Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Update From Here

All clear. 

See you on the road again soon.

Play it loud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsuF2tKilBo&list=RD8soQkubMk1g&index=5

-Daniel

April 22, 2026

Sunday, April 19, 2026

The News From Here, April 19, 2026

 This is a post unlike anyone I’ve done before, for an adventure I’ve never had before.

Over the last two weeks, I nearly died.

I started feeling awful while in Ohio, during an appearance on a radio show in Columbus. After being in and out of a hospital for three days, they found the issue. One of my kidneys was going bad, despite having no family history with this. They patched me up so I could go home, and I mapped out what I thought the next few weeks would look like, even shooting a couple of events after  I returned to Charlotte.

On Monday morning, things got worse quickly, and I was back in the hospital. I did a podcast on Monday from my hospital bed, promoting the new Harpo Marx record I co-produced. I tried to stay stoic, but the reality of the moment literally surrounded me.

After three difficult days, they performed emergency surgery on me. By Friday afternoon, I was home. For now, all clear. Exhausted, physically and mentally, but how much better I already feel is a very good sign. On Saturday, I interviewed a musician that I've been wanting to talk to for twenty-six years. For a couple of hours, I felt like me again.

How did this happen? Why am I still here? I don’t know. I looked for my mom’s parents all week, waiting for them to tell me that it was time to come home. Somehow, some way, I’m still here. 

Yesterday morning, I listened to the Casey Kasem countdown from April of 1971. You don’t know how much emotion you have welled up inside you, until it all comes out. “What Is Life”, “For All We Know”, and Bread’s “If” played, and something inside of me let go. The number one song? “Joy To The World”. Oh well, why not? Much like life, it doesn’t make sense, but hopefully it keeps you going.

The last two weeks have been an adventure. Hopefully, that part of the ride is done with me, at least for now. I still have things I want to do.

Let me pause here to say thank you to all of you, here and on the Great Highway, for being part of the journey to this moment. From the kids at St. Patrick’s School, to the days at Independence High School, Tangents Magazine, and all the photos, musicians and journeys in-between, I loved the adventure. You made me want to write about it, photograph it, archive it, produce it. My heart is in what I do, and usually hiding slightly behind the camera.

That said, there is apparently more to do, and I still have things I want to do. So, let's go there.

On to the next adventure.

Where are you going, boy? Let’s find out.

See you on the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9hl1XW-N3s&list=RD-9hl1XW-N3s&start_radio=1

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Harpo Speaks! The Riverside Symphony Concert, Out June 5th

 https://youtu.be/g6A_sUT13lM?si=O_EJ_qRU4GN3vO35


-Daniel

April 1, 2026

April Fool, No Fool

 Surprise! I co-produced the new Paul McCartney album.

April fool.
I actually co-produced the first ever Harpo Marx live album.
Really.
Honk Honk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6A_sUT13lM

-Daniel
April 1, 2026

Recent Photos And Upcoming Events

 The last couple of weeks. Yeah.

Photos of several galas, several concerts, designing artwork for new singles for the Strawberry Alarm Clock and the Cyrkle, prepping for the Cyrkle's Revival album on vinyl (coming in July), working with Shawn Lynch on the artwork for the new Strawberry Alarm Clock record (coming later this year), prepping for the announcement of my next record production. And more. So much more.
After 35 years away, I returned to Independence High last week to see the current Playmakers take the stage. Long ago, that theater was a big part of my life. As they say, nothing has changed, and everything has changed. It was nice to return for a moment, make peace with the past, and know that the space still means something to those who inhabit it now.
RIP to Chip Taylor (the first musician I met in Austin, TX when I first visited the city in 2002), Augie Meyers, Jon Dee Graham, Wayne Jernigan, and several others on the Great Highway.
If you are at the Big Star Quintet show tomorrow night at the , come by and say hello. Per usual, I'll be lurking in the corners.
Stand by for news. Honk Honk.
See you there, and see you on the road.

-Daniel
April 1, 2026

RIP Wayne Jernigan

RIP Wayne Jernigan, the man behind the beautiful dream that was, and will always be Reflection Studios. Every visit and opportunity to take photos there was a joy, as was talking to Wayne. May the man, and the music that he loved live forever.

Thank you Wayne. See you in the stars.

-Daniel

March 29, 2026