Canadian songwriter…
Born in Toronto, Hill is an unabashedly sentimental singer/songwriter. As a teenager, Hill was a major fan of vocalists like Frank Sinatra. He became popular in Canada, and his debut album was released in 1975. In 1977, he co-wrote the highly emotional “Sometimes When We Touch” with Barry Mann, and it became a Top Ten smash in the U.S. After a few lesser hits, he seemingly disappeared, but mounted a comeback in 1987, scoring another Top Ten hit with “Can’t We Try,” a duet with Vonda Sheppard. He has charted a few times on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart since then. – Steve Huey
Dan Hill was born in Toronto in 1954 to American Parents who, as an interracial couple, moved to Canada to escape the twin scourges of Racism and McCarthyism. They also believed that Canada provided a better environment to raise their family.
“McCarthy’s Day”, from his album Longer Fuse chronicled his racial background.
“It’s probably the most personal song I’ve ever written. I wasn’t sure about putting it on the album. But then I felt that I almost had to include it, just to express who I am.”
Dan began writing songs at age 14 and was playing professionally in small gatherings and coffee houses by the time he reached 17.
Two years later he signed to GRT Records in Canada and so began his quick rise to fame.
He grew up listening to Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. He credits Sinatra as a primary influence in terms of delivery and phrasing.
It was the 1977 Longer Fuse (1977) and the single Sometimes When We Touch that sealed Dan’s international success. It not only gave him his third Canadian Gold album, it also won over the U.S. audience.
Sometimes When we Touch also gave Dan his first co-writing experience, in this case with the highly talented and respected Barry Mann, whose hits range from Who put the Bomp and Here You Come Again to the well-loved standard You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.
“We were brought together in almost blind date fashion.”
Dan was named Top New Male Vocalist in both Cashbox and Record World: won Juno awards for Composer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. and was nominated for a Grammy in 1977.
Dan’s songwriting can be heard on Healing Power of Love covered by Jennifer Rush: Sometimes When We Touch by Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow and Newton:
Seduces Me from the Celine Dion album Falling Into You, written by Dan and John Sheard, and co-produced with John Jones and Rick Hahn.
Celine and the album’s producers won the Album of The Year Grammy Award in 1996.
In 1978, Dan Hill had his first smash hit, Sometimes When We Touch. Ten years later in 1988, Dan’s Never Thought (That I Could Love) hit the top of the charts. Keeping with tradition, Dan again found himself with another number one record in 1998 when Sammy Kershaw recorded Dan’s Love Of My Life. In fact, Dan’s successes aren’t just limited to every ten years, his remarkable career has highlights that include four number one songs, twelve top ten records, a Grammy, five Juno’s (the Canadian equivalent to the Grammy), four platinum albums, two gold albums, and even a best selling novel.
Although most will recognize Dan’s unmistakable voice on his self-penned hits: Sometimes When We Touch (#3 pop/chr: 1978), Can’t We Try (with Vonda Sheppard) (#1 Billboard a/c Song Of The Year: 1987), Never Thought (That I Could Love) (#1 a/c: 1988), and Unborn Heart (#2 a/c: 1989); it is often Dan’s behind the scenes work, including songwriting and producing, that Dan views as his ultimate career contribution.
In 1997, Dan received a Grammy award for his production and songwriting on Celine Dion’s breakthrough CD, Falling Into You. In fact, in numerous concerts and interviews, Celine has said that Dan’s Seduces Me was her favorite song on the record.
Others that have benefited from Dan’s songwriting talents include George Benson, Jeffrey Osborne, Tammy Wynette, Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow and Tina Turner. In November of 1997, Dan was presented with the Harold Moon Award, a prestigious honor bestowed upon Canadian songwriters for great international contributions in songwriting.
Also, in 1997, Dan teamed up with acclaimed songwriter/producer Keith Stegall. The results from this pairing has been tremendous. The first song the duo wrote together, Love Of My Life, rocketed to #1 on the U.S. country chart for Sammy Kershaw. Six months later, Hill and Stegall visited the top of the country charts again with I Do (Cherish You), recorded by Mark Wills.
Currently, double-platinum pop act 98 Degrees are enjoying the fruits of Hill and Stegall’s labor with their version of I Do (Cherish You). The song is rapidly heading straight to the top of the charts for the group and promises to be their career record. The 98 Degrees cut is also featured in the box office smash Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, and is included on the worldwide bestselling soundtrack.
On the country music scene, two Hill/Stegall compositions are climbing the charts; She’s In Love, recorded by Mark Wills is currently positioning itself to become the singers fourth straight number one record and When You Love Someone, Sammy Kershaw’s followup single to Hill and Stegall’s Maybe Not Tonight, a top 20 duet with Lorrie Morgan.
With all his recent success as a songwriter, Dan has still managed to find the time to put together his own greatest hits record, Love Of My Life, The Best of Dan Hill, featuring his own versions of Love Of My Life and Seduces Me as well as two new tracks and of course- all of his greatest hits.
The much anticipated release will serve as a great retrospective of Dan’s first twenty years in the music business and give fans a preview of things to come for the next twenty.
Words from the official Dan Hill website.
Discography
Love Of My Life - The Best Of Dan Hill
Spontaneous Records 1999
Tracks: Seduces Me, Never Thought (That I Could Love), All I See is Your Face, Carmelia, You Make Me Want To Be, Once Upon A Time, All I Want Is You, Can't We Try (duet with Vonda Shepard), Hold On, Wishful Thinking (duet with Celine Dion), The Healing Power Of Love (additional vocals by Deborah Cox), Love Of My Life, My Love For You,
Somewhere In The Distance, In Your Eyes (duet with Rique Franks), Unborn Heart, Sometimes When We Touch & Daddy's Song.
Musicians on the I´m Doing Fine album: Dan Hill and others.
I´m Doing Fine
Spontaneous Records 1996
Tracks: Wrapped Around Your Finger, I Wanna Make Love To You, I'm Doing Fine, Everytime We Say Goodbye, If You Should Leave Me Now, I Wanna Be With You, The Night We Met, Maybe This Time, She Is My Lady, Memories (Revisited) & I Love You Now.
Musicians on the I´m Doing Fine album: Dan Hill, John Capek, Michael Thompson, Luis Conte, Steve Ferrone, Rick Hahn, Owen Hale, John Jarvis, Vann Johnson, Richard Martinez, Dennis Matkosky, Dave Pickell, John Sheard, Amy Sky, Neil Stubenhaus, Anthony Vanderburgh, Willie Weeks & David Wipper.
Greatest Hits And more... Let Me Show You
Edoya Records 1994
Tracks: Sometimes When We Touch, Let Me Show You, In Your Eyes (Duet with Rique Franks), Shot Down In Flames, Never Thought (That I Could Love) (New Version), Memories, Can't We Try (Duet with Rique Franks) (New Version), All I See Is Your Face, Healing Power Of Love, Fourteen Today, Hold On & Sometimes When We Touch (Duet with Rique Franks).
Musicians on the Greatest Hits And More... Let Me Show You album: Dan Hill and others.
Greatest Hits And more... Let Me Show You
Spontaneous Records 1993
Tracks: Sometimes When We Touch, Let Me Show You, In Your Eyes (Duet with Rique Franks), Shot Down In Flames, Never Thought (That I Could Love) (New Version), Memories, Can't We Try (Duet with Rique Franks) (New Version), All I See Is Your Face, Healing Power Of Love, Fourteen Today, Hold On & Sometimes When We Touch (Duet with Rique Franks).
Musicians on the Greatest Hits And More... Let Me Show You album: Dan Hill and others.
The Dan Hill Collection
Columbia Records 1993
Tracks: Sometimes When We Touch, You Make Me Want To Be, Carmelia, 14 Today, Hold On, Can´t We Try, All I See Is Your Face, McCarthy´s Day, Let The Song Last Forever & Never Thought.
Musicians on the Dan Hill Collection album: Dan Hill and others.
Dance Of Life
Quality Records 1991
Tracks: I Miss You Still , I Fall All over Again, Is It Really Love?, Sorry, Dance of Love, Am I Fooling Myself, Hold Me Now, Flirting With a Heartache, Don't Give up on Us, Through It All, Losing You & Sometimes Love Is Not Enough.
Musicians on the Dance Of Love album: Dan Hill, Michael Thompson, Shirley Eikhard, Cherie Camp, Paulinho Da Costa, Debbie Cox, Gary Craig, Dawn Cumberbatch, Nathan East, Rique Franks, Claude Gaudette, Rick Hahn, Ross Harwood, Asher Horowitz, Doug James, Charles Judge, Ron Komie, Michael Landau, John Lowry, Carol Nethen, Dean Parks, John Pierce, Rob Pilch, Christopher Ross, John Sheard, Neil Stubenhaus, Carlos Vega, Chris Yost, Kevan McKenzie, John Lowery, Chas Sanford & Jerry Jr. Watts.
Real Love
Columbia Records 1989
Tracks: Why Do We Always Hurt the Ones, What Do You Want, Can This Be Real Love, Can't Break the Same Heart Twice, Unborn Heart, Wishful Thinking, You've Got to Get over Him, Woman, Human Heat & You Are Where I Belong.
Musicians on the Real Love album: Dan Hill, Celine Dion, Paulinho Da Costa, Nathan East, Grant Geissman, Dann Huff, Barry Keane, Michael Landau, Jack Lenz, Bob Mann, John "J.R." Robinson, John Sheard, Neil Stubenhaus, David Woodford & Greg Loates.
Dan Hill
Columbia Records 1987
Tracks: Conscience, Carmelia, Can't We Try, Blood In My Veins, Never Thought (That I Could Love), Every Boys Fantasy, Lose Control, Perfect Love, Pleasure Centre & USA/USSR.
Musicians on the Dan Hill album: Dan Hill, John Capek, Vonda Shepard, Brian Russell, Don Potter, Nathan East, Richard Homme, Barry Keane, Craig Krampf, Michael Landau, Brian Leonard, Matthew McCauley, Reggie McBride, Fred Mollin, Tony Riparetti, Eric Robinson, John Sheard, Tom Szczesniak & David Woodford.
Love In The Shadows
Mercury Records 1984
Tracks: Love In The Shadows, Helpless, In Your Eyes, Just In Time, You Pulled Me Through, Where You Gonna Go, Something Ain´t Right, Don´t Know Where It Comes From, Thru To You & Old Lady Song.
Musicians on the Love In The Shadows album: Dan Hill and others.
Partial Surrender
Epic Records 1981
Tracks: I´m Just A Man, All I Want Is You, Don´t Give Up Your Love, Somewhere In THe Distance, Just A Piece Of Your Heart, Pray That It´s Love, Pandora´s Song, Something´s Wrong, Fumiko & Class Of ´69.
Musicians on the Partial Surrender album: Dan Hill, Gary Foster, Michael Botts, Paul Grupp, Jimmie Haskell, Tom Kelly, John Sheard, Patti Smith, David Wipper & Paul Daiter.
If Dreams Had Wings
Epic Records 1980
Tracks: Path of Least Resistance, I Still Reach for You, Ghost, Island, The Perfect Man, My Love for You, More Than Just a Clever Game, Unloved People, You Get a Little Harder & If Dreams Had Wings.
Musicians on the If Dreams Had Wings album: Dan Hill and others.
The Best Of Dan Hill
20th Century Fox 1980
Tracks: Sometimes When We Touch, Hold On, City Madness, Let the Song Last Forever, Frozen in the Night, Phone Call, All I See Is Your Face, Pick on Me, Dark Side of Atlanta & Growing Up.
Musicians on the The Best Of Dan Hill album: Dan Hill and others.
Frozen In The Night
20th Century Fox 1978
Tracks: Frozen In The Night, All I See Is Your Face, No One Taught Me How To Lie, (Why did you have to go and) Pick On Me, Friends, Let The Song Last Forever, When The Hurt Comes, Dark Side Of Atlanta, Indian Woman, Till The Day I Die & Your Only Friend.
Musicians on the Frozen In The Night album: Dan Hill and others.
Longer Fuse
20th Century Fox 1977
Tracks: Sometimes When We Touch, 14 Today, In The Name Of Love, Crazy, McCarthy's Day, Jean, You Are All I See, Southern California, Longer Fuse & Still Not Used To.
Musicians on the Longer Fuse album: Dan Hill, John Capek, Don Potter, Jorn Andersen, Erica Goodman, Richard Homme, Ronald Laurie, Larry Londin, Robert Mann, Matthew McCauley, Ben Mink, Fred Mollin, Bobby Ogdin, Dennis Pendrith, Eric Robinson & Tom Szczesniak.
Hold On
20th Century Fox 1976
Tracks: Hold On, Proposal, I've Been Alone, City Madness, Rain, Phonecall, All Alone In California, Question Marks In Time, Caroline & Canada.
Musicians on the Hold On album: Dan Hill, John Capek, Brian Russell, Don Potter, Jorn Andersen, Bob Boucher, Richard Homme, Larry Londin, Robert Mann, Matthew McCauley, Fred Mollin, Eric Robinson, Catherine Smith & Tom Szczesniak.
Dan Hill
Columbia Records 1975
Tracks: You Make Me Want To Be, Welcome, Looking Back, Fountain, Seed Of Music, Growing Up, Nobody's Right, Sour Whiskey, You Say You're Free, I Dreamt I Saw Your Face Last Night & People.
Musicians on the Dan Hill album: Dann Hill and others.