Danny Tapanila

Dan Tapanila
Guitarist, Dan Tapanila, is a veteran of the West Coast roots and rockabilly scene and has garnered a reputation as one of western Canada’s most gifted players. During an extraordinary career, Tapanila has opened concerts for and shared the stage with artists as diverse and historically significant as The Yardbirds, The Byrds, The Who, The Guess Who, Hank Snow, Jefferson Airplane, Canned Heat, Herman’s Hermits, Tex Williams, Ian Tyson, Gay Delorme, Dr. John, Dan Hicks, B. B. King, Ronnie Prophet, Country Joe McDonald, Commander Cody, Paul Horn, Carol Baker, Tom Russell, Dick Dameron, Charlie Musselwhite, Lucille Starr, Gordie Tapp, the Good Brothers, Sons of Champlain, Roy Rogers, Johnny Winter, The Tennessee Three, Jorma Kaukonen and many more. Tapanila was a member of The Rhythm Pals for a decade, recorded with the legendary Chief Dan George and toured with Wilf Carter. He is playing on two releases with Rocky Craig & the Rockabilly Kings. Tapanila has worked extensively with Canadian songwriter, Danny Mack, and is featured on Mack’s releases: I’m Alright Now, We All Fall Down and Galaxy Cabaret.

Since 1953, Dan has played mainly as a side man with 65 plus bands in Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C., Ontario and Alabama. Tapanila is currently playing in Alberta bands No Guff, Highwater Jug Band, Peter Ward Band, The Sadlier-Brown Family Band and Ruth Henderson’s Highwood Pass. Past Alberta bands include Bryan Fustukian Band with Billy Cowsill, Ronnie Hayward Trio, Vickie Alynn, Geoff Hogg, The Wandering Vohlynians, Tom Phillips and the Men of Constant Sorrow and Matt Masters Band. B.C. bands he has played with are The Black Snake Blues Band, The Painted Ship, PH Factor Jug Band, Fireweed, Honky Tonk Heroes, Cement City Cowboys, Rocky Craig and the Rockabilly Kings, Cadillac Bob, The Dots, The Naked Spur, The Blue Prints, Bruce Miller, Ronnie Hayward Trio and many others.



January 2007