Dan Hicks was attracted to music from his schooldays as he played drum in primary school and snare drum in the marching band of school. His father was in military and settled in Santa Rosa when he was five. He played with the local band when he was fourteen. He got alternative place in the 15 minutes radio programme of that place Time Out for Teens during his days in high school. From the end of 1950’s and beginning of 1960’s he went to San Francisco State College to learn airing of shows.

He became a guitarist, joined folk music troops in San Francisco, and played at the coffeehouses of that area. He has a style that had a mix of many genres including the country, jazz and folk with deep wittiness.

In 1965, Hicks tied up with The Charlatans and stayed till 1968. Then he and David LaFlamme a violin player started Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks. Sid Page came in place of LaFlamme. Christine Gancher and Sherri Snow was vocalist, John Weber the guitar player with Jaime Leopold the bassist formed the band and remained together till 1971. The band was devoid of any drummer and was contracted with Epic. They came out with the album titled Original Recordings and Bob Johnson was its producer. Maryann Price and Naomi Ruth Eisenberg were the vocalists; John Girton guitar player replaced the old members with the violinist and bassist remaining same after Hick reformed the band. They concluded in 1973 making three albums. They were very successful and the decision of Hicks to split this band was shocking. Hicks stated that he no more desired to remain bandleader as he loved singing only. His problems with the band members especially Page and Price made him split up the band. The members again came together in 1991 to record for a television show Austin City Limits which was aired in 1992. The program of reunion also had Hick’s new band Acoustic Warriors which combined jazz, swing, country and folk style. This band had Dan Hicks and Brian Godchaux as violinist and mandolin player, guitarist Paul Mehling and Richard Saunders as bassist. In 1996 Private Music released their CD.

Hicks performed in bands of multiple titles and also re-started using Hot Licks. While reviewing his last album Michael Goldberg stated that his music were new and unique with matured sounds and with age his music is much more significant and concrete. Hicks now had some coolheaded pals. Hicks was unemployed for several years and wanted a come back to try his luck. He made the correct use of his attempt and dictating others got many works from them. He had an identifiable voice also while singing duet with Jones or Costello. Setzer’s guitar and Costello’s singing gave in “Meet Me on the Corner” emphasizes writing and vocalizing of Hicks. Hicks and the new band of Hot Licks were extremely popular. Hicks used fiddle, banjo and Django Reinhardt in his musical arrangement. He had singers singing in gospel style with cordial lead singers having witty style. The Surfdog album was a hit and tended to record new albums for them counting the 2007 collection of Hicks’s duet which was released earlier. The international concerts of Hicks and Hot Licks shows the same site which they had in their formation. Sometimes Hicks sing Jazz. Hicks performed in the film Class Action and also was casted in many short films.