Comprehensive Biography
Daniel A. Young began writing songs and performing folk music as a singer-guitarist in the Kokomo area in the mid-1960’s. After returning from service in the U.S. Army in the Far East, where he sang in Special Services shows (1967-68), he formed Cabala, an original rock band that played numerous dates around the Indiana University campus (1970-71). Moving to Indianapolis in 1973, Daniel began a career in commercial jingles, recording studio sessions, songwriting and nightclub groups, performing all over Central Indiana. He wrote and produced a jingle for Marott Shoes that aired on local radio for several years, and two spots for Breadbasket convenience stores. He sang on commercials for Metro Transit, Kenner Toys, and numerous others for Skeet’s Music Company. He recorded a single, "Letting Me Down Easy" for Shirley Records in 1974, and sang the song live on "The Jim Gerard Show" television program on Channel 6. Daniel had songs recorded by Indy-area acts The Vanguards ("Blue Star Rising," Shirley Records), Whole Wheat ("River In My Heart," Wright & Perry Music), and Good Seed ("High Horse," "Good At Loving You" and "A Woman In Motion, " as a staff songwriter for Village Records), and received a "Recommended Listening" notice in Billboard Magazine for "High Horse" (April 1977). He performed in area nightclubs with Daylight Trio, The Music Company, and Day’s Ride, which was booked by Carousel Productions into numerous dances, lodges and clubs around Central Indiana. Indy club appearances included The Hummingbird Café, The State of Inndiana, The Stable Innfluence South, The Lamplighter, and The Teller’s Cage, as well as The Fox’s Den and the Holiday Inn in Columbus. He wrote several published articles and music reviews, including a cover interview of Bill Wilson, for Radio Free Rock Magazine, and wrote publicity copy for Eagle Productions.Moving to Chicago in 1978, Daniel supported himself as a graphic artist and formed Free Hand Band, performing original and classic rock in several North Side clubs and recording song demos for Village Records in 1979. He subsequently lived in Miami Beach, Florida, for nearly two years, working in graphics for The Sun-Reporter and continuing to write songs, before returning to Indianapolis in 1981.
In the 1980's, Daniel (now known as "D.A.") performed numerous times at Sgt. Pepper's at 54th & College in Indianapolis, Grindstone Charley's in Greenwood and Noblesville, and at several downtown Indianapolis venues, including Flanagan's Pub, Riley's Pub, The Slippery Noodle Inn, and Locomotions-Union Station. He was very active on the open-stage scene, appearing often at Sgt. Pepper’s, Riley’s Pub, The Hummingbird, The Patio, The Rural Inn, andThe Mousetrap; he also performed at The Hanger, McShane’s, Spirits, and others. He appeared on television on American Cablevision shows Talent Town, Music Indianapolis, and The Trouble Is In Your Set, and performed twice at the Broad Ripple Art Fair. From a demo tape of "On Purpose" recorded at Hit City studio, D.A. & The Convictions was selected as a finalist and performed in the 1987 WRTV-6 State Fair Rock Band Contest. In 1989, they did a series of programs called "Underground Cabaret" combining original songs and poetry readings, at Mugwumps, a downtown coffeehouse. D.A.’s song, "The Dolphin Heart," was selected by Gary James Productions to be featured in the music for 1991 World Gymnastics Championships, released on cassette by Forum Records.
From 1991 to 1997, D.A. performed only at occasional open stages, working full time as a graphic artist and typographer for a downtown printing firm. He returned to paid musical performing with a series of appearances at The Livery in Noblesville, The MT Cup coffeehouse in Greenbriar, Aesop's Tables, and six months of regular Saturday nights at Mugsy's Pizza. D.A. also began performing "Music for Grown-ups" programs for senior citizens with a repertoire of traditional pop standards. Doing session work at DCR Studio, he sang with Leta Essig on a CD collection of songs by songwriter Frank Winton, and did back-up vocals for the last Bobby Helms album project. D.A. sang with jazz pianist Jon Dembroski at Kazar's Restaurant, and made multiple appearances at Wildcat Brewing Co., Prime Time-Castleton, and Indianapolis Artsgarden. Open stages included Rock Lobster, Great Scott’s, and Chubby’s Club LaSalle. In October 1999, he released a CD compilation of full-production song demos, "My Favorite Stranger," on his own independent label, Equator Records.
In 1999, D.A. returned to Indiana University at IUPUI to study computer multimedia and web design; he received his Bachelors Degree in May 2001, and then started freelancing under the banner of D.A. Young Creative Multimedia. He returned to musical performing, frequenting open stages at venues such as Faux Real Pizza, The Loading Dock, Frankie’s, Arturo’s, and Parrothead’s. He appeared at Cath Inc. coffeehouse and at the Elbow Room with singer-songwriter Pam Warren.
In collaboration with keyboardist and entertainment producer Joel Erwin, Daniel re-established his band, D.A. & The Convictions, appearing at the 2002 Indy 500 Champagne Ball, the Indiana State Fair, the Indiana Rural Housing Association Annual Banquet, and three events for the Perfect Wedding Guide, at The Marott, Scottish Rite Cathedral, and The Indiana Historical Society. The group also performed for the grand opening of Eddie Merlot's new restaurant on 96th Street.
Daniel visited New York the first week of June, 2004, where he gave a reading at the Riverside Poetry Project (Riverside Library, near Lincoln Center) and sang at the open mic for singers at jazz club Cleopatra's Needle. In July 2004, D.A. performed solo at the Fig Tree Gallery & Coffeehouse in Helmsburg (near Nashville), Indiana, doing poetry readings and original songs with his own pre-recorded background music. He also performed solo jazz & pop for seven weeks on Thursday evenings (Aug.-Sept. 2004) at BRIX Bistro in Zionsville. D.A. & the Convictions performed for the 2004 Resort Condominiums Int'l. (RCI) Christmas Party at the Westin Hotel in Downtown Indianapolis, Dec. 10, 2004.
In 2005, Daniel made a mid-June visit to New York City, where he sang with the Jon Weiss Trio at Cleopatra's Needle, and also gave readings at two poetry events in Greenwich Village, at the Back Fence Pub and the Saturn Series at the Nightingale Lounge.
D.A.’s second CD, "Soul to the Wheel," was completed in June 2005 (copies are available for sale at CDBaby.com). He performed regularly on Tuesdays at BRIX Bistro from June 2005 through January, 2006. He performed twice at Eddie Merlot's in July 2005 and at D'vine, A Wine Bar in August 2005. Daniel made four appearances at Deano's Vino in Fountain Square in December 2005 and January 2006. He returned to Deano's Vino in July 2006, for once-a-month shows continuing through March 2007.
Daniel's first jazz CD, titled “A Place to Dream” was recorded in the summer of 2006 and released to area record stores and on-line vendors January 15, 2007. Daniel's debut appearance and CD Release Concert was held at The Jazz Kitchen on Feb. 24, 2007, with the Ken Fary Trio. Daniel made his debut at The Chatterbox Jazz Nightclub on Mar. 9, with the Ken Fary Trio and saxophonist Michael Stricklin.