Danny Tate is an award-winning American musician, songwriter, composer, producer, and former Virgin Records recording artist, best known for penning songs covered by Jeff Healey, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tim McGraw, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Smithereens, Diesel, Nelson, David Lee Murphy, Billy Ray Cyrus, Doro Pesch, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Patti LaBelle, Carla Olson, Danny Wilde and many others.
Most notably, Tate won the NSAI Rock Song of the Year award for 1998, 1999 and 2000. His start came when he co-wrote the 1983 multi-platinum hit, "Affair of the Heart", by Rick Springfield. He released three solo albums, Danny Tate Charisma/Virgin (1992), Nobody's Perfect Charisma/Virgin (1995), and Destination X Noville Records (2005), meeting limited success and continued his career writing songs, composing for television shows, (Extra!, Entertainment Tonight, The Tyra Banks Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show) and contributing to the film soundtracks of 3000 Miles to Graceland, Boys Don't Cry, and How to Make an American Quilt.
Danny Tate was born on November 10, 1955 to David Munroe Tate, Jr. and Hazel Ella Tate in Beaumont, Texas. At 6 years old, Tate's family moved to Camden, Arkansas where his father, a music minister, accepted a position at a new church. There, he spent his formative years absorbing the musical and religious influences of a classic small town setting. In 1974, Tate left home to attend college, where he studied under the renowned composer and conductor, William Francis McBeth. Tate graduated Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities and is a member of Mensa. In 1989 Governor Bill Clinton appointed Tate "Arkansas Traveler"-Ambassador of Good Will.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory and Composition in 1978, Tate found work as a solo performer for the High School Assembly Service out of Chicago, Illinois. Touring continuously on a grueling schedule, Tate performed a combination of popular radio hits, his own songs, and told stories in a one-man show designed for High School students. From 1978 to 1980, Tate performed 600 shows in 3 semesters and had the most successful ratings and sales in the Service's 50-year history.
Later in 1980, Tate moved to Nashville with intentions of making a name for himself in the music industry. His big break came when a friend cornered Rick Springfield in a club restroom and handed him a cassette tape of Tate's song "Affair of the Heart." Tate wrote off the exchange as an impossible probability until he received a phone call from Springfield's manager, who requested the use of the song. Affair of the Heart peaked at #9 on Billboard charts, the album Living in Oz sold multi-platinum, and the song was nominated for a Grammy (losing to Michael Jackson's "Beat it").
Riding on his success, Tate moved to Los Angeles where he felt his talents would be more profitable as a pop/rock songwriter. He then embarked on a solo career releasing Danny Tate (1992), Nobody’s Perfect (1995) [followed up with the "Dreamin'" tour featuring Danny Johnson formerly with Rick Derringer, Rod Stewart and the Troggs, on guitar, and Destination X (2005). In 2005, Tate also released a Christmas Single entitled, "Wonder what Jesus thinks about Christmas," offering a clever and unexpected examination of the Christmas holiday.
In his solo show, Tate not only sings, plays guitar and piano, but tells captivating stories of growing up in the Bible Belt and the unique point of view developed from the journey of a wandering minstrel.
“Only an artist of rare talent, intelligence, and instinct could achieve the kind of lasting success that Tate has enjoyed"—Vincent Jeffries (VH1.com)
