guitar man
by Laura Hoover
Every Sunday night, for as long as John Danaher can remember, his aunts, uncles and cousins would come to his Levittown home. The evening would start with an episode of Lassie, and The Ed Sullivan Show, and then the family, all Mummers, would move into the living room and play late into the night.
“My mother was the piano player. My cousins played the banjo and sax. We were supposed to go to bed. We would hide upstairs,” said Danaher of himself and three siblings. “We were introduced to a lot of cool music. It was a ritual and it really ingrained in me that people can come together and make an incredible night of music.”
A longtime singer-songwriter and producer, Danaher will bring some of his expertise to the Lambertville-New Hope WinterFestival, slated for January I19-27, 2019 held throughout both towns. The festival’s benefit concert and VIP reception, now at the New Hope Winery, will feature Peter Asher, of the 60s pop duo Peter & Gordon, and Jeremy Clyde of English duo Chad & Jeremy. “It promises to be a really good show,” Danaher said.
Danaher’s musical influences started early. His mother was the choir director for Immaculate Conception Church in Levittown and produced shows for the neighborhood kids. His father was an engineer and president of the Catholic Youth Organization. Danaher started singing in the choir when he was seven years old. “I couldn’t get away from anything,” he joked.
In addition to the church, he was deeply influenced by his grandfather who played with Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians, of big-band era fame. His grandfather was also the house piano player at The Buck Hotel in the 20s and 30s.
“He was the first one to show me piano chords. He was very patient with me, “Danaher said. “I believe he supported my mother’s family during the Depression.”
After spending a few years at Temple University studying drug counseling, he moved on to Bucks County Community College. “I got a grant and a loan and a job in the same day.”
He worked in the theater department as a production assistant and took classes in TV, film, music and theater. He worked on and off for 10 years, taking time off for both family and to tour with bands, including The Dixie Dregs, The Doobie Brothers and Jefferson Airplane, tuning guitars.
In the mid-90s, he traveled to Europe with his own band, “The Quietmen,” the name influenced by the 1952 John Wayne movie, “The Quiet Man.” He later played guitar with The Toni Brown Band. Brown lived in New Hope and published Relix Magazine. Over the years, he has share the stage with Arlo Guthrie, Bela Fleck, Derek Trucks and Jimmy Webb. He later went on a world tour with legendary sax player Grover Washington Jr. “I wear that very proudly. He was one of my best friends,” he said.
Danaher said he always had a sense he’d live a life of music. He emceed his 40th high school reunion at Central Bucks East and contemplated his career. “My first day of 12th grade, (my teacher) made us write a paper where we were going to be in 40 years. I wrote, ‘I’m going to be playing music and touring.’”
Despite being around musicians his whole life and having passion for his work, Danaher said his path has been rather serendipitous. “I never put any energy into making it happen. I didn’t have vision. This is my career. It’s just something I did. I couldn’t have planned it out. Every tour was by a hair, by talking to someone at the right time and the right place. You have to be good at what you do. But the opportunity has to be there so you can apply yourself. The universe put that into place.”
The WinterFestival is now in its 22nd year. Danaher remembers being “hijacked,” by a board member when planning for the festival first started and there were some problems with contracts and artists. In 2018, the concert moved from the auditorium of C.B. East, which was under construction, to a new venue, the New Hope Winery. While losing 250 seats, the change in venue saved more than $6,000 in production costs, Danaher said. “Every penny goes back into WinterFestival,” he said.
Hosted by the non-profit organization Twin Rivertown Projects, Inc., the festival benefits Fisherman’s Mark Social Services, –a non-profit social service agency providing assistance in education, employment, nutrition and life skills, among other organizations.
“The concert creates community. That’s a given,” Danaher said. “You are doing it for a good cause. It's the end of January and everyone is catching their breath from the holidays. We do get a great turnout. We work our butts off.”
Some mornings, Danaher wakes up at 4 a.m. to play guitar. His historic house sits on six acres near Pineville outside of New Hope. His three-room carriage house is littered with antiques, instruments and equipment. He’s up to 20 guitars and never stops looking for more. “Some people buy wine. I buy guitars,” he said.
Danaher, who has also served president of the New Hope Chamber of Commerce and has been active in many civic organizations, is working on a new album, planning for a release and European tour in 20I9. While still trying to figure out the landscape of how to sell music, the composition is the easy part. “I’ve always got something arranging in my head. I write everything in my head first. There’s one delivery,” he said.
Despite having traveled all over the world, he will continue to call New Hope home. His family, the community and the history of the area keep him here. “Our history brought us here. If you can’t respect that, you’re clueless.”
Laura Hoover is a freelance writer who lives in Doylestown. She and her husband are parents to three boys, a very patient dog and many plants.