Dan Zanes – Granite Rooted Rocker

Above: Photo by Brian How

He made his mark in the 1980s as a bandmate in the Del Fuegos (named best new band of 1984 by Rolling Stone Magazine) but like many of that era he’s grown a bit more domestic in the 21st Century. He spun off into the new genre of kid-oriented roots and rock music and became a bona fide superstar with the youngsters. His latest CD, “Dan Zanes and Friends: Catch That Train,” won the 2007 Grammy for Best Children’s Album. Dan lives part-time near Concord and is sometimes seen helping his mom feed the hungry and down-and-out at the Capitol City’s “Friendly Kitchen.” His social conscience also found expression in a recent CD of rockers playing to bring awareness and assistance to the homeless: “Give Us Your Poor.” www.giveusyourpoor.org