Dan Vickrey
Encyclopedia
Daniel Vickrey is an American
musician
. He has performed since 1994 as a lead guitarist in the alternative rock band
, Counting Crows
. 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
."
, Willie Nelson
, Frank Sinatra
, Stevie Wonder
, Lynyrd Skynyrd
, and his sister's Bee Gee's records. Vickrey's next-door neighbor introduced him to The Beatles
, and Dan began spending time at a local guitar shop where he found a music teacher 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.
, 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 goodly amount of 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. At that point, Vickrey joined the band, performing on guitar, joining David Bryson in providing harmony and backing vocals for the band, one of the trademarks of the band's sound. He has performed on every album and tour since that time.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He has performed since 1994 as a lead guitarist in the alternative rock band
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
. Vickrey also provides backing vocals, and is a harmonist
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
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
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
, Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Award
The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
, an Oscar, and was a winner of an award from BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
for co-writing the song, "Accidentally in Love
Accidentally in Love
"Accidentally in Love" is a Pop song performed by Counting Crows. It was featured in the Shrek 2 movie soundtrack and released in 2004. The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song. This song is included in the music game Lego Rock Band....
."
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 SpringsteenBruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
, Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
, and his sister's Bee Gee's records. Vickrey's next-door neighbor introduced him to The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, and Dan began spending time at a local guitar shop where he found a music teacher who gave Vickrey a taste of some of Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
's earliest work, performing with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers are a pioneering English blues band, led by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist John Mayall, OBE. Mayall used the band name between 1963 and 1967, but then dropped it for some fifteen years. However, in 1982 a 'Return of the Bluesbreakers' was announced and...
, which left a lasting impression on him. He joined his first band with his neighbor, Steve Bowman
Steve Bowman
Steve Bowman is an American rock drummer and songwriter. He was a founding member and drummer for the Counting Crows during the recording and period of time following their debut album, August and Everything After. The band's unexpected success led them to performancess on Late Night with David...
, and his brother.
Joining 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 guitarAcoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, in local coffee houses and small venues which included Madame Wong's and the Viper Room
Viper Room
The Viper Room is a nightclub located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. It was opened in 1993 and was partly owned by actor Johnny Depp until 2004. The club became known for being a hangout of Hollywood elite, and was the site where actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose on...
, (even before it had that name). After graduation from College, and a return to the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, he was introduced to Charles Gillingham by a mutual friend, and after playing with him for a goodly amount of time, was surprised to find he had quit all his various musical pursuits to join a new band, Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
. 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
August and Everything After
August and Everything After is the first commercially released album of the American rock band Counting Crows, released September 14, 1993....
, when the band felt they could benefit with a new lead guitarist. At that point, Vickrey joined the band, performing on guitar, joining David Bryson in providing harmony and backing vocals for the band, one of the trademarks of the band's sound. He has performed on every album and tour since that time.