John Danaher

John was born in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. Although the family moved several times during his childhood (ending up in Lower Bucks) John was always surrounded by music. John's grandfather played piano for Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians, the famous big band orchestra of the 20s and 30s, and later in life was the house pianist for the Buck Hotel in Southampton.
John also had cousins and uncles who were Mummers.
A nurse by profession, his mother wrote music and was a piano teacher and choir director. In her spare time, she brought the neighborhood kids together to perform in elaborate musical productions which she produced. Every Sunday, the family had a "massive jam session." John sang in the church choir and/or school chorus all through his school years.
When John was 16, he and his buddies came to New Hope to hang out. These were the times when it was common to find musicians playing on the streets and on the church steps of the Methodist Church (now Marsha Browns.)
During his early twenties, John took music and theater classes and worked in the theater department at Bucks County Community College. He also worked for several music and productions companies developing good connections within the music and band industry.
John performed at local venues, mostly playing guitar and singing solo or with a small group. In 1977 John had the opportunity to perform solo in front of an audience of 3,000
at the Bucks County Folk Song Festival.
In 1980 John moved to New Hope after returning from a two month tour
with the Dixie Dregs and the Doobie Brothers bands.
In 1981 having relocated part-time to Santa Cruz, CA. he worked up and down the West Coast, gaining more valuable experience playing music and in production.
Hollywood and San Francisco were real "eye openers."
In 1982 John went back on tour with a number of bands, including: Huey Lewis and the News, Graham Parker, BB King, Jefferson Airplane, and Grover Washington, Jr. All the time he was on the road, John was fine tuning his own guitar playing. "It was a real good education."
From 1994 to 1995 he headlined in Finland as Acoustic Merge
featuring violinist Billy Dominick & Eric Aceto.
Calling New Hope his home he continues to play, teach and produce
concerts, festivals and community events in the tri-state area and beyond.
He performs both solo and with The Quietmen, Acoustic Merge,
The Bush Pilots & The Goat Hill Boys.
He is currently working on a CD scheduled for a summer/fall 2010 release.