Daniel grew up in Honolulu, Hawai’i, and began playing drums at the age of eight. He graduated from Punahou School in Honolulu and obtained a bachelor’s degree (Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa), from Brandeis University in Boston.

In 1991, Daniel moved to Los Angeles to continue his musical training at the Dick Grove School of Music. Upon graduation, Daniel worked as a freelance musician in Los Angeles, recording for a variety of independent labels and touring with jazz singer Barbara Morrison and veteran blues guitarist Debbie Davies. He has been a student of master teacher Freddie Gruber since 1992.

In 1994, Daniel brought his abilities to L.A. swing phenomenon Royal Crown Revue, the group that single handedly inspired today’s “Retro-Swing"” resurgence by combining 1940s sound and style with modern raw power. As the result of an extremely successful stint as the original house band at the Derby Club in Los Angeles, producer Ted Templeman signed the group to Warner Brothers Records in 1995. RCR’s releases, Mugzy’s Move (1996), Caught in the Act (1997), The Contender (1998 - on which Daniel co-wrote 5 tracks), Walk on Fire (1999) and Passport to Australia (2001) - have sold well over 400,000 units. RCR’s 2004 release, Greetings from Hollywood, was produced by Daniel.

Touring highlights with RCR include a headlining spot on the Van’s Warped Tours ‘97 and ‘99 (with stops in Europe, Australia and Japan), a spot on the 1998 Playboy Jazz Festival, and national tours with The B-52’s, The Pretenders, and KISS. The band performed with Bette Midler at the 1998 Billboard Music Awards, and was featured in the nation’s top jazz festivals (including Concord, Saratoga, Newport and JVC Lincoln Center). These days, RCR regularly tours the festival circuit in Europe, Australia and Japan. With RCR, Daniel has kept busy in the world of TV and film.

Recently, RCR’s music has been heard in the films Something’s Gotta Give, The Cat in the Hat, The Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School, Joe Kid on A Stingray, and the television shows Malcolm in the Middle and Wonder Falls. Outside of RCR, Daniel has performed and recorded with a variety of artists, including Gene Simmons, Bette Midler, Freddy Cole, Al Viola, and Page Cavanaugh, Mike Ness, Johnny Boyd, Robert Gordon, ska/reggae guitar great Earnest Ranglin, Unknown Hinson, the Michael Andrew Swing Orchestra, the Industrial Jazz Group and Mora’s Modern Rhythmists. He has been profiled numerous times in Modern Drummer magazine (including the cover story, Dec. ‘98), and has been featured in DRUM!, Classic Drummer, Stick It, and Drummerdude magazines.

In 2002, Daniel released his debut CD as a leader. The Daniel Glass Trio’s Something Colorful (produced by Daniel) was the flagship release for VeryTall Music, a label that Daniel co-founded. The DGT has toured internationally, with a 2002 European tour, and an appearance at the Havana International Jazz Festival in Cuba. A second VeryTall release - vibraphonist Eldad Tarmu’s Exotic Tales (also produced by Daniel) – came out in 2004, and Introducing the Rhythm Club All Stars was released in 2008.

In addition to his work as musician and producer, Daniel is an oft-published writer, clinician and music historian. He has published three books: The Ultimate History of Rock’n’Roll Drumming: 1948-2000 (2005), and The RCR Drum Transcription Book (2002), and the newly released Commandments of Early Rhythm and Blues Drumming (2008, Alfred Publishing). The first of its kind, this book/ CD package combines drum history with instruction, interviews of legendary players and never before seen photos and other drumming memorabilia.

Since 2003, Daniel’s engaging clinic/performance has brought to life the roots of popular American drumming, focusing on classic styles like swing, rhythm and blues, rockabilly and early rock’n’roll. The clinic has wowed audiences from Arizona to Australia and offers what swing drumming legend Louie Bellson calls a “delightful and refreshing approach” to keeping alive the history and traditions of drumming. Daniel has presented his clinic at schools, universities, drum shops, and festivals like the 16th Annual Chicago Show and the Hollywood Custom and Vintage Drum Show.

EQUIPMENT
Daniel endorses Drum Workshop (drums, pedals, hardware), Bosphorus Cymbals, Trueline Drumsticks (check out the Daniel Glass Signature Model), Regal Tip Brushes, Aquarian Drumheads, Revolution Drum Accessories, Power Wrist Builder practice sticks, Phatfoot Harnesses, and Diggit Stick Weights.