Dan “Daddy Squeeze” Newton talks about how music connects us. Artist profile video by Lucas Langworthy

“Daddy Squeeze” has been playing offbeat accordion music since 1987, when he won the Nebraska State Accordion Contest at the Czech Festival in Wilber, Nebraska. He has used the squeeze box for playing all kinds of music not normally associated with free-reed instruments, as well as standard accordion material.

Daddy Squeeze also enjoys mixing up styles and genres that don’t generally seem compatible. “Music out of context”, or “Ethno-clectic Bop” is the result of his gender-bending experiments with Celtic, Tex-Mex, Creole, Blues, Jazz, Scandinavian, Polka and pop music.

Dan “Daddy Squeeze” Newton has been dazzling audiences with his vast repertoire and creative accordion style for over 30 years. He is a talented composer/arranger who has produced over 25 recordings. Dan has appeared at dozens of festivals in Finland, Canada, Austria and across the USA. He has performed at Lincoln Center in New York City, Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., The Winnipeg Folk Festival and more.

Dan’s fresh approach to the much-maligned squeeze-box and his mind-boggling repertoire of both original and traditional material will change the mind of the most hardened accordion skeptic. Dan draws influences for songs and tunes from such sources as French Musette, Gypsy Swing, Cajun, Jug band, Tex-Mex and Cumbia. He calls this global gumbo “ethnoclectic” music.

Daddy Squeeze entertains and enlightens his audiences with stories and colorful anecdotes about the accordion and his experiences while making a living playing the instrument he loves.

For further information: daddysqueeze@yahoo.com
Phone: 651-488-1174