Birthday:
February 20
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"Ceremonial Masters"
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Dan
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Mackey
About Me (human/individual)/interests, work..short bio/ THis is the most important. It is the only way to know that you are not a SPAMBOT!Be generous!
Born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, Dan Mackey aka (DAN-ski) has been involved with music and dance for over 25 years. At the early age of 3 years old, his passion for drumming led him to steal pots and pans from his mom’s kitchen to drum on. This was a sure sign that music would be a part of his life for years to come. Dan’s drumming style is combined with influences from Funk, Rock, Blues, and Hip-Hop music. In the early 1990’s continuing through the late 90’s, Dan performed in clubs, venues, and benefit/charity shows including a special drum solo for the late Ed McMahon from the hit TV series “Star Search”. In addition to playing in bands and working with solo artists, Dan also has his own work of original drum recordings. In 2001, he joined a collaboration effort with ex-bass player Scott Eishold from local band favorite “Long Green Hair”, and guitarists/singer songwriter Anthony Mehlhorn from the Ireland based rock band “TUAN”. With their self titled EP “TUAN”, the trio sparked interest with radio, clubs, and record labels such as Road Runner, Sony, and Elektra Records. Unfortunately due to I.N.S. and visa restrictions, it made it difficult to record new songs and continue forward as a collective. Within most recent years, DAN-ski has continued to work with many more artists such as soul singer & pianist/producer Maeve Hughes, Hip-Hop group The Problemaddicts, singer/songwriter Larry Coleman and Ken Meirechki, singer/songwriter Mario Polastri, singer/songwriter TJ Courtney, singer/songwriter Chandler Quintin, Hip-Hop artists Barak Yalad and Seed Sellaz from the “Ceremonial Masters”, and a collective project with Ravens Claw Productions called “Bamboozle” with keyboardist/songwriter DAN Griffin aka “Ralo” and member of the Jungle Brothers singer/songwriter Baby Bam. Currently DAN-ski is incorporating drumming with comedy, acting, and stunt scenes giving audiences something new and “out of the box”. Apart from DAN-ski’s musical endeavors, he has also been involved with bboying (break dancing) since the early 1980s. Dan started dancing on the street corners competing (battling) against other dancers and crews in his hometown of Springfield, MA. Throughout his dancing career, he has performed and competed in many events and cities including Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Cape Cod, New Hampshire, and in New York City at the annual “Rock Steady Crew Anniversary”. In 2001, Dan joined forces with the “Poetry in Motion” dance crew for a special choreographed dance piece for Hip-Hop artist “NAS” at the UMass Amherst Mullin Center. Aside from competitions and performances, Dan has danced in videos featured on MTV and VH-1 with Senegalese Hip-Hop band “Gokh Bi System” based in Northampton, MA. Dan also has been able to combine acting with dancing, which helped land him the cast role as “Guitar” for the musical “West Side Story” at the Northampton Academy of Music Theatre. In most recent years, DAN-ski has been a member of the collective group “Ceremonial Masters”, which combines art, dance, music, and spreads conscious Hip-Hop culture in local communities. He has taught dance workshops at colleges, after school programs, and dance schools throughout the area. Dan also has worked with members from the dance company “The Workshop” where they performed at the Springfield Armor Basketball halftime show at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, MA. Currently Dan is breaking new ground with combining music and dance along with other creative projects including short film productions, stunts, book publishing, and filming his own documentary about his years as a professional dancer.
