***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
    massaquoi11's
    profile.
    20101206T174046Z
    hi there .. email me directly at daponce@yahoo.com and I can try and help you out with the sheet music, Thanks! Dan
  • Dan
    commented on
    Cindy's
    profile.
    20101106T150600Z
    HI Cindy - sorry for the delayed response, if you're interested in "I'm Yours" please email me directly:...
  • Dan
    commented on
    Joebigwig's
    profile.
    20101021T011605Z
    Joe!!! Wow man, so great to hear from you. I remember those days well - are you guys still playing in Chicago at...
  • Dan
    added a blog post.
    20100921T223833Z
    A belated 'adios' and 'gracias'
  • Dan
    commented on
    Joan Blouse's
    profile.
    20100820T030548Z
    thanks Joan - sad to be leaving, glad you liked the show! Dan
  • Dan
    commented on
    Terry Pius's
    profile.
    20100820T030512Z
    hey! hope you liked the show, thanks for writing! Dan
  • Dan
    commented on
    Stel's
    profile.
    20100820T030442Z
    thank you!! I'll be at the Chicago Theater show for sure, see you then! Dan
  • Dan
    commented on
    Jules's
    profile.
    20100820T030405Z
    thank you so much for your note!!! Go Hoosiers! Dan
  • Dan
    commented on
    Jeanette P.'s
    profile.
    20100820T030155Z
    Hii Jeanette!! thank you for your note, yes - I'll be keeping in touch on this website for sure. All the best to...
  • Dan
    commented on
    Karen O''s
    profile.
    20100820T030041Z
    Hi Karen - thank you so much for your kind note and your warm wishes!! Dan

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Comments (329)

    G.Climie says
    (20110305T042458Z )

    Dan,
    i agree with the consensus that you probably wont be seeing this any time soon but i thought i would try anyway. my choir directer (also my mother) suggested after hearing me play it over and over again that we try to perform your arrangement of "Fix you". i have written out a very primitive version on the music writing software "sibelius" but it still doesn't quite have the same "Pizaz" that yours does. would you be able to get into contact with me to potentially allow me to use it with my choir?
    thanks for the help
    -Graeme Climie

    Pete says
    (20101221T185718Z )

    Dan,

    I'm also interested (as so many are!) in getting the sheet music for 12 Days... How does one do that? :-)

    Thanks!
    Pete

    Michelle says
    (20101206T151132Z )

    Dan ~ I know you probably don't check this very much anymore, but I just discovered SNC a little while ago, and was glad to see that your profile was still here. I wanted to say a belated Congratulations and I hope all is well....Take care and all the best to you and yours!!!

    Oh.....and I apparently seem to have a knack for catching people right before their birthdays....so Happy Early Birthday!!!

    Steve Becker says
    (20101203T023923Z )

    Dan - Could you send me arrangements for I'm Yours and 12 Days? My friends and I want to learn these songs and sing them. Thanks. - Steve

    Alexsandra says
    (20101114T232613Z )

    Your original songs have become my favorites....Indiana Christmas and All My Life.
    Just wanted to thank you and hope you will still have time for inspiration in song!

    Maestro2500 says
    (20101109T145811Z )

    Hello Mr. Ponce,

    I am a university student majoring in music in Georgia, and I have a question/request regarding your music, and it's a bit personal. Would you be willing to send me an e-mail so I can talk to you about it?

    greentyler2@gmail.com

    Please contact me at your earliest convenience, if only to say that you are not able or willing to talk.

    Thank you!

    Tyler Green

    sally and milt says
    (20101109T052007Z )

    As we exited the theater at Paris Las Vegas after your show last night, a gentleman said to us, “I’ve lived here 57 years and never saw three standing ovations for anything.” That pretty well sums up the enthusiasm of your audience, as if their response to each song wasn’t enough. In our opinion, any length of show you perform is not long enough, although (speaking from experience) we marvel at your abilities to sing pretty much non-stop for 100 minutes. What we were not surprised at was the fact that you started at Indiana University - their reputation for music is unparalled in the U.S. Best wishes to each of you, and we are certainly looking forward to your return to a Las Vegas stage.

    sally and milt says
    (20101109T052007Z )

    As we exited the theater at Paris Las Vegas after your show last night, a gentleman said to us, “I’ve lived here 57 years and never saw three standing ovations for anything.” That pretty well sums up the enthusiasm of your audience, as if their response to each song wasn’t enough. In our opinion, any length of show you perform is not long enough, although (speaking from experience) we marvel at your abilities to sing pretty much non-stop for 100 minutes. What we were not surprised at was the fact that you started at Indiana University - their reputation for music is unparalled in the U.S. Best wishes to each of you, and we are certainly looking forward to your return to a Las Vegas stage.

    Jeanette P. says
    (20101106T160024Z )

    Dan, how I wish I could see you at the Wiltern Theater on Dec. 4th and hear you and Charlie sing "Donde Esta Santa Claus?". Who am I kidding? I'd love to see you in person again, period!! Wishing you well.

    Leslie May says
    (20101023T155349Z )

    So, Dan...where are you? Saw SNC last night at the Air Force Academy and you were decidedly absent. Have you left the group?