While Jerry may have been born in Iowa, his roots are clearly imbedded in Santa Clarita, moving here in the early 1970’s, attending Arroyo Seco Junior High, Hart High School, College of the Canyons and California Institute of the Arts.
It was at an early age when Jerry discovered his love for music, which eventually developed into a successful and talented lifelong career. “Somehow, music just seemed to speak with me in a certain way.”
Captivated by the Beatles, King Crimson, Stravinsky, Elfman, and Frank Zappa, Jerry would often lock himself in his room and listen to music when friends wanted to hang out. “I would play guitar in my car for my lunch break instead of eating,” states Jerry. “As soon as I got involved in music, I knew this was what I wanted to do.”
Jerry began playing guitar and bass, singing and writing songs as a teenager. You could often see him around the SCV playing in the battle of the bands or at non-profit events to support organizations such as LARC Ranch. In the early 80’s, Jerry and his friends started a poetry group, The Santa Clarita Poets, where they would do poetry readings in Newhall and oftentimes, many guests would come to listen. Three and a half decades later and the group still meets and conducts poetry readings throughout the town.
Continuing his education and love for the arts, Jerry attended the Sound Master Audio-Video Institute where he began recording his own music. “I incorporated much of my music into multimedia shows featuring my own poetry,” states Jerry. Jerry is a founding editor of Vol. No. Poetry Magazine and Los Angeles Poets’ Press. These opportunities have exposed Jerry’s music to thousands of people.
Over the years, the talented artist has composed music for film and television, theatre, contemporary classical works, jazz, commercial, experimental as well as music for electronic instruments and traditional orchestras. In the mid 1980’s he was a production assistant for Romeo Void and Animotion rock videos while composing, conducting and performing a wide range of music for various exciting events including Los Angeles Street Scene, The Roxy, The Whisky, FM Station, LACMA, 1984 Olympic Arts Festival, Children’s Museum to name a few. Jerry’s interest in movie soundtracks expanded his career even more, having completed a few scores for The Visitant, Final Destination Unknown, Body Politic and Obliteration. Jerry also had the honor of performing and working with composer John Cage. Music: Just Add Film is his most recent collection of music, recorded and produced at his recording studio in Santa Clarita…Busy Signal Studios, which began in 1984. “I knew I wanted to record myself,” states Jerry, “But I wanted to be able to have a central location and work unrestrained as a composer/producer and recording engineer.” 
Jerry has since completed the composition and recording for more films and documentary scores including Maps to the Stars’ Graves, The Jack LaLanne Special, and Graffiti Verite 6: The Odyssey and Masquerade, That Little Monster and Sunyata, to name a few. Jerry has also worked extensively as a studio musician-arranger and recorded with Grammy winner Francis Buckley and played, performed and recorded with members from Frank Zappa’s band, Oingo Boingo, Trapt, Cold, and Finger Eleven. “I’ve also recorded for my son’s band, Smile Empty Soul,” states Jerry. Sean Danielsen is the front man for Gold Record artists Smile Empty Soul.
The Santa Clarita resident continues to record and write and also share his love for the art with his students, teaching guitar, piano, bass, singing and drums. “It’s really rewarding to see my students go on to be successful in music,” states Jerry. “A lot of local bands have recorded here and gone on to tour Europe. I want to be able to use what I know and give them guidance on how to interact in the music industry, if they’re serious about moving forward.”
Jerry recently finished another book of poetry titled Background Noise, which is available on Amazon. As of last month, Jerry was hired by Pirromount and will be composing the original music for their upcoming suspense/thriller, Rage of Innocence, starring Stef Dawson and John McCafferty.
A composer, performer, producer, indterdisciplinary artist, poet and educator, Jerry’s extensive career continues to thrive, building on his own unique path, growing and expanding as an artist. “It’s about believing in yourself, and never quitting.”
To learn more about Jerry Danielsen or to see a list of complete credits, visit www.jerrydanielsen.com or follow him on Facebook. For more information about Busy Signal Studios, visit www.busysignalstudios.com or like their page on Facebook. To purchase Background Noise, visit Amazon.com.
photos by Joie de Vivre photographie |
|
