"Songs that combine foot-tapping melodies with intelligent lyrics" ... Gannet Newspapers
It has been said that if Tom Lehrer, Shel Silverstein, Sting, Joe Cocker and James Taylor all had a kid together, it
would be Dan.
This piano-playing singer/songwriter writes some of the cleverest, most insightful music on the folk scene.
Pelletier’s passionate performances have made him a rising star on the national folk scene. His soulful voice can at turns be powerful and gritty, or tender and emotive. He never fails to delight audiences with his wit and
tenderness, and his shows feature just the right touch of irony tempered by warmth, realistic idealism and a
passion for life, love and the pursuit of happiness. Dan has been drawing raves and winning awards around the
country, and has performed at some of the most prestigious folk festivals and venues. He has brought audiences
to peals of laughter, the verge of tears, and to the understanding that music can mean something and still be
enormously entertaining. Listen to Dan’s music and find out what everyone’s so excited about. This is truly a
special songwriter and an extraordinary performer.
Dan’s festival appearances have included the Kerrville Folk Festival, South Florida Folk Festival, Cottonwood
Festival, Summerfest, Clearwater Festival and the Greenwich Folk Festival. He has won the USA Songwriting
Competition (1st prize for lyrics, 3rd prize overall), Plowshares Songwriting Contest, South Florida Folk Festival
Performing Songwriter Contest, Rose Garden Coffeehouse Performing Songwriter Contest and the first prize in
the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest – Folk Category.
Dan Pelletier’s debut album, “Mr. Sunshine”, combines his soulful voice and poignant and witty lyrics with some
of Woodstock's top musicians, including: John Sebastian (harmonica), Jay Ungar (fiddle), Bill Keith (banjo),
Larry Hoppen (Hammond organ), and Sloan Wainwright & Reggie Harris (backing vocals).
Picking up where "Mr. Sunshine" left off, Dan continues to write songs that hold a mirror up to the emotions of
real life in an enormously entertaining manner. Whether it's a humorous take on the "material fallout" of splitting
up ("You & Me, Cat"), a wry look at true love & the magic of tipsy Christmas ("Christmas Eve, Lakeside Topless
Revue"), or the soulless way the computer age reflects our personal lives ("Credit Report"), Dan taps into the
heart of a situation and sets it to music in a way that hangs on and doesn't let go. The next best thing to seeing
him perform live, this CD includes the award-winning spoken poem (a la "Casey At The Bat") entitled "Baddest
Of All (Love Conquers)".
Songs from both of Dan’s CD releases, “Mr. Sunshine” and “Wild Heart Rodeo” have been played on radio
stations across the country.
