In 1976, Jeff Daniels bought a Guild D-40 from Herb David’s Guitar Studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Then, he threw it in the back of his old Buick and moved to New York City. That guitar led to a creative outlet, became a solace, a road into the artist that he didn’t know existed. Now, over forty years later, he’s still writing songs, singing them, and playing.

Since 2000, Daniels has played venues The Birchmere, Club Passim, Café Lena, New York City’s 54 Below and Birdland. Also, City Winery in New York and Nashville, The Barns at Wolf Trap, Austin’s Cactus Café, and Annapolis’s Ram’s Head Tavern. Additionally, Houston’s Mucky Ducks, The Dakota in Minneapolis, The Ark in Ann Arbor, and Chicago’s Old School of Folk Music. Also, Seattle’s Third Door, Alaska’s Latitude 62, and many more. He has toured both coasts with his son’s band, the Ben Daniels Band. Moreover, he’s shared the stage with Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Joe Ely, Cheryl Wheeler, Guy Clark, Christine Lavin, Keb’ Mo’ and Bruce Hornsby. In 2012, the Martin Guitar Company began selling the OM Jeff Daniels Custom Artist Edition Guitar. He also narrated their award-winning documentary, “The Ballad of The Dreadnought.”

“In 1976, I moved to New York to become an actor. What I didn’t plan on was being influenced by so many off-Broadway playwrights. In particular, Lanford Wilson, who would later go on to win a Pulitzer Prize for his play Talley’s Folly. Lanford taught me so much about the writing process. In Hollywood, the joke is if you ask any actor what he wants to do, he’ll say, “direct.” Not me. I wanted to write. So I did. With a guitar in my hands.”