biography    

AIDEN J. TRAVELS THE LONG WAY TO TIPPERARY.

One of the circuit’s best-loved singers, Leeds-based Aiden J. Daniels, has just returned from Tipperary / Ireland with a large glistening Waterford Crystal trophy after singing the winning song in the International Song for Peace competition for 2003. The song, ‘Give it a Minute’, written by up-and-coming songwriter Rob Russell Davies, swept aside all contenders to take top spot in the finals on Saturday 26th of April. The competition, which featured hundreds of entries from all over the world, was filtered down to 12 finalists representing countries as far a field as the USA, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Ireland and the UK. The feature of the competition is that all songs have to have a theme associated with the idea of peace.

The competition is held every year as part of a Festival of Peace with international leaders and personalities receiving special prizes for their contributions towards the peace process in the world. Past winners have included Nelson Mandela, Soviet leader Gorbachev, former President Clinton and this years winner is the former Mayor of New York, Mr. Rudy Giuliani for his bravery, courage and leadership displayed in the aftermath of the attacks of 9/11. His award was accepted on his behalf by members of the New York Fire Department.

Although Aiden and Rob’s singer/songwriter partnership is still in it’s infancy, people are already starting to sit up and take note. They first started working together when Rob asked Aiden to sing on a few demos he had just written and was recording. Aiden immediately seemed to find the knack of bringing the songs ‘to life’ and Rob started writing new songs with his voice specifically in mind. Along with ‘Give it a Minute’, Aiden is already featuring a number of Rob’s songs in his country sets, like a beautiful country-ballad, ‘Smile for the Camera’, and a song written especially for the big guy himself - ‘Big-Hearted Guy’. People around the country circuit agree that they make a good team and a recent 2 hour special featuring Aiden on BCMI Radio lead to many requests for replays.

Aiden J. Has travelled an unusual and relatively short road to country success. He began his entertainment career with elder brother Tim (now lead-singer of ‘Squirrel Tooth Alice’) in the comedy duo ‘Me N’ R’ Kid’. After a while they decided to go their separate way’s with Aiden leaning more towards the comedy circuit, and Tim taking the country road! At the time it certainly seemed a good choice with Aiden receiving an award for top comedian for the year 2000 - an award presented by one of his hero’s - Mr. Charlie Williams.

With things going well, and work rolling in, Aiden still found himself facing a problem shared by many artists - what to do during the days! With characteristic efficiency, this was soon solved by Aiden’s wife - Kerry, who bought him an Acoustic guitar for Christmas. Lots of practice followed and with help from great players and friends, John Harris (Louisiana Blue) and Tony Firbank, Aiden soon got the hang of it becoming proficient as a rhythm guitarist. Country music had always been his first love, and it seemed pointless keeping all this hard work to himself and at home. With this in mind, he set about putting a country act together, and found that the harder he worked, the more satisfaction it gave him.

Finally in 2001, Aiden did his first country gig which seemed like a breath of fresh air after the "you can finish early for the bingo" mentality he had got used to in a lot of the working men’s clubs! Work came in steadily but slowly for a few months, and in an effort to push things along a little, Aiden got in touch with Mr. Roger Wilde - one of the organisers of the Skipton Festival for a chance to showcase his talent at the 2002 festival. Roger hadn’t heard of Aiden, and understandably, wasn’t initially forthcoming, but this didn’t deter this intrepid and persistent country singer. Aiden began ringing Roger over and over again, and in an effort to shut him up, he eventually relented, giving him a short slot at the festival. Aiden did 5 songs on the Sunday afternoon, and was such a hit with the audience that it proved difficult to get him off! There followed a rush for his CD’s (the profits of which were donated to charity) which sold 64 in that afternoon alone! So the big-guy had launched his country music career, and now work started coming in much faster, and he finds himself much in demand for the rest of 2003.

So do yourself a favour and catch Aiden J. Daniels on the circuit. You’ll hear a lot of well-known songs, delivered with understanding, quick-witted charm, and the sweetest of voices. Sometimes Aiden also introduces his daughter - Siobhan on-stage, and her voice is also proving to be a hit with the crowds. And then, of course, you’ll also hear the big guy deliver Rob’s original songs in his own special way, and perhaps they might just reach you like they’re starting to reach others. Why don’t you - ‘Give them a Minute’