***OFFICIAL***

Dan

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About Me

Dan Ponce is the founder and first music director of Straight No Chaser. Before SNC reunited, he was a reporter for ABC News in Chicago. Dan's brother Anthony is a reporter for NBC in Chicago, and his father Phil is the host of 'Chicago Tonight' on WTTW (PBS). Dan grew up in Wilmette, IL, a north suburb of the Windy City. He attended Indiana University for undergraduate degrees in music and journalism. He founded Straight No Chaser in 1996 - Dan's sophomore year. After graduating from IU, he spent four years living in Atlanta writing songs and performing with other original members of SNC. During that time he taught private piano, violin and voice lessons. In 2004, Dan decided to go back to school, and earned his master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Northwestern University. Dan lives in Chicago.

Voice Part:

Baritone

Birth Name
Daniel Felipe Ponce
Nickname
Cobra
Birthday
December 7
Birth Sign
Sagittarius
Height
5’9”
Eyes
Brown
Currently Living In
Chicago
Hometown
Chicago
Relationship Status
In a relationship
Trademark
can whistle a melody and hum the harmony at the same time
Hobbies
piano, running, weight lifting, reading
Favorite SNC College Memory
Walking off the stage after the debut of "Dry Campus" - the comical song I wrote about Indiana University's no-alcohol policy
Musical Influences
Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven, Gershwin, Bach, Vivaldi, Robert Shaw, Daniel Barenboim, Sir George Solti
Favorite Songs to Perform Live
Straight No Chaser (the group's original theme song)
Favorite Place You?ve Traveled
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Favorite Things in General
Indiana University Basketball, Chicago White Sox Baseball, performing live in a great auditorium, tropical fish, trying new restaurants in Chicago
What Magazines/Periodicals do you read consistently?
Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Magazine, Time Out Chicago - can you tell I live in Chicago?
Name Your Top 5 Favorite Foods
Mom's Chicken Pot Pie, Mama Maxi's tortillas, Mad Mushroom Cheesesticks,
Lasagna, Black Raspberries
Name Your Top 5 Favorite Books
A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe, Blindness by Jose Saramago, The World According to Garp by John Irving, Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
Name Your Top 5 Favorite Movies
Hoosiers, The Shawshank Redemption, The Hunt for Red October, Sideways, Glory
Name Your Top 5 Favorite Bands/Artists
Sting, Seal, Billy Joel, Elton John, Boyz II Men
Name Your Top 5 Favorite Songs
“Every Breath You Take” (The Police), “Kiss from a Rose” (Seal), “I’d Die Without You” (PM Dawn) “Maria” (from Westside Story), “Ave Maria” (Franz Biebl)

My Activity

  • Dan
    commented on
    Cat_Yosh's profile.
    2 days ago
    Hi! thanks for the note 'SNC' is one of my favorites too - hopefully it will be on a future album! Dan
  • Dan
    commented on
    cindy's profile.
    2 days ago
    Thanks Cindy!
  • Dan
    commented on
    cindy's profile.
    1 week ago
    Hi Cindy, glad you're looking forward to our next PBS special, it's gonna be great!!
  • Dan
    commented on
    Mama Leia's profile.
    2 weeks ago
    Hi Leia! You bring up a good point - many of our songs we only want to perform live so that our concerts have...
  • Dan
    commented on
    El in Fishers's profile.
    2 weeks ago
    Hi El! Thanks so much - that was a fun segment to record with the PC. So glad you enjoyed it, hopefully the troops...
  • Dan
    added a photo.
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Comments (103)

  • cindy says:
    (4 days ago)

    ::knocking gently on the door:: Hi Dan... jUst finished watching the PBS special and your performance of "Up on the Roof" brought tears to my eyes. Brought back some old memories; but this time i was able to smile through the tears. God bless.

  • Cat_Yosh says:
    (1 week ago)

    I'm waiting for the song "Straight No Chaser" to appear on an album!

  • cindy says:
    (1 week ago)

    Hi Dan,
    I read the pollstar blog and was glad to see that there will be another PBS special in March during their campaign drive. I won't be making a concert for health reasons so at least i get to see you all on PBS. God bless and safe travels with the tour.
    Almost forgot.... the 2 tracks from the pre-order... awesome. Looking forward to the release.
    Cindy

  • El in Fishers says:
    (2 weeks ago)

    Good morning, Dan.

    Ryan forwarded the Pentagon Channel clip to us, and I write to tell you WELL DONE! Thanks for saying it from your heart. I've no doubt you and DR and Ryan and SNC will be appreciated by the troops and their families.

    Great job, Dan.

    El

  • Mama Leia says:
    (2 weeks ago)

    Will you ever record Stand By Me? :( I was so sad it's not on the new album! After all the shows you did and performed it, I thought it would be on there for sure! :( I mean, I will always buy your albums, no matter what, but why perform these amazing songs and never release them?

  • Texansgirl says:
    (2 weeks ago)

    Good Morning Dan,

    My name is Wendy. Three friends and myself will be traveling from KY, GO WILDCATS!!, to see your show in Nashville, TN. I purchased tickets to your show as a Christmas gift to a very dear friend of mine, Tom Moreno. Tom introduced me to SNC over the Christmas holidays and I was even able to get two of the tickets front row for him and his wife, Alma. I have recently learned that work may be taking these very special people away from me in the very near future. Tom is very lighthearted with a wonderful sense of humor. He is always looking on the lighter side of life and has been a great comfort to me and great friend. I am needing your help in repaying him for all that he has done for me which brings me to the point...Would it be possible for us to come backstage and meet you guys or even better, treat you to dinner and/or drinks after/before the show? I know your lives are hectic and busy and you must get many request such as this and I appreciate being able to see you in concert. If this would be at all possible I can be reached at Texansgirl1@hotmail.com. Thank you for your music and bringing laughter to so many.
    Sincerly,
    Wendy

  • tootiechanlee says:
    (3 weeks ago)

    hey! sorry to say that i am very disappointed to not see a charleston, sc date on your upcoming tour date list. is there any hope y'all will be back in sc soon?

  • Mr Moose says:
    (3 weeks ago)

    Hi Dan: Saw your Christmas show in ATL and plan to see you again on April 28th. I note you have off on the 27th. If you want to go skiing and waverunning on beautiful Lake Keowee with a few friends let me know. Remember you did it before the show in Keowee Key in 2002??
    Mr Moose (Katy's dad) jrmoos@charter.net

  • Basso says:
    (20100130T182331Z )

    Hey there, I'm Ryan Compton, I'm in the Concert Choir and the Top a Capella choir, the Overtones, at Gresham High school in Gresham Oregon, and, I was wondering if you could possibly e-mail the sheet music for your guys' arrangement of "I'm Yours/Somewhere Over the Rainbow" I'm willing to pay for a copy of it. I don't have more than ten dollars, but it's worth it. If you could send it to me, or just have anything to say, please respond to this as soon as possible so our guys group can decide on something to sing. Thank you very much for your time.

    Sincerely,
    Ryan Compton

  • Wingnutcvg says:
    (20100127T181434Z )

    Hey Dan! I lived in Chicago a few years back and used to watch WLW in the morning. Every time you would do a live shot out in the snow and -50 wind chill, one of my roommates would say "Dude, you need to find another job!" Well, you were a fine TV reporter, but I must say I like what you're doing now much better!

    I'm pleased that your new career has been a success. The music business is no place for sissies, and the time and travel involved is brutal! Your hard work is obvious and will continue to pay off!! SNC fills a real void in pop music. When you consider all of the digitally enhanced vocals being products, you guys have a truly unique product! I wish you much continued success and pledge you my continued support! Enjoy the spring tour.