About Dan

Acknowledged as one of the American media's foremost authorities on popular music and songwriters, Dan Kimpel contributes to a dizzying variety of print and electronic mediums: books, podcasts, publications, web sites, feature films, television, videos and new media. His recent interview subjects include Billie Eilish, Margo Price, Leon Bridges, Mark Ronson, Bebe Rexha, Jack Antonoff, Anderson .Paak, and The Chainsmokers.

Among Dan’s most memorable career interviews, he cites Leonard Cohen, Ennio Morricone, Clint Eastwood, Ringo Starr, John Mayer, KISS!, Ty Dolla $ign, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, Green Day, Bruno Mars, Usher, Alicia Keys and Metallica.

Over six years, passengers on United Airlines could hear Kimpel's incisive interviews with hit songwriters and recording artists worldwide on The United Entertainment Network. In addition, he has written, produced and/or voiced segments for Delta Airlines, TED, Regal Cinemas, and the presidential and vice presidential planes, Air Force One and Two.

In print, Dan contributes cover features to the West Coast trade publication Music Connection magazine, plus a regular column, “Song Biz,” that includes a profile of a writer or composer in each issue. To date, Dan has conducted over 500 interviews for the magazine. Other publications that have featured his writing include BMI World, ASCAP Playback, Grammy, SESAC Magazine, Film Music and American Songwriter.

With Lindsay Tomasic and hit songwriter Diane Warren
With Lindsay Tomasic and hit songwriter Diane Warren

In 2018, in conjunction with longtime friend and colleague, producer and composer Lindsay Tomasic, Dan joined the Storyophonic podcast, interviewing songwriters, composer, producers, engineers and executives; those who shine in the spotlights and the studios, with a focus on those behind the scenes, whose impact on the music business is often unsung, but equally immeasurable.

For a worldwide audience of readers, Dan is a distinguished author. His book on maximizing personal relationships, Networking Strategies For The New Music Business (ArtistPro/Thomson) is the follow up to his best-selling title, Networking in the Music Business. Over five years, he conducted a weeklong master class on networking at Sir Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in the UK. Stateside, he lectures at colleges, universities and conferences across the U.S. and Canada.

A key faculty member at Musicians Institute in Hollywood for 12 years, Dan taught classes in the Music Business and Independent Artist programs. He was named MBP Teacher of the year six times. He continues to mentor MI Students, and represents the college as he hosts graduations, orientations, open houses and other public events. A past chairman of the Musicians Foundation, he now serves on the non-profit organizations advisory board.

More books continued Dan’s author career: How They Made It: True Stories of How Music’s Biggest Stars Went From Start to Stardom, signing stories of successful recording artists, was released by Hal Leonard. Electrify My Soul: Songwriters and the Spiritual Source followed from Thomson/PTR and in It All Begins with the Music: Developing Successful Artists & Careers for the New Music Business, was co-authored with late legendary A&R executive, Don Grierson.

As a writer for hire, Dan also strategizes on projects and writes copy for record labels, music libraries, releases and major label and independent recording artists with a client roster that has included the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning writing and production duo, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, R&B legend Bill Withers, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Jack Tempchin (“Peaceful Easy Feeling) and country icons Big & Rich. His resume includes a variety of services for the entertainment industry including celebrity speech writing, event production and co-ordination, and artist management/public relations consulting and Media Training for artists.

On camera, Dan conducted an extensive series of key interviews to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers with Quincy Jones, Marilyn Bergman, Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Andre 3000 (OutKast), Randy Newman, and the late Hal David and Elmer Bernstein. For a decade, he interviewed all of the Society's award-winners in Pop, Film & Television and Rhythm and Soul, including Smokey Robinson, Metallica, Usher, Alicia Keys, Clint Eastwood, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Timbaland and others.

Another of Dan's most rewarding endeavors was conducting on-camera interviews with 12 prominent female vocalists who grew up singing in church, including the late Dr. Maya Angelou, Denyce Graves, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Kahn and the Rev. Shirley Caesar. The enhanced CD -- titled Church: Songs of Soul and Inspiration -- was released through Universal and Ms. LaBelle was nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Traditional Gospel Performance.”

Dan began his career as a musician in his hometown, Lima, Ohio. He was a staff songwriter in Nashville and continued his performing, recording and composing careers in New York and Los Angeles. In Hollywood, his career took a new turn as he became instrumental with a non-profit organization: the Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase (LASS). In 1995, he was appointed creative director for the National Academy of Songwriters (NAS).

At NAS, Dan oversaw all of the Academy's periodicals and publications and produced concerts and events with the most revered names in songwriting: Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Randy Newman, Don Henley, Quincy Jones, Tom Petty, Leiber & Stoller, Burt Bacharach, John Fogerty, Babyface, Glen Ballard and Diane Warren. In 1998, he exited the Academy to devote more time to writing, and was named editor of Film Music magazine.

Dan’s television appearances include Inside Edition, AXS Live, and original programming for shows on DirecTV.

Dan lives in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.