Reader Spotlight: Dan Daugherty

Meet Dan Daugherty, who originally started on guitar but quickly switched to bass. Dan has had quite the musical journey and a major obstacle along the way.

Dan is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight (you could be next). His is an inspiring story.

Bio:

I started playing bass at 14, having started on guitar at 13. I am a published songwriter with ATV Music, signed in 1983. I studied upright at Ball State University with Dr. Phillip Allbright.

I’ve played rock, jazz, country, blues, as well as casuals from church band gigs to bar mitzvahs, Polish anniversary parties, and hippie weddings in the park.

In 2016, I was run over by a hit-and-run driver, crushing my left arm (over 30 breaks between the shoulder and the wrist). I recovered to play again.

Location:

Anderson, Indiana

Years experience:

I’m 68, started playing bass at 14. So, dot the i’s, carry the decimal point… um, 54 years…

Why I play the bass:

I liked the bass parts on songs on Top 40 radio.

Gear:

• 1963 Fender Precision, 82 MIJ Squier Precision, 1999 Jerry Jones Longhorn, Supro Huntington I
• 1960’s Anton Schroetter upright (same as Major Holley)
• Peavey Mini Max 600 amp, Peavey 210 TX cab, Genz Benz Intro 50 1×12 combo

My Influences:

Jack Bruce, Lee Sklar, Joey Spampinato, Joe Osborne, Carol Kaye, Ron Carter, Richard Davis, Ray Brown… too many others to list.

My bass superpower/claim to fame:

I broke 2 strings on a borrowed bass, on the first song, the first set, the first night, of the first bar gig I ever played (when I was 17). That should have been an omen!

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