Dan Vickrey
{{short description|American musician (born 1966)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Dan Vickrey
| image = Counting Crows @ Ancienne Bruxelles.jpg
| caption = Vickrey, with Counting Crows in Brussels, 2008
| birth_name = Daniel Vickrey
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|8|26}}
| birth_place = Walnut Creek, California, United States
| instrument = Guitar
| genre = Rock, alternative rock, pop rock
| occupation = Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter
| years_active = 1994–current
| label =
| associated_acts = Counting Crows
| website =
}}
Daniel Vickrey (born August 26, 1966){{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=%22Dan%20Vickrey%22.%20%221966%22&pg=PA2006-IA1445 |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music - Colin Larkin - Google Books |date=May 27, 2011 |isbn=9780857125958 |accessdate=June 4, 2014|last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |publisher=Omnibus Press }} is an American musician. He has performed since 1994 as a lead guitarist in the alternative rock band Counting Crows.{{cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/ipea/A0763394.html |title=Counting Crows |publisher=Infoplease.com |date= |accessdate=June 4, 2014}} Vickrey also provides backing vocals, and is a harmonist within the band.
As co-writer of a number of hit songs with Counting Crows, Vickrey has distinguished himself as a nominee for a Grammy Award, Golden Globe Award, an Oscar, and was a winner of an award from BMI for co-writing the song "Accidentally in Love."{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1786108/awards |publisher=IMDb.com|title=Dan Vickery : Awards|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}
Early years and influences
Vickrey learned to play the guitar when he was about 11 years old with his father. Because of this, he was first influenced by his father's musical preferences. From childhood, he had listened to vinyl records belonging to his father, older brother, and sister. Albums in these collections featured Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and his sister's Bee Gees records. Vickrey's next-door neighbor introduced him to The Beatles, and Vickrey began spending time at a local guitar shop where he found a guitar teacher named Bruce Hock, a blues fanatic, who gave Vickrey a taste of some of Eric Clapton's earliest work, performing with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, which left a lasting impression on him. He joined his first band with his neighbor, Steve Bowman, and his brother.{{cite web|url=http://www.countingcrows.com/?content=bio|title=Bio Dave Vickery|work=Official Counting Crows Website|publisher= 2009 Counting Crows, LLC |accessdate=January 16, 2009}}
Counting Crows
As he matured, Vickrey continued playing with various bands, branching out into songwriting and eventually, while attending UCLA, he played his own compositions solo with acoustic guitar, in local coffee houses and small venues which included Madame Wong's and the Viper Room, (even before it had that name). After graduation from College, and a return to the San Francisco Bay Area, he was introduced to Charles Gillingham by a mutual friend, and after playing with him for a time, was surprised to find he had quit all his various musical pursuits to join a new band, Counting Crows. Vickrey was an original fan and expressed a desire to join the band if a guitarist was ever needed. In late 1993, Vickrey was asked to join after the release of their first album, August and Everything After, when the band felt they could benefit with a new lead guitarist.{{cite web|url=http://www.countingcrows.com/?content=timeline|title=Bio Timeline 1993|year=2009|work=Official Counting Crows Website|publisher= 2009 Counting Crows, LLC |accessdate=January 16, 2009}} At that point, Vickrey joined the band, performing on guitar, joining David Bryson in providing harmony and backing vocals for the band. He has performed on every album and tour since that time.
Tender Mercies
In 2011, Vickrey along with the San Francisco songwriters, guitarist Patrick Winningham, bassist Kurt Stevenson and Counting Crows drummer Jim Bogios, joined Tender Mercies to produce and release their eponymous debut album.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/tender-mercies-mw0002223492 |title=Tender Mercies - Tender Mercies | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=October 24, 2011 |accessdate=June 4, 2014}}
Personal interests
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Dan Vickrey}}
{{wikiquote}}
- {{IMDb name|id=1786108|name=Dan Vickrey}}
{{Counting Crows}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vickrey, Dan}}
Category:Counting Crows members
Category:American rock singers
Category:American male singers