TexasMonthly.
- "Musician praises 'honesty' of folk during Alaska tour" by Erica Goff, September 12, 2008 Fairbanks Daily-Newsminer.
- "Danny Schmidt, with Louis Ledford" review of December 6, 2006 Gravity Lounge show by Brendan Fitzgerald in Issue #19.50 :: 12/11/2007 - 12/17/2007 of C-ville Weekly.
- "Reviews: Danny Schmidt--Enjoying the Fall" September 6, 2001 Indie-Music.com.
- Interview with Danny Schmidt in New York City, 2001 (uncited).
External links
- Danny Schmidt, official homepage
- Danny Schmidt at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Red House Records homepage
- Red House Records MySpace page
- Sonicbids biography
- Danny Schmidt Radio Pandora
- Live Recordings of Danny Schmidt at archive.org's Live Music Archive
- 2007 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners
- King of My Living Room show, CDs, and history
- Danny Schmidt performance on BalconyTV Brighton