Danny Ames first began taking piano lessons when he was 6 years old, and by the age of 9 he was performing piano recitals in local competitions. Danny was also active in the Apple Tree Theater group, often performing lead roles in musicals throughout the Greater Chicago area. Writing and performing music has been his greatest passion ever since.
At the age of 12 Danny began to learn the guitar, and within months he was figuring out how to play songs simply by hearing them. Danny spent the next several years practicing the guitar until his fingers bled, while also continuing to play the piano and sing. He attended the Musicians Institute in 1991, and then obtained an English degree from DePaul University. It was during this time that he developed a love for writing lyrics and poetry. He went on to pursue a degree in counseling, and has worked as a high school counselor for the past three years.
Danny has lived in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Texas, and Utah. His music draws inspiration from fields, mountaintops, and far away shores.
Danny is currently focusing his energy on acoustic performance and establishing an intimate connection with his listeners. He has played throughout the Chicago Metropolitan area for the past 15 years in projects that featured rock, blues, jazz, new wave, industrial, metal, folk, and bluegrass. Working with Casting Spells allows Danny the freedom to explore multiple forms of musical expression that passionately reflect the full spectrum of emotion. He has played in the bands: People of Tomorrow (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Tribal Crossing (guitar, vocals), and Mr. Hand (guitar, vocals). For all three bands he was the primary songwriter and producer.
