Having been exposed to a range of music genres as a child, ranging from 60s and 70s Motown and Stax records, to blues, and being encouraged by her father to take up acoustic guitar, it was clear to see that Dani Wilde was already well on her way to becoming somewhat of a special talent.
Dani's first break came when she was asked to sing backing vocals for famous 1960s British Folk singer Maddie Prior. Maddie was so stunned that she asked Dani to support her at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. The concert sold out and the audience were more than impressed by Dani's passionate vocal delivery and finger picking blues guitar style.
2003 saw Dani arrive in Brighton where she spent four years establishing herself in the South of England and worked towards a 1st Class BA honours Degree. Having completed her education, Dani signed to top blues record label Ruf Records (Sue Foley, Candye Kane, Walter Trout, Ainsley Lister).
Throughout 2008, Dani has been touring Europe and America on Ruf’s Blues Caravan Tour with Candye Kane, Deborah Coleman and Sue Foley. She is also performing regularly with her own UK band consisting of her younger brother Will 'Harmonica' Wilde, Alan Taylor (Drums) and Jonny Chase/Ant Davies (Bass) and looking optimistically to the future. Dani and Will have together performed at venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, supporting Jools Holland and Vibes in The Vines Festival with Gary Moore.
Dani’s debut album ‘Heal my blues’ was released on Ruf in January 2008. It is available from most large HMV stores in the UK as well as from I-tunes, www.rufrecords.de, and HMV.com.
Whilst Dani was doing her Music Degree, she established a charity project raising money for County Primary School in Embu Kenya. By hosting regular concerts in the South of England Dani raised enough money to provide the underpriviliged school music education (70 descant recorders to form a large recorder group) and also to renovate two delapidated classrooms. This fundraising project is ongoing and Dani will tell you more about the charity project below:
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Dani Wilde In Embu, Kenya 2008
“Hi Guys,
Thank you for taking the time to read this; it really means a lot to me! I have recently got back from teaching Art and Music at County Primary School in Embu, Kenya. The Primary School consists of 1000 children who all live in Embu’s slums. I was given a tour of the slums and was able to see first hand the appalling living conditions and poverty that these children endure every day. Most of the homes have no electricity. The children drink dirty drinking water. Some of the children walk for hours each day to get to the school because they have no transport. Their school uniforms are often ripped and falling to pieces.
Education is really important to the children. Going to school is the highlight of their week and their enthusiasm for learning is unbelievable. Three years ago, when I was in the final year of my music degree, I was introduced to the school through a charity called moving mountains. For my degree project, I fundraised enough money to provide the school with descant and treble recorders as well as the money to re-build two dilapidated classrooms. I was supposed to visit the school in 2007 but this coincided with me signing the deal with Ruf Records and so my dad ‘Chris Wilde’ went in my place to deliver the instruments.
My dad was moved by what he saw in Kenya; the poverty and the hardship combined with the kindness and generosity of the Kenyan people. In September 2008, myself, my Mum, my brother Will Wilde and my Dad all went out to visit the school. My dad had raised the money to provide the school with a water tank so that the children were able to wash their hands after using the toilets. This has greatly reduced the speading of germs at the school and so fewer children are sick. The toilets however, are literally a tin shed, inside of which is a hole in the ground. The smell is awful; you can smell it from the classrooms, and the hole is surrounded by flies. There is no toilet roll. It is utterly unhygienic and is obviously a big cause of the sickness at the school. We are keen to provide the school with proper toilets connected to Embu’s Sewage system. This will cost a lot of money and this is why I am begging you for your help.
Please click the link below to make a donation to our fundraising account with Just Giving/Moving Mountains. All of the money will be put to very good use at the school.
Also, the school desperately needs basic equipment such as pens, books, pencils, musical instruments, sports equipment etc. If you are able to donate any of the above or have any other ideas, please send me a myspace message and I will write back to you as soon as I can. The children love music and have a great music teacher. The 70 recorders I gave to the school have been put to great use. We organized a fun-day for the children where they performed for us. The fun-day also provided them with a free meal and fizzy drink, and bouncy castles for the day. They had a great time. Many of the children had never had a bottle of coca-cola before, let alone seen a bouncy castle.
If you would like to hold a fundraising event on behalf of the school that would also be greatly appreciated. You could play a gig, hold a local coffee morning, set up a bring and buy sale, or organize a raffle. Anything you could do to help would be greatly appreciated and will make a huge difference to the school and the children. Some of the children at the school would benefit from being sponsored so they could afford to go to secondary school instead of having to finish their education and get a job. These kids have so much enthusiasm, talent and potential but they are greatly let down by the poor and corrupt society that they live in. If you’re interested in helping, please let me know!
Again, the school and I really appreciate your help. Please have a good look at my pictures and videos! I hope to see you at a gig soon! I will be organizing a few special ‘Playing the Blues for Africa’ fundraising gigs in England so keep an eye out!
Lots of love always!
Dani Wilde xxxxx
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"She releases a sort of diesel roar from her throat, pierced with little darts of high falsetto. It is like two voices. She sings the old twelve bar blues "I'm In The Mood", whooping and slurring like an old boy from the Delta. The place goes mad, as if it can't quite believe what it's heard."
ALAN FRANKS, The Times Magazine.
"In 33 years in the music business I have never heard a British female singer of such brilliant raw talent."
KEVIN NIXON, Virgin V2 A&R Director/ Manager of Kula Shaker
"Dani and her band are bringing some great energy to the UK blues scene..[they] have a great future in front of them."
EDDIE MARTIN, Blueblood Recording Artist www.bluebloodrecords.co.uk
"Dani Wilde has the most genuine, authentic texture of real blues and soul in her voice that I have ever heard in singers of her age. She soars far beyond the usual limitations of youth with a conviction and emotion that defies her years. Dani combines raw with smooth, grit with cry all in a vocal tone so compelling, clearly she has been blessed with the gift of being a magical singer!"
CARLEEN ANDERSON, Brand New Heavies, Young Disciples, Orangeroom Music Recording Artist www.carleenanderson.net
"I Want Your Lovin" reached through my headset and touched a spot occupied by Susan Tedeschi and Joss Stone!!! Sounding damned good!!"
JIMMY D. LANE, Blues Frontman with Double Trouble, Recorded with Jimmy Rogers (his Dad!!!!), B.B. King, Eric Clapton, www.myspace.com/jimmydlane
CLICK HERE TO BUY DANI WILDE MERCHANDISE INCLUDING TSHIRTS FOR ADULTS AND BABIES AS WELL AS COOL STICKERS, BAGS AND EVEN A SEXY DANI WILDE HEAL MY BLUES THONG!