WT800 / D410XLT x 2 / DC210XLT / WT400 / D210MBX

Website

Dan Walters is a distinctly original singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. On his three solo releases, Eternal Nerve (1997), Fortunata (1999) and Guesswork (2003), he displays a solid understanding of many varieties of western music from the primitive to the complex. The songs explore a broad range of emotions and manage to sound familiar while continuing to offer greater rewards with repeated listening.

His organic combination of jazz, folk, and rock has earned him several awards from the SSA (Songwriters Showcases of America), including two for best lyricist. Walters' songs exude honesty, and showcase his unusual organization of lyric, music, and melody. Dan's latest album Guesswork is available on 111 Records.

Beyond that, these are the facts as best as they can be recollected from our available sources which are, admittedly, somewhat sketchy.

Walters was born in Huntington WV a few months after a scandalous whiskey-induced event at the Star-Light Drive-In Theater. A year later a baby girl was born to the same love-struck couple. A year after that the mother joined the circus and was never heard from again. The two little tykes were then given over to be raised by a great uncle and aunt, he a reformed drunken brawler and she an antecedent of Dana Carvey's "The Church Lady." The adopted parents were of grandparent age and when Dan was around the age of six his new relatives started dying off. After attending several funerals throughout the early months of second grade, including the funeral of the adopted father, the mother moved the little family to DeLand, FL.

From an early age Dan had exhibited an aptitude for music, so, in an effort to distinguish herself among the members of her new church family at the Stetson Baptist Church, the mother invested in a piano and lessons for the burgeoning young talent with an eye toward the results being applied in the service of the ministry of the aforementioned institution. Around this time, another boy, two years older, befriended Dan and introduced him to the freewheeling and stylish lifestyle depicted in the music of the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean and other Southern California surf/car cultural bards. Dan realized that he wanted to rock and quit the piano lessons after two years.

At the age of twelve, Dan joined the first in a long series of unremarkable bands. He started playing bass at fifteen and worked in a swing band with his best friend on drums, the friend's father on lead alto, and an assortment of band directors, school teachers and an accountant. This gave Dan his first glimpse into the relationship between alcohol and the performance of music. After witnessing a staggering trombone solo played (smeared) over the changes to David Rose's "The Stripper," young Dan made a firm decision which, however, was forgotten several years later. Watching 70 year olds dance the Alley Cat further convinced him that he wanted to rock, so after one semester of music school he dropped out and took his chances in Miami. Nine months later, back in DeLand and penniless, he formed musical associations which continue to this day. Three of his cohorts from those early days now play in his band, The Nerve Band.

In Miami everyone was trying to play jazz and Dan tried too. His first professional job, after returning to DeLand, was playing jazz. He then began playing blues and has continued in that style to this day, having appeared on numerous recordings, and played hundreds of gigs with Mark Hodgson, Noble "Thin Man" Watts, the Reverend Billy C. Wirtz and many others. Dan also spent five years in a group that played reggae, soca, calypso, Afro/Cuban and other latin styles. This experience had a major impact on his approach to playing bass.

Walters' first touring experience took place in the early nineties, working with celebrated San Francisco singer/songwriter Laura Chandler. Dan owes a debt of gratitude to Laura's patience and tutelage during these years, and through these experiences, he grew up quite a bit. Laura saw fit to sign him to her label, Red Cow Records, and they released two CDs: "Eternal Nerve" in 1997 and "Fortunata" in 1999.

A couple of months after the release of "Fortunata," Dan joined LFO's touring band. It was during this association that he became friends with one of the members, Brad Fischetti. When Brad formed One Eleven Records, he invited Dan to sign and, Ladies and Gentlemen, here we are.

Dan is currently playing shows with the newly reformed Nerve Band. They are also working on new material for what will be the first Nerve Band album. Look for them on tour. He also currently tours with Les Dudek, a powerhouse blues/rock guitarist.

Dan uses our WT800 and WT400 heads, powering D-410 XLT and D-210MBX cabinets. He also has a DC210XLT (Metro) combo. When asked why he uses Eden amps and speakers, Dan says enthusiastically, "I've played all the major brands. When I plugged into a WT800, I heard the sound I wanted to hear. And the tone controls were ALL FLAT! I turned the Enhance knob to 9 o'clock and that was it. The construction and durability of the amps and cabinets are also outstanding."