Danny Willis

Typical Gig Duration: 30 -180 minutes

I sing and accompany myself on ukulele, banjo, and guitar. My show is a self-contained reminiscence of the Golden Age of American popular musical entertainment, including the ragtime years, the jazz age, the swing era, and even my own unique interpretation of early rock 'n' roll and classic country. I can perform completely acoustic in a small room where the audience is there specifically to see and hear the performance. I can also perform completely acoustic in smaller or more intimate outdoor settings. In larger rooms and noisier venues, I sing and play acoustic instruments with microphones and an amplifier.

Every show is very high-energy & sure to entertain!!

I’ve been singing and playing music in the Americana genre for several decades, back before Americana was cool. My life as a vocalist, instrumentalist, music historian, record collector, and DJ has given me a something of a musical diversity training encompassing many facets of American music, including vaudeville, swing, classical, traditional country, klezmer, and more.

I can perform for any length of time from five minutes to three hours. Having played everywhere from street performances to restaurants to 1,500 seat auditoriums, I can perform a family-friendly vaudeville-style cabaret show with comedy and audience interaction or I can provide musical ambiance. I have an evening’s worth of musical entertainment suitable for private parties, cafes, cabarets, restaurants, bars, fairs, outdoor festivals, etc. While the majority of my material is suitable for all audiences and age groups, I can perform a few delicately spicy songs in the Sophie Tucker tradition for appropriate audiences and occasions.

My musical adventures have included performances with Vince Giordano And The Nighthawks (Grammy award-winner for HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" soundtrack), The Delta Queen Steamboat Company of New Orleans, Les Paul (some guy who was apparently named after a famous Gibson guitar), Chuck Barris Productions in Hollywood (no, it wasn’t “The Gong Show”), as well as performing at the 75th Anniversary of Grand Central Station and the Statue Of Liberty Centennial Celebration.

My television appearances include Virginia Currents (Richmond, Virginia), The Joe Franklin Show (New York City), and The Uncle Floyd Show (New York City).

If amplification is required and your venue has a house audio system with two microphones and stands that I may use, so much the better. Otherwise, I'll require grounded outlets and firm ground for my amp and microphones.