Dan Hill facts for kids

Dan Hill (born Daniel Grafton Hill IV on June 3, 1954) is a famous Canadian pop singer and songwriter. He is known for his hit songs like "Sometimes When We Touch" and "Can't We Try". This second song was a duet with Vonda Shepard. Dan Hill also wrote many popular songs for other artists. These include stars like George Benson and Celine Dion.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Dan Hill was born in Toronto, Canada. His father, Daniel G. Hill, was a social scientist. His mother, Donna Mae Hill, was a social activist. Dan has a brother, Lawrence Hill, who is also a writer.

Dan showed musical talent from a young age. He got his first guitar when he was just ten years old. In high school, he was already singing and performing. He played at concerts and local coffee houses.

Before finishing high school, Dan made a demo tape. His friend, Matt McCauley, helped him. Matt later became a well-known composer. In 1972, Dan signed a contract with RCA Records.

Dan Hill's Music Career

Dan kept working with Matt McCauley. He then signed with GRT Records, a Canadian music company. In 1975, he released his first Canadian hit song, "You Make Me Want to Be." This was followed by his first album, Dan Hill.

His Biggest Hit: "Sometimes When We Touch"

In 1977, Dan Hill recorded the song "Sometimes When We Touch". He wrote the words, and Barry Mann helped with the music. The song became a huge hit! It reached number 3 in the United States. It also hit number 1 in Canada. This success led to Dan appearing on popular TV shows. Famous singer Tina Turner even covered the song in 1978.

More Popular Songs and Collaborations

Dan also recorded "It's a Long Road" for the 1982 action movie First Blood. In 1985, he joined many Canadian artists for a charity song. It was called "Tears Are Not Enough" by Northern Lights.

In 1987, Dan had another big hit. It was "Can't We Try" with Vonda Shepard. This song reached number 6 on the US Hot 100 chart. He also had success with "Never Thought (That I Could Love)". These songs were very popular on adult contemporary radio.

Awards and Songwriting Success

Dan Hill is also a very talented songwriter for other artists. In 1996, he won a Grammy Award. This was for his work as a co-producer on Celine Dion's album Falling Into You. He has also written songs for stars like Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and Reba McEntire.

Dan has received five Juno Awards. These are major music awards in Canada. In 2021, he was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. This honor recognized his important place in Canadian music.

Dan Hill has performed less often in recent years. But in 2007, he toured with the CBC Radio show The Vinyl Cafe. He also released a new song in 2020 called "What About Black Lives?". This song is part of his album "On the Other Side of Here."

Personal Life

Dan Hill has one son named David. He wrote a book in 2009 called I Am My Father's Son. This book shares stories about his childhood and his relationship with his father.

Dan is also a member of Artists Against Racism. This is a Canadian charity that works to fight racism.

Discography

Studio Albums

• 1975: Dan Hill
• 1976: Hold On
• 1977: Longer Fuse
• 1978: Frozen in the Night
• 1980: If Dreams Had Wings
• 1981: Partial Surrender
• 1983: Love in the Shadows
• 1987: Dan Hill
• 1989: Real Love
• 1991: Dance of Love
• 1993: Let Me Show You (Greatest Hits and More)
• 1996: I'm Doing Fine
• 2010: Intimate
• 2021: On The Other Side of Here

Compilation Albums

• 1980: The Best of Dan Hill
• 1984: Sometimes When We Touch: The Best of Dan Hill
• 1989: The Dan Hill Collection
• 1999: Love of My Life: The Best of Dan Hill

Singles