Dan Hartman | |
---|---|
Birth name | Daniel Earl Hartman |
Born |
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States |
December 8, 1950
Died | March 22, 1994 Westport, Connecticut, United States |
(aged 43)
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, record producer |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass guitar |
Years active | 1963–1994 |
Labels | Blue Sky, MCA |
Associated acts | Edgar Winter Group, 3V, KC & the Sunshine Band |
Daniel Earl "Dan" Hartman (December 8, 1950 – March 22, 1994) was an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. Among songs he wrote and recorded were "Free Ride" with The Edgar Winter Group, and the solo hits "Instant Replay", "I Can Dream About You", "We Are the Young" and "Second Nature". "I Can Dream About You", his most successful song, reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984. The James Brown song "Living in America", which Hartman co-wrote and produced, was even more successful, reaching #4 in 1985.
Hartman was born near Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg, in West Hanover Township, Dauphin County. He joined his first band, The Legends, at the age of 13. His brother Dave was also a member of the band. He played keyboards and wrote much of the band's music, but despite the release of a number of recordings, none turned out to be hits. He subsequently spent a period of time backing the Johnny Winter Band. He then joined the Edgar Winter Group (Edgar Winter was Johnny Winter's younger brother), where he played bass, wrote or co-wrote many of their songs, and sang on three of their albums. He wrote and sang the band's second biggest pop hit, "Free Ride", in 1972. The ballad "Autumn" on Edgar's LP They Only Come Out at Night was a regional radio hit in New England. Upon launching a solo career in 1976, he released a promotional album titled Who Is Dan Hartman and Why Is Everyone Saying Wonderful Things About Him?. It was a compilation disc including songs from Johnny Winter and the Edgar Winter Group. His second release, Images, was his first true album and featured ex-Edgar Winter Group members Edgar Winter, Ronnie Montrose and Rick Derringer and guests Clarence Clemons and Randy Brecker.