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Event
Dan Navarro in concert at SUndilla
The Sundilla Acoustic Concert Series is proud and thrilled to bring Dan Navarro back to Auburn. Navarro will play Sundilla on Thursday, May 28, at the historic AUUF on Thach Avenue. Showtime is 7:30, and admission is $15 at the door; advance tickets cost just $12 and can be purchased at Spicer's Music, Mama Mocha's Coffee, and online at www.sundillamusic.com.
For some, the name "Dan Navarro" might elicit the usual response of "who?" Possibly that response has never been LESS warranted, though it's true that two things might make him less well-known here: the fact that he has lived in California for his entire career, and the way that fate dealt he and his musical partner a particularly cruel hand almost a decade ago. (And of course you can add in the usual issues that come when trying to get music that is not in the mainstream heard.)
So consider this: when I started booking Sundilla in 2002, the series had already brought almost 100 (I counted) great musical acts to Auburn. But there were still hundreds more that had not yet played Sundilla... and at the very top of my list was a California duo who called themselves Lowen & Navarro.
At that time, Lowen & Navarro had already been making music together for almost 20 years; they started by writing songs for the likes of The Bangles, The Triplets, The Temptations, Four Tops, Dave Edmunds, David Lee Roth and, most notably, Pat Benatar; her version of "We Belong" made it to #5 on the charts (it was her biggest hit) and earned the duo a Grammy nomination. But they were successful recording artists as well. Their first two albums, "Walking on a Wire" (1990) and "Broken Moon" (1993), became Triple A radio staples and established them as one of the most reliable acts in adult rock radio, drawing large crowds and instilling a unique brand of loyalty, with fans driving long distances to see their compelling live performances.
By the late-90s, radio was changing, and so were L&N. Refusing to pander to prevailing commercial winds, they made a stark left turn into an earthier, rootsier style, embracing the folk music world and its depth and honesty. As it turned out, their audience were right behind them, and their concerts continued to garner rave reviews and create new legions of followers.
Then in 2004, while still touring extensively and basking in the freedom of self-reliance, they were gobsmacked by Eric Lowen's devastating diagnosis with ALS, aka Lou Gehrig's Disease. Despite a grim prognosis, they continued to record and tour, though the ravages of Eric's condition severely limited the number of places they could travel to, and even moreso limited the venues they could play. And so, for the most horrible of reasons, Lowen and Navarro were no longer on my list of possible Sundilla performers.
In 2009 Lowen was finally forced to give up touring (he passed away in 2012) and Navarro moved to a career as a solo performer, though his shows still feature the same great music, and the same enthusiasm that keeps fans coming to concert after concert.
A critic once said of Lowen & Navarro, "They are the logical extension of the creative and literate legacy that began with the Everly Brothers and emerged through Simon & Garfunkel. Immaculate harmonies, intricate but accessible melodies, intelligent heartfelt lyrics." As Navarro has continued his career as a solo artist, the accolades have not diminished; a recent review said "Dan's solo performances are marked by the same hallmarks as his work with Lowen & Navarro - songs of rich insight and experience, delivered straight-up, with honesty, grace and heart, in his moving and expressive baritone voice."
Navarro has continued to see his songs recorded by other artists, including Keb' Mo' and, maybe most significantly, Jackson Browne, who has never needed anyone to write songs for him; he does incredibly well with his own material. So the fact that he has covered a Dan Navarro tune is HIGH praise for Dan's songwriting genius.
Navarro has also made a splash behind the scenes, as a singer and voice actor in major motion pictures, television series, commercials and recordings, including the smash hit The Lorax, plus Rock of Ages, Happy Feet (1 & 2), Rio (Oscar-nominated "Real In Rio"), Ice Age (2 & 3), Robots, The Mexican, The Emperor's New Groove, Envy; television series Prison Break, Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show; recordings with Neil Young, Andrea Bocelli, Luis Miguel, Jose Feliciano, Susanna Hoffs and Jon Anderson of Yes; and commercials for Shakey's Pizza, McDonald's, Toyota, Coca-Cola, Honda, El Pollo Loco, Nationwide and hundreds of others.
Dan Navarro always delivers, and the message he delivers is incredible and unforgettable. People NEED to hear this music.
Dan Navarro will be appearing in concert on Thursday, May 28. The concert will take place at the AUUF; showtime is 7:30, and admission is just $15 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased for just $12 from Spicer's Music, Mama Mocha's Coffee, and online at www.sundillamusic.com. There will be free coffee, tea, water and food, though as always attendees are invited to bring whatever food or beverage they prefer.
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LocationAUUF
450 Thach Avenue
Auburn, AL 36830
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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