Danny Strimer and Alan Miller cowrote the songs for
David Grapes' new production "Land Of Dream"
A Nashville Musician's Association – Local 257 AFM member, he's released a new album, DANNY STRIMER - NEW LOVE SONGS - BOSSA NOVA & BEYOND, in 2020 — cowritten with Alan L. Miller — which is original Bossa Nova infused, Great American Songbook inspired, guitar driven, World-Beat, Jazz Pop, romantic vocal music with timeless lyrics.
Strimer has written and published songs with Cherry Lane Music and Leiber And Stoller. His Garth Brooks and Lena Arice Lucas Western Swing co-write, CRAZY OLE MOON, was recorded by Farmer's Daughter and Patti Page. He charted nationally on Billboard Country with Jill Jordan's cut of CALENDAR BLUES.
Alan Miller is Danny Strimer's partner in Miller's Tale Music
In 2010, Danny – along with lifelong friend and collaborator Alan L. Miller – started Miller's Tale Music, a publishing company based in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. They are currently involved in songwriting, music publishing and artist development – working with established and emerging recording artists. Their venture has recently benefited from Alan's prolific songwriting. His song – cowritten with Rick Trevino – I AM A MEXICAN is included on the 61st Grammys nominated album CRUZANDO BORDERS by Los Texmaniacs, 5 songs on The Maverick's album HEY! MERRY CHRISTMAS!, the Grammy nominated song I WISH YOU WELL is among the 9 songs Alan cowrote on The Mavericks' 60th Grammys nominated album BRAND NEW DAY, 3 songs on The Mavericks' 58th Grammys nominated album MONO, 7 songs on The Mavericks' releases, ALL NIGHT LIVE, and multiple songs on Rick Trevino's upcoming album LONG COYOTE GONE.
Danny and Alan's recently collaborated to write 10 Latin-inspired songs for a David Grapes musical theater production – an adaptation of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," renamed "Land of Dreams," that is now available for licensing.
Danny Strimer, age 18, with his band "Sharus," 1972
Danny Strimer's career as a professional musician began at age 15 as a guitarist in West Virginia R & B clubs, backing the likes of The Drifters, Spyder Turner and Dee Clark. He was lead guitarist, background vocalist and MC in Brenda Lee’s band, The Casuals.
Danny Strimer (left) in Brenda Lee's band The Casuals
Graduating cum laude from NYU's Steinhardt School (Music/Recording Technology), Danny worked in NYC as an actor under directors Gerald Freedman in GONE WITH HARDY and Alex Dmitriev in Hugh Leonards's ALL THE NICE PEOPLE. He composed a musical score with Walker Steady for the Leon Felder Dance Company that was performed at Linclon Center's Outdoor Salute to The Dance and other venues.
Pino Squillace
In the arrangements we created, Pino took his styling cues directly from my mannerisms as a guitarist and performer and blended them with his knowledge of rhythm. The icing on the cake was Pino’s engineering coupled with his natural ability to groove on a song.
I have to admit, it felt like a stretch at times, but at this point, the vibey, ambient, live sound of my album feels just right."
Danny Strimer
Some of my tunes for my album "New Love Songs," are featured – with different arrangements and settings – in “Land of Dreams – An Adaptation Of A Midsummer Nights Dream” by William Shakespeare, directed by David Grapes, that had its world premiere in 2017. Plans are ongoing to secure future productions starting in 2020.
I met my coproducer, Pino Squillace, by chance one night while listening to Sweet Lizzie Project at City Winery in Nashville, Tennessee. At the bar, between sets, we struck up a conversation. By the end of the evening, we decided to get together so I could play him some songs. Soon after we got together to jam. The chemistry felt right.
Alan Miller and Danny Strimer
For me to be able to write songs in the “realm of jazz” takes a lot of help from a whole team of people. First, I am eternally grateful to Alan Miller, my brilliant, 2018 Grammy-nominated songwriting partner of 37 years, who penned the incredible lyrics for all 10 songs. Assisting on one song each were my wife, Lena, and the fabulous Raul Malo.
Each song began on staff paper as a pencil sketch melody with chords. After my first drafts, jazz guitarist Mel Deal helped with the transcriptions. Then, jazz singer and arranger extraordinaire Jeff Hall constructed the lead sheets, and guitar virtuoso James DaSilva expanded the songs into full-blown rhythm charts. With these arrangements, I can play live with other musicians. I plan to tour the world playing this music in the months and years to come.
"I have always had a love of pop music for as long as I can remember. It started with hot summer nights, and no AC in the bedroom I shared with my three brothers, Rich, Mike, and John. I’d fall asleep to the sound of the radio on the window sill, tuned to WLS (Dick Biondi) or WABC (Cousin Brucie).
Danny with his sister Nancy making music together, 1960s
When I picked up the guitar (originally bought by my parents for my brother Mike), I began learning Peter, Paul and Mary songs, then Beatles tunes and eventually, my guitar teacher, Jeff Thurston, taught me “The Girl From Ipanema.” Winning the talent show in 8th grade – playing that song – put me on the path toward professional music. It wasn’t until recently, though, after delving into Bossa Nova and Samba songwriting, that I realized I had come full circle.
After doing a good amount of writing and performing pop and country songs (thank you, my wonderful wife, Lena Arice Lucas, for sharing that Garth Brooks co-write with me!), I have spent the last 15 years studying jazz with private teachers and in classes at the Nashville Jazz Workshop. Through the songwriting classes I took with Lori Mechem there, I was finally able to begin putting it all together for composing in classic song forms like Bossa Nova and Great American Songbook.
Some words from Randy Poe
President Leiber Stoller Songs, Inc.
"I’ve known Danny Strimer since we were both in our twenties. Considering my long-standing membership in AARP, suffice to say we’ve known each other for a few decades.
Over those many years, I’ve had the privilege of watching him grow as a songwriter and performer. Truth be told, I met Danny and his long-time songwriting partner, Alan Miller, on the very same day all those years ago. Lest anyone think my age has affected my long-term memory, I still remember the very first song they pitched to me. It was called “A.S.A.P.” The song is still in my head – not because I have incredible recall, but because it has a very memorable hook.
That’s the beauty of a good song. It stays with you long after other memories fade away. And that brings us to Danny’s latest album, New Love Songs – Bossa Nova & Beyond. Once you’ve heard these ten songs, they’re going to stay with you.
If you’re familiar with lyricist Alan Miller’s songs recorded by The Mavericks, Rick Treviño, and others, you’re about to discover a different side to his way with words. It’s not just any lyricist who can write Country songs, Tex-Mex songs, and songs with a Bossa Nova beat (and beyond). It’s no small feat to write lyrics for any specific genre of music, but with these ten new songs, we get to hear Alan’s sophisticated, Great American Songbook-inspired side. Check out these lines from 'Emerald Paradise' – 'Love keeps the secrets of a summer night/Love speaks of stardust in the pale moonlight/A destiny all of its own/Love is the constant unknown.' Those kinds of lyrics could have just as easily been written in the 1940s – which isn’t to say they’re old-fashioned. Rather, they’re timeless and universal – the stuff of which great songs are made.
And then there are Danny’s memorable melodies. I’ve been a fan of Bossa Nova ever since Frank Sinatra teamed up with Antonio Carlos Jobim in the late 1960s, so it’s a real treat to get to hear some newly-created works in this stylish genre.
All of the songs you’ll hear here are by Danny and Alan, but there are a couple of other writers on two of the tracks. Danny’s lovely wife Lena contributed words to “(Could It Be We’re Saying) I Love You,” and Raul Malo of the aforementioned Mavericks co-wrote “Not Enough.”
This package is more than simply a collection of excellent songs – the production and musicianship are absolutely top-notch, too. Pino Squillace not only produced the album with Danny – that’s also him on drums and percussion, providing that Bossa Nova beat that helps to create the record’s intimate ambience. With Danny on guitar, the incredible Jody Nardone on keyboards, and Brian Zonn on bass, this set has a consistent feel and mood that makes it a pleasure to listen to from beginning to end.
Sitting atop it all are Danny Strimer’s smooth-as-silk vocals. With a voice like his, it’s almost impossible to believe this extremely talented singer hasn’t recorded a new album since 1988. It’s great to have him back at last, singing New Love Songs – Bossa Nova & Beyond!"
