Post by philly on Mar 6, 2012 1:52:04 GMT -5
Interview with Dan Tyminski from Alison Krauss and Union Station
Oct 12, 2011
Markos Papadatos
Bluegrass Music Sensation Dan Tyminski - Photo Courtesy of Jimmy Abegg, used with permission.
Suite101 interview with 13-time Grammy-winning bluegrass musician Dan Tyminski from Alison Krauss and Union Station, where he talks about his music career.
On October 12, 2011, Suite101 had the unique privilege to interview one of the finest male vocalists and instrumentalists that bluegrass and country music have to offer, Mr. Dan Tyminski, from Alison Krauss and Union Station.
Dan Tyminski Talks About Bluegrass Music
On the assets of bluegrass music, Dan Tyminski remarks, “growing up, I have found it to be very accessible. The people that I liked in bluegrass, I was able to not only hear them play at festivals, but meet them and talk to them after the show. I felt the sense of community that I didn’t experience in other forms of music.”
“I have never had a point in my life, where I considered anything other than music. I knew from a very young age, around six or seven, that this is what I wanted to do. I have never veered off that line,” he reveals.
Dan notes that the hardest aspect of his profession involves “juggling home life with road life.”
Dan Tyminski Talks About Alison Krauss and Union Station
On performing as part of Alison Krauss and Union Station, Dan acknowledges “it’s still a dream of mine! When I first heard the band years ago, I was amazed, not only by the vocals, but the sound of the band and their feel for the music. There are a lot of diverse styles within the band. It’s not just bluegrass. It has country and pop flavors in it. I’ve been a huge fan of Alison’s for so long. I’m still aware of it when I take the stage that I get to be a part of something so special. I feel so lucky that I get to play with Barry, Jerry and Ron too. It’s an honor to play with people of that caliber.”
Dan Tyminski Talks About “Paper Airplane”
Regarding their latest album, Paper Airplane, Dan states, “I don’t think we were quite aware of how long it has been since we were in the studio to record this album. It was a good feeling to get together again, so we were pumped to be in the studio again. The song hunt for this record was unique. The whole recording process went well. I think I have more fun recording now than I did in the past.”
He sings lead on three tracks on Paper Airplane including “Dustbowl Children,” “Bonita and Bill Butler,” and “On the Outside Looking In.” “I am really proud of this record. I think it captures what this band is all about. I absolutely fell in love with these songs,” Dan admits.
He further reveals that his two favorite songs from this record are “Dimming of the Day” and “Dustbowl Children.”
Dan Tyminski Reveals his Proudest Professional Achievements
“One of my highlights was doing an episode of Sesame Street. There was something about that, because I was a Sesame Street baby growing up. It was a very big deal for me. We got to do a segment with the Count, who is the same man that plays the Count today, that played the character when I was a kid. It was mind-blowing to be a part of that show, since it struck a chord in me,” Dan says.
“Getting to provide for myself and my family by playing the music that I love in the first place means a lot to me,” he adds.
Additionally, Dan is a winner of 13 Grammy awards and four coveted International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)“Male Vocalist of the Year” trophies. “In the IBMAs and the Grammys, the peers acknowledge what you do and your work, and there is a different meaning to that. It is very nice to be acknowledged in that way,” he admits.
Dan Tyminski Talks About “Wheels”
“Wheels was a record that I did when Alison took some time and did an album with Robert Plant,” he says. “It opened a window for me to play with people who are not only friends, but I admire very much. It allowed me to showcase the band of guys that I travel with. It was born out of the desire to play music with those five guys.”
Particularly impressive about Dan’s Wheels album is that it received critical acclaim and praise from such country legends as Dolly Parton and Vince Gill.
Dan Tyminski Talks About His Collaborations
Regarding his dream collaborations in music, Dan acknowledges “I already get to play with the greatest female in music [Alison]. She really tops my list! I had the opportunity to sing with my favorite male singer too, Tony Rice. I was a big fan of his, since his music molded the way that I wanted to play music. I have been blessed to play with both of them. It’s a very rewarding feeling knowing that you get to play with people that influence you so heavily.”
“I love Leann Rimes,” he adds. “I think she is such a talented singer. Her voice is so great, and she is an extremely sweet person!”
In addition, Dan had the chance to sing harmony on Martina McBride’s up-tempo hit “When God Fearin’ Women Get the Blues.” “Martina is one of the special singers out there. She has abilities that go above and beyond what most people get to enjoy. She’s an amazing singer,” Dan remarks.
Dan Tyminski Talks About Dale Ann Bradley
According to Dan Tyminski, “Dale Ann Bradley is one of the sweetest people I know. She is so great. It’s been years since I’ve worked with Dale Ann. She’s had a huge impact in me. I wasn’t totally familiar with her music before I got to work with her. I remember working on some music with her, and wondering: ‘how does the whole world not know who Dale Ann is?’ She’s just great! Dale Ann is just a natural singer. When she opens her mouth, it just falls out. It is extremely easy for her. I would say the same thing about people like Larry Sparks. He could do no wrong.”
Dan Tyminski Talks About His Future Plans
“Hopefully, many more recordings and live performances with Alison Krauss and Union Station. I love the band that I play with, and I love the songs that we have been doing for so many years. Even though I know that I will do other solo material, it is a compliment to what I really love to do, which is to play with Alison. I feel that we are just getting started!” he says.
“We just about finished up the United States part of our tour. We have a couple of weeks in Europe and that, for the most part, ends our year. I definitely look forward to playing next year. I can’t wait. I love being out on the road and playing live, and it’s something that I always look forward to,” he adds.
Dan Tyminski Talks Golf
“My spare time is on a golf course. I really have a passion for golf. It’s a way that I escape everything else in life. It’s such a demanding game that there is no room for any other worries in life when you are chasing that little ball around. I’m a huge fan, and I have two sons that play with me quite a bit, and they are both great golfers. Presently, my 16-year old is beating me at it, and he is making me want to be a better golfer. It’s a sport that I love dearly!” he exclaims.
Dan Tyminski Talks About Staying Connected with Fans
On the importance of staying in touch with his fans, Dan says, “I like people. I feel that I am connected to anybody that I meet. I enjoy people, so meeting people is easy for me. It’s a part of what this job entails. If you don’t enjoy meeting new people, and being in situations like that, then it might be something that you would consider not doing. In my case, I like it very much.”
Dan Tyminski’s Advice for Hopefuls in Country and Bluegrass
“Do what you love to do for the right reasons. If you love the music and if you enjoy playing and if it satisfies you, without worrying about outside forces, that’s strong advice for me. Everybody plays for different reasons. Some people like the fame or acknowledgement of it. I grew up playing music, since it was my personal therapy. I’ve always had that inner calling to play it.”
Dan continues, “as far as becoming proficient in playing, they should never put an instrument in a case. If they are a guitar, banjo or a mandolin player, buy a little stand to set your instrument down where it is out in the open at all times. I find that when you do that and when you are walking by it, you will pick it up and play it, where sometimes you might not grab a case and open it up to take it out and play the instrument.”
“Leave your instrument out so that it will inspire you to grab it more often! If you love what you do, just spend all of your time doing it. I never considered doing anything else. It was very easy for me. Growing up, it was rare that I was at home without an instrument in my hands. If you want to be proficient at something, you just have to do it all the time, and do it because you love it.”
“Spend as much time as you can listening to live music. As much as I like the recorded side of it, for me, I have never been inspired in the same way listening to recorded music as I have going out and seeing live music. I encourage everyone to listen to as much music as they can live. It doesn’t have to be any particular style. When you see music live and in person, and you get to watch it being created, it touches you in a different way, and I don’t think there is any substitute for that.”
Dan Tyminski Defines Success
For Dan Tyminski, the word success means “feeling good about what you do, and doing it for the right reasons. I definitely don’t judge success on an income or on a fan-base. To pursue what you truly believe in, is how I defines success.”
Oct 12, 2011
Markos Papadatos
Bluegrass Music Sensation Dan Tyminski - Photo Courtesy of Jimmy Abegg, used with permission.
Suite101 interview with 13-time Grammy-winning bluegrass musician Dan Tyminski from Alison Krauss and Union Station, where he talks about his music career.
On October 12, 2011, Suite101 had the unique privilege to interview one of the finest male vocalists and instrumentalists that bluegrass and country music have to offer, Mr. Dan Tyminski, from Alison Krauss and Union Station.
Dan Tyminski Talks About Bluegrass Music
On the assets of bluegrass music, Dan Tyminski remarks, “growing up, I have found it to be very accessible. The people that I liked in bluegrass, I was able to not only hear them play at festivals, but meet them and talk to them after the show. I felt the sense of community that I didn’t experience in other forms of music.”
“I have never had a point in my life, where I considered anything other than music. I knew from a very young age, around six or seven, that this is what I wanted to do. I have never veered off that line,” he reveals.
Dan notes that the hardest aspect of his profession involves “juggling home life with road life.”
Dan Tyminski Talks About Alison Krauss and Union Station
On performing as part of Alison Krauss and Union Station, Dan acknowledges “it’s still a dream of mine! When I first heard the band years ago, I was amazed, not only by the vocals, but the sound of the band and their feel for the music. There are a lot of diverse styles within the band. It’s not just bluegrass. It has country and pop flavors in it. I’ve been a huge fan of Alison’s for so long. I’m still aware of it when I take the stage that I get to be a part of something so special. I feel so lucky that I get to play with Barry, Jerry and Ron too. It’s an honor to play with people of that caliber.”
Dan Tyminski Talks About “Paper Airplane”
Regarding their latest album, Paper Airplane, Dan states, “I don’t think we were quite aware of how long it has been since we were in the studio to record this album. It was a good feeling to get together again, so we were pumped to be in the studio again. The song hunt for this record was unique. The whole recording process went well. I think I have more fun recording now than I did in the past.”
He sings lead on three tracks on Paper Airplane including “Dustbowl Children,” “Bonita and Bill Butler,” and “On the Outside Looking In.” “I am really proud of this record. I think it captures what this band is all about. I absolutely fell in love with these songs,” Dan admits.
He further reveals that his two favorite songs from this record are “Dimming of the Day” and “Dustbowl Children.”
Dan Tyminski Reveals his Proudest Professional Achievements
“One of my highlights was doing an episode of Sesame Street. There was something about that, because I was a Sesame Street baby growing up. It was a very big deal for me. We got to do a segment with the Count, who is the same man that plays the Count today, that played the character when I was a kid. It was mind-blowing to be a part of that show, since it struck a chord in me,” Dan says.
“Getting to provide for myself and my family by playing the music that I love in the first place means a lot to me,” he adds.
Additionally, Dan is a winner of 13 Grammy awards and four coveted International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)“Male Vocalist of the Year” trophies. “In the IBMAs and the Grammys, the peers acknowledge what you do and your work, and there is a different meaning to that. It is very nice to be acknowledged in that way,” he admits.
Dan Tyminski Talks About “Wheels”
“Wheels was a record that I did when Alison took some time and did an album with Robert Plant,” he says. “It opened a window for me to play with people who are not only friends, but I admire very much. It allowed me to showcase the band of guys that I travel with. It was born out of the desire to play music with those five guys.”
Particularly impressive about Dan’s Wheels album is that it received critical acclaim and praise from such country legends as Dolly Parton and Vince Gill.
Dan Tyminski Talks About His Collaborations
Regarding his dream collaborations in music, Dan acknowledges “I already get to play with the greatest female in music [Alison]. She really tops my list! I had the opportunity to sing with my favorite male singer too, Tony Rice. I was a big fan of his, since his music molded the way that I wanted to play music. I have been blessed to play with both of them. It’s a very rewarding feeling knowing that you get to play with people that influence you so heavily.”
“I love Leann Rimes,” he adds. “I think she is such a talented singer. Her voice is so great, and she is an extremely sweet person!”
In addition, Dan had the chance to sing harmony on Martina McBride’s up-tempo hit “When God Fearin’ Women Get the Blues.” “Martina is one of the special singers out there. She has abilities that go above and beyond what most people get to enjoy. She’s an amazing singer,” Dan remarks.
Dan Tyminski Talks About Dale Ann Bradley
According to Dan Tyminski, “Dale Ann Bradley is one of the sweetest people I know. She is so great. It’s been years since I’ve worked with Dale Ann. She’s had a huge impact in me. I wasn’t totally familiar with her music before I got to work with her. I remember working on some music with her, and wondering: ‘how does the whole world not know who Dale Ann is?’ She’s just great! Dale Ann is just a natural singer. When she opens her mouth, it just falls out. It is extremely easy for her. I would say the same thing about people like Larry Sparks. He could do no wrong.”
Dan Tyminski Talks About His Future Plans
“Hopefully, many more recordings and live performances with Alison Krauss and Union Station. I love the band that I play with, and I love the songs that we have been doing for so many years. Even though I know that I will do other solo material, it is a compliment to what I really love to do, which is to play with Alison. I feel that we are just getting started!” he says.
“We just about finished up the United States part of our tour. We have a couple of weeks in Europe and that, for the most part, ends our year. I definitely look forward to playing next year. I can’t wait. I love being out on the road and playing live, and it’s something that I always look forward to,” he adds.
Dan Tyminski Talks Golf
“My spare time is on a golf course. I really have a passion for golf. It’s a way that I escape everything else in life. It’s such a demanding game that there is no room for any other worries in life when you are chasing that little ball around. I’m a huge fan, and I have two sons that play with me quite a bit, and they are both great golfers. Presently, my 16-year old is beating me at it, and he is making me want to be a better golfer. It’s a sport that I love dearly!” he exclaims.
Dan Tyminski Talks About Staying Connected with Fans
On the importance of staying in touch with his fans, Dan says, “I like people. I feel that I am connected to anybody that I meet. I enjoy people, so meeting people is easy for me. It’s a part of what this job entails. If you don’t enjoy meeting new people, and being in situations like that, then it might be something that you would consider not doing. In my case, I like it very much.”
Dan Tyminski’s Advice for Hopefuls in Country and Bluegrass
“Do what you love to do for the right reasons. If you love the music and if you enjoy playing and if it satisfies you, without worrying about outside forces, that’s strong advice for me. Everybody plays for different reasons. Some people like the fame or acknowledgement of it. I grew up playing music, since it was my personal therapy. I’ve always had that inner calling to play it.”
Dan continues, “as far as becoming proficient in playing, they should never put an instrument in a case. If they are a guitar, banjo or a mandolin player, buy a little stand to set your instrument down where it is out in the open at all times. I find that when you do that and when you are walking by it, you will pick it up and play it, where sometimes you might not grab a case and open it up to take it out and play the instrument.”
“Leave your instrument out so that it will inspire you to grab it more often! If you love what you do, just spend all of your time doing it. I never considered doing anything else. It was very easy for me. Growing up, it was rare that I was at home without an instrument in my hands. If you want to be proficient at something, you just have to do it all the time, and do it because you love it.”
“Spend as much time as you can listening to live music. As much as I like the recorded side of it, for me, I have never been inspired in the same way listening to recorded music as I have going out and seeing live music. I encourage everyone to listen to as much music as they can live. It doesn’t have to be any particular style. When you see music live and in person, and you get to watch it being created, it touches you in a different way, and I don’t think there is any substitute for that.”
Dan Tyminski Defines Success
For Dan Tyminski, the word success means “feeling good about what you do, and doing it for the right reasons. I definitely don’t judge success on an income or on a fan-base. To pursue what you truly believe in, is how I defines success.”