Danny DeFonza

At five years old, Danny DeFonza's energetic, hip-swiveling, lip-quivering impersonation of Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog," played on $3 Sears plastic guitar, knocked the socks off of his Grandmother, "Bluebell." Grandma Bluebell saw a future performing sensation (Grandmas are like that!), and was inspired to bankroll guitar lessons for the lad.

Not one to waste the funding of an arts benefactor, Danny studied hard, and launched a string of bands over the next two decades, playing the Jersey Shore bar/nightclub/coffeehouse circuit.

In the early 1990's, WMJY in Long Branch, NJ, named Danny one of NJ's "10 Best New Songwriters," based on material he recorded with the band "Suburban Drive." The songs from the band's EP subsequently received airplay on NY, NJ, PA and CA radio stations.

Danny took a detour from music in the mid-90's to raise a family, and to explore a longtime "solo" dream away from band life -- stand-up comedy.

For five years, he paid his dues working comedy clubs in the NY/NJ/PA circuit. Comedy was fun, but Danny knew all along that music was his calling. He returned to his roots in 2001 with the NJ-based band, "Two Looks Away."

Spoiled by the personal, fast and improvisational nature of stand-up, Danny has now gone solo-acoustic with a new batch of stripped down songs in his latest CD, "Slow and Steady."

It's tough to label his style -- you'll hear a bit of rock, pop, country, blues, R&B -- even a smattering of jazz and rockabilly.

Like his Elvis gig in the living room at 5-years old, Danny on stage, alone with his guitar (now a much better model than the Sears plastic special!), is a warm, funny and engaging entertainer who knows how to deliver a song and win over an audience.

His most recent CD, "Slow and Steady," is available for free download at http://defonza.googlepages.com (see link below). Several of the songs are also available here on Sonic Bids.