Musician Dan Schwartz is a prominent figure in the little-known instrument world of finger-style guitar.
Schwartz grew up listening to a hodgepodge of music that included Keith Jarret,
Tower of Power, and
Devo. His curiosity and devotion lead him to Milwaukee, WI, to study at the state's University, the only collegiate school in the world to offer a degree in
Schwartz's music style of choice. There, he studied with the respected guitarist John Strobes and earned one of the few Bachelor of Fine Arts given for finger-style guitar playing.
Schwartz joined the faculty of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in the fall of 1992. Just five years later, he released his debut album, The Art of Making Fire, earning him a nomination for Guitarist of the Year by the Minnesota Music Academy. That same year, he was featured among many guitarists on the compilation Masters of Acoustic Guitar. During the next year, in 1998,
Schwartz toured as guitarist for
Angel Grant, alongside
Jimmy Jam,
Terry Lewis, and
Libby Turner. It is through touring with
Jam that
Schwartz appeared as the acoustic and electric guitarist for the
Boyz II Men track, "I Will Get There," for the Prince of Egypt (Inspirational) album. In 2001,
Schwartz was featured again on the album Guitar-Fingerstyle II. ~ Diana Potts