Flatland Blues Festival - Russell, KS
June 4-5, 2005

Dan Bliss is a guitarist and signer with a song list that ranges from original tunes to covers of such varied artists as Fats Waller, Bill Broonzy, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Robert Johnson, Dickie Betss, Louis Jordon, Taj Mahal, Lyle Lovett and many others.

He grew up just outside of Syracuse NY and his musical interest started with his brother’s Epiphone acoustic guitar and records by Chuck Berry and Freddie King. When Freddie King played the Brookside Tavern in Syracuse in 1974 and 75, he saw both shows, borrowing his older brother’s ID to get in. In his late teens and early twenties, he studied music semi-formally and worked days as an apartment painter and pled in bands at night.

In 1988 Dan Bliss settled with his wife in Kansas City which has been his home ever since. He joined The Rhythm Kings fronted by singer/harmonica master Lee McBee and played with them at clubs and festivals around the Midwest. Around 1990 he became intrigued with acoustic blues guitar and began playing solo gigs around Kansas City.

In 1993 he joined the band of singer/songwriter/pianist Kelley Hunt and for five years played showcase gigs with her at clubs and blues festivals across the U.S. Also as Hunt’s guitarist, he played with legendary signer/B3 organist Mike Finnigen and rock and roll pioneer pianist Johnnie Johnson.

In 1999 Bliss struck out on his own, releasing his debut solo CD “Open For Business” and has kept a busy schedule as a solo performer including extensive club dates in Kansas City and around the Midwest, and appearances at the New York State Blues Festival in 1999 and 2001. He has opened shows for artists such as Steve James, Alvin Youngblood Hart and St Louis blues legends Henry Townsend and Johnnie Johnson.

Dan Bliss also leads his swing and jump blues band BLUETONIUM which features Allen Fishnell on drums, Jim Decker on bass and the rock solid horn section of John Selzer (trumpet) and Dana Smith (sax).

FROM LAWRENCE, KS JOURNAL WORLD, FEBRUARY 1998

Dan Bliss’ hands are at harmonious odds.

His left hand pulls, holds and hammers strings on his acoustic guitar while his right maintains a steady picking rhythm. Together they create some of the best blues standards and originals heard around the Lawrence-Kansas City area.

Fans of Mississippi John Hurt and John Lee Hooker will find a high measure of satisfaction in his acoustic performances and his well-worn, expressive voice. . .

For Bliss, the appeal of playing solo lies in the challenge.

“There’s an independence and intimacy that’s unique to a solo performance. You have to rely on yourself. There’s no one else to blame if it doesn’t sound right,” he said.

His performance is full of blues standards including Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters and Taj Mahal, as well as some originals. Bliss loves performing at at a recent show told the audience he planned on playing all night long. . .

FROM KANSAS CITY PITCH WEEKLY, AUGUST 1999

DAN BLISS, “Open for Business”

“After teaming up with the likes of Kelley Hunt and Jeff Black, guitarist Dan Bliss has finally released a solo album, Open for Business. This stellar record suggests that Bliss is aptly named, as his blend of jump blues, Delta blues and swing should bring blues lovers to ectasy. His vocals, a hearty roar tempered by a bit of twang, blend Louie Armstrong and Erick Clapton influences. Musically, his core songs reveal his range, as he brings out the beauty of Lyle Lovett’s “I’ve Been to Memphis” and adds a moody vibe to Louis Jordan’s “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby.” Bliss’ original compositions showcase his strong melodies, which change the complexion of tunes such as “Back by My Side” and “Get Together with You.” Add a potent backing band, which features the intricate slide-guitar work of Bentley Ousley and an appearance by Hunt on “Hello Baby”, and the results prove that after spending years in the shadows, Bliss is more than ready for the spotlight.”