Brett Dennen

Brett Michael Dennen

Brett Dennen live in concert
Background information
Born October 28, 1979
Origin Oakdale, California, United States
Genres Folk
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Guitar
Years active 2004–present
Labels Dualtone, F-Stop
Website www.brettdennen.net

Brett Michael Dennen[1] (born October 28, 1979[2][3][4][5]) is a folk/pop singer and songwriter from Northern California. His fifth studio album, Smoke and Mirrors, was released in October 2013.

Biography

As a child, Dennen was homeschooled, where he was given creative free rein by his parents. He spent much of his time learning to play music. After becoming proficient in the guitar, he started to write his own songs.[6]

Dennen attended Camp Jack Hazard, a residential summer camp, as a child and adolescent, and worked there as a counselor. He has continued to help the camp, performing at a fundraiser in February 2012 for the Jack and Buena Foundation, which now runs Camp Jack Hazard.[7] Brett's older sister and younger brother also attended the camp, and his mother has served on the board of directors of the Jack and Buena Foundation.

He attended UC Santa Cruz from 2000–2004, where he was a student at Kresge College. He led numerous anti-smoking campaigns on campus, and was instrumental in removing ash trays from building entrances.

Dennen has been a part of The Mosaic Project, a San Francisco Bay Area-based nonprofit organization, since its inception. The Mosaic Project works towards a peaceful future by uniting young children of diverse backgrounds, providing them with essential skills to thrive in an increasingly diverse society, and empowering them to strive for peace.

Musical career

In 2004, Dennen released his debut, self-titled album, Brett Dennen on a boutique indie label, Three Angels and A Saint Records, produced by Dennen & Leslie Merical. Denzyl Feigelson (of iTunes) heard Brett perform songs from this debut live in Ojai, and got hold of a burned CD, which he put in the hands of influential KCRW DJ Chris Douridas. When Douridas debuted "Desert Sunrise" on his Valentine's Day show in 2004, the response was huge, which ultimately lead to Dennen's record deal with Dualtone Records.

His second album, So Much More, includes the singles "Ain't No Reason", "She's Mine" and "Darlin' Do Not Fear".

Dennen also contributed a cover of "Private Life" to the 2006 tribute album Drink To Bones That Turn To Dust: A Toast To Oingo Boingo.

In an interview with American Songwriter magazine, Dennen acknowledged Paul Simon's significant influence on his music as well as commenting that Paul Simon's "“Graceland is my all time favorite album.”[8]

Brett opened for John Mayer on his tour in 2008.

As The Mosaic Project's Resident Rock Star, Dennen created an original musical curriculum for the program which they released as an album called Children's Songs for Peace and a Better World in 2003. It won a Children's Music Web 2004 Award[9] and a Parent's Choice 2004 Approved Award.

Dennen was named by Rolling Stone magazine as an “Artist to Watch,” and in 2008, Entertainment Weekly called him one of its eight "Guys on the Rise".[10] He has attended festivals such as the Rothbury Music Festival in Michigan, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Lyons Folk Festival, and the Mile High Music Festival in Colorado.

In 2008, Dennen, along with Jason Mraz, contributed the song "Long Road to Forgiveness" to the Survival International charity album Songs for Survival. Earlier in the fall, Dennen toured Australia with Pete Murray. In late October, Hope for the Hopeless, Dennen's third album, was released. The song "Ain't Gonna Lose You" was featured on Grey's Anatomy and topped the iTunes folk charts. The record reached number 6 in the digital charts, and was followed by a successful mini-tour.

Dennen at Newport Folk Festival 2009

On August 1, 2009, Dennen performed at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island.[11]

On October 9, 2009, Brett Dennen appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.[12]

In 2010 Dennen played at the Oulipo Ballroom in Kentucky. He played a mixture of Paul Simon covers along with unreleased tracks from his upcoming album. His fourth album, Loverboy, was released on April 12, 2011. In 2009, Dennen's song "She's Mine" was featured on the soundtrack for the movie According to Greta; in 2010, Dennen's song "Darlin' Do Not Fear" was featured on the soundtrack for the TV show Parenthood.

It was announced on July 22, 2013 that Dennen's fifth album, Smoke and Mirrors, is to be released on October 22, 2013. This news was accompanied with the first single, "Wild Child".

On October 24 "Sweet Persuasion" was featured on the TV show Parenthood. Songs "When We Were Young" and "Hard Times Come Again No More" were also used on other episodes of the drama.

"Comeback Kid (That's My Dog)" is the theme song on the new NBC comedy, About A Boy.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Live albums and EPs

Singles

Other contributions

References

  1. ↑ "California Births, 1905 - 1995". Familytreelegends.com. 1979-10-28. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  2. ↑ Harris, Lauren (2007-03-03). "The User's Guide: Brett Dennen". VH1. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  3. ↑ "Brett Dennen – Free listening, concerts, stats, & pictures at". Last.fm. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  4. ↑ "Brett Dennen". Rhapsody. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  5. ↑ "Brett Dennen Biography". Starpulse.com. 1979-10-28. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  6. ↑ "Dennen, Brett". Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Oxford Music Online. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Brown, Patrick. "Bay Area nonprofit fights to keep camp alive". Bay Area News Group. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  8. ↑ Evan Schlansky (June 4, 2012). "Watch Brett Dennen Perform "Crazy Love, Vol. II" Off Paul Simon’s Graceland". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 2012-06-05. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  9. ↑ "Announcing The Children's Music Web Awards 2004 Winners". Childrensmusic.org. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  10. ↑ Greenblatt, Leah (May 21, 2008). "Guys on the Rise: 8 Emerging Singer-Songwriters". Entertainment Weekly.
  11. ↑ "Brett Dennen: Newport Folk Festival 2009". Npr.org. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  12. ↑ The New York Times. 9 October 2009 http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy2.library.arizona.edu/docview/1030653525/29F45D421F0C4E99PQ/1?accountid=8360. Retrieved 8 April 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on June 20, 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brett Dennen.