Dan grew up in Carmichael and attended Rio Americano High School, which is famous for its music program. But Dan didn't play music; instead, he pitched for the baseball team until he tore his rotator cuff.
      He went into the Air Force Academy intending to be a pilot, but after three semesters he transferred to San Jose State. He wanted to major in journalism, but on registration day, the line for journalism was so long that he signed up for advertising instead.
     After graduating with a BA in advertising, he worked at the Sacramento Bee for three years. Then he decided to pursue his musical dreams and enrolled at the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston.
     At Berklee, he learned that he didn't have a huge amount of talent, and that any musical success he had would be due to hard work. He also noted that his instructors made a rather meager living as working musicians. Dan wanted a family and doubted that he could support one as a musician.
     He returned to Sacramento and worked for twelve years as a manager at Raley's. He bought an upright piano at Burgett's and Brett Dearing was assigned as his tuner. As Brett worked on his Dan's piano over the years, they became friends and Dan was inspired to become a tuner.
      He lives in Elk Grove with Teri, the girl of his dreams.

Fact you probably didn't know about Dan: He is a licensed pilot but hasn't flown in ten years.
Favorite Composers: Gershwin, Lennon/McCartney, Billy Joel.
Favorite piano: 1928 Mason & Hamlin "A" grand 36779 (his piano).