Dan Zanes, born in 1961, was the leading man of Dan Zanes and Friends, which won Grammy. He was a part of The Del Fuegos band in 1980s. His birthplace was Exeter in New Hampshire but he lived his early days in Texas then moved to Fredericton and last to fringes of Concord. At the age of eight he began playing guitar and started picking Leadbelly records from community library when he had his library cards. Joining Oberlin College in Ohio he decided to form a band and met with Tom Lloyd on the starting day. They went to their rooms and formed their band. In Boston they were called The Del Fuegos.

The band Del Fuegoes started performing from bars, lofts, clubs, fraternity house, gyms, barns, dining halls of colleges, auditoriums, small art galleries and lastly in big theatres. In 1984 Rolling Stone called them Best New Band. Zanes had a number of records with Del Fuegos. He got married to Paula Grief who was the director of the song I Still Want You. After having a baby Anna Zanes they settled in New York. He went to playground with his child and met other fathers there. He started music with them and finally formed the Wonderland String Band performing at parties, parks and a record, which Zane taped at home.

His record was a hit within that place and he thought of recording music, which all the members of a family would appreciate. He now included few ladies in his band and titled it Rocket Ship revue. They started composing home-produced album with the help of peoples he met during his days in Del Fuego. These included Suzanne Vega, Sheryl Crow of Del Fuego and the Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke. Rocket Ship Beach in 2000 was also one of their hit albums. New York Times referred Zanes music as pure music with a great simplicity. Family Dance in 2001 was their second album had dance numbers. Night Time in 2002 was their third album was smoother but not sleepy. For this album he worked with Aimee Mann, Dar Williams, John Doe, Lou Reed and many well-known music composers. House Party in 2003 was their fourth album with collection of a score of songs having variable instrumentation with normal guitar, drum, upright bass, banjos and crazy instruments like accordion, tuba, djembe, pump organ and saw. In the Musical Album for Children category, the album House Party got a nomination for Grammy.

The morning shows of Disney Channel known as Playhouse Disney plays selected music video from the album House Party. Catch That Train, the musical album for children, honored Zane with the Grammy Award 2007 in the category of Best Musical Album for Children. He also made popular CD for children titled It’s a BamBam Diddly which had songs played by Sheryl Crow and Sister Carol. He helps many charitable trusts and donates his income, which he gets from Night Time and Family Dance to Heifer International.

Discography: Solo Cool Down Time -1994) Children's music Nueva York! -2008 Catch That Train! -2006 House Party -2003Night Time! -2002Family Dance -2001 Rocket Ship Beach-2000 Traditional music Parades and Panoramas -2004 Sea Music -2002 With the Del Fuegos Smoking in the Fields -1989 Stand Up-1987 Spin Radio Concert-1985 Boston, Mass. -198 The Longest Day -1984

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