'Dan Hill' History:
Biography Dan HillDan Hill was born in Toronto in 1954 to American Parents who, as an interracial couple, moved to Canada to escape the twin scourges of Racism and McCarthyism. They also believed that Canada provided a better environment to raise their family. "McCarthy's Day", from his album Longer Fuse chronicled his racial background. "It's probably the most personal song I've ever written. I wasn't sure about putting it on the album. But then I felt that I almost had to include it, just to express who I am." Dan began writing songs at age 14 and was playing professionally in small gatherings and coffee houses by the time he reached 17. Two years later he signed to GRT Records in Canada and so began his quick rise to fame. He grew up listening to Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. He credits Sinatra as a primary influence in terms of delivery and phrasing. It was the 1977 Longer Fuse (1977) and the single Sometimes When We Touch that sealed Dan's international success. It not only gave him his third Canadian Gold album, it also won over the U.S. audience. Sometimes When we Touch also gave Dan his first co-writing experience, in this case with the highly talented and respected Barry Mann, whose hits range from Who put the Bomp and Here You Come Again to the well-loved standard You've Lost That Loving Feeling. "We were brought together in almost blind date fashion." Dan was named Top New Male Vocalist in both Cashbox and Record World: won Juno awards for Composer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. and was nominated for a Grammy in 1977. Dan's songwriting can be heard on Healing Power of Love covered by Jennifer Rush: Sometimes When We Touch by Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow and Newton: Seduces Me from the Celine Dion album Falling Into You, written by Dan and John Sheard, and co-produced with John Jones and Rick Hahn. Celine and the album's producers won the Album of The Year Grammy Award in 1996. |
