Dan Wilson Biography
Dan Wilson, an American musician, singer, songwriter, visual artist, and record producer, has been dubbed the “songwriter’s songwriter.” His songwriting credits include “Closing Time” for his band Semisonic, “Not Ready to Make Nice” with The Chicks, and “Someone Like You” with Adele. Wilson’s efforts earned him a Grammy nomination for “Closing Time” (Best Rock Song) and two Grammy wins: Song of the Year (“Not Ready to Make Nice” in 2007) and Album of the Year as a producer for Adele’s 21 in 2012.
How old is Dan Wilson? – Age
He is 62 years old as of May 20, 2024. He was born in 1961 in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, United States. His real name is Daniel Dodd Wilson.
Dan Wilson Family – Education
The Wilson brothers were in two bands: Animal Dance and the Love Monsters.Wilson attended Harvard University, where he studied visual arts with a focus on printmaking and received his B.A. summa cum laude in Visual and Environmental Studies in 1983, while living in Dunster House. Wilson is an acclaimed artist who received the first Louis Sudler Prize for Outstanding Artistic Talent and Achievement in 1983. During college, he began working with his brother, singer-songwriter Matt Wilson, who also attended Harvard College. After college, Wilson continued his passion for drawing and painting, first in San Francisco and subsequently in Minneapolis.
Dan Wilson Wife – Children
Wilson is married to Diane Espaldon. Wilson and his wife were Harvard University classmates; he studied visual arts, while she studied government. Wilson’s wife later got a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. They have one biological daughter, Corazon (“Coco”) (b. 1997), who was born prematurely and has impairments, and “Closing Time” was composed for her before her birth, and Lily (b. 2007), who was adopted from the Philippines when she was two years old.
Dan Wilson Net Worth
He has an estimated net worth of $16 million.
Dan Wilson Semisonic
After Trip Shakespeare split up in 1992, Wilson and Munson formed Pleasure with drummer Jacob Slichter, which was subsequently called Semisonic. Semisonic released a single EP, three full-length albums, and one live album.
The band’s debut album, Great Divide, gained critical acclaim. In a year-end Rolling Stone article about significant albums from 1996, David Fricke commented, “Great Divide is that rare ’96 beast, a record of simple but sparkling modern pop, rattling with power-trio vitality.” However, it was the band’s 1998 album, Feeling Strangely Fine, that catapulted them to national and worldwide prominence and success.
Powered by Wilson’s songs “Closing Time,” which was a number-one hit on the Modern Rock charts for thirteen weeks in the spring and summer of 1998, the follow-up single “Singing in My Sleep,” and “Secret Smile,” a breakthrough hit for the band internationally, Feeling Strangely Fine went platinum in the United States and the United Kingdom. “Closing Time” was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 1999 Grammys and has since become an enduring pop-culture reference point from the late 1990s.It was an important part of the plot and soundtrack of the 2011 film Friends with Benefits.
Semisonic’s third album, All About Chemistry, was released in 2001, and includes Wilson’s song “Chemistry,” the album’s first single, as well as “One True Love,” which Wilson co-wrote with Carole King. Semisonic discontinued touring in August 2001, however they continued to perform on occasion. Slichter’s memoir, So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star, details the band’s musical adventures and misadventures. Semisonic’s first single in nearly 20 years, “You’re Not Alone,” was released on June 26, 2020, followed by an EP with the same title on September 18, 2020.
Dan Wilson Re-Covered
Wilson released his third solo studio album, Re-Covered, on August 4, 2017. The album is a collection of reinterpretations of songs Wilson penned for other singers, including great singles and “songs that I always wished were big hits, but weren’t.” The album features the songs “Someone Like You” (written with Adele), “Not Ready To Make Nice” (written with the Dixie Chicks), “Home” (written with Dierks Bentley and Brett Beavers), and “When The Stars Come Out” (written with Chris Stapleton).
Dan Wilson Free Life
Free Life, Wilson’s solo debut, was published by American Recordings in 2007. Produced in conjunction with Rick Rubin, Free Life was recorded in both Minneapolis and Los Angeles. The album features performances by a variety of Minneapolis-based musicians, including Joe Savage, Eric Fawcett, John Hermanson, Joanna James, Mason Jennings, Steve Rhoem, Tracy Bonham, Sheryl Crow, Jason Lader, Gary Louris, Natalie Maines, and Benmont Tench. Additionally, Wilson’s Semisonic bandmates Munson and Slichter are included.
The A.V. Club stated of Free Life, “the star of the show here is Wilson’s remarkable instinct for creating gorgeous songs, and his unabashed, obvious joy in doing so,” helping to solidify Wilson’s reputation as a songwriter. For anyone concerned that songcraft is an endangered species, Free Life should alleviate such concerns.” The song Breathless was a huge hit in Greece (and other Balkan countries), and Dan Wilson performed it at the 2009 MAD Video Music Awards.
Dan Wilson Love Without Fear
Released on April 15, 2014, Wilson’s second solo album, Love Without Fear, features performances by Blake Mills, Sara Watkins, Sean Watkins, Missy Higgins, Lissie, Natalie Maines, and Sara Bareilles. Released on November 7, 2013, the first Love Without Fear recording, “Disappearing” (which includes a cover of Neil Young’s “Out on the Weekend” as a b-side), marked the launch of the new singles label, Canvasclub.
“The songs are about being left alone, not wanting to lose someone, about desperately wishing for connection and togetherness,” Wilson remarked, summarizing the record. The record’s sound is a hybrid of rock & roll with Beatles influences and Americana. Lots of cinematic drama with a little of twang.”
Reviews of the album were mostly positive, highlighting Wilson’s songwriter reputation. “Dan Wilson’s career is unquestionably evidence that sophisticated, well-written songs have a place in music… Love Without Fear is a beautiful blend of snappy soul, gooey ’70s pop, soothing country, and chamber rock.”