Tyrrell County residents were offered a chance to see a unique musical performance in Columbia on March 15.

The Daniel Jordan Band is comprised of Daniel Jordan, Robbie Raper, Steve Saylor, and Jerry Drew and lists Elizabeth City as it hometown.

Behind the shows, practices, and loyal fan base lies an unique story of talent and friendship.

Daniel Jordan grew up in a family that dabbled in music.  His mother was involved in the church choir and his father played drums.

Self taught on the acoustic guitar, he played for only himself the majority of the time dabbling a bit in his teenage years with a garage band composed of friends.  He never pursued anything on a public level until he was confined to his bed after a severe injury during his annual trip to Snowshoe.
“That’s when I began to write and pour my heart into my music,” Daniel said.

Jordan told how on July 26, 2011 he attended a Keith Urban concert with a friend and was picked as one of the three friends to come on stage with Keith and sing a few lines from a song for a chance to duet with the country star.

“It was an amazing moment.  The videos were on YouTube before I could even get home,” he said.

By the fall Daniel was finally offered a chance to do an acoustic show at a local bar.  His now lead guitarist offered to do sound and the very next month they officially formed a duet.

“A year later, Jerry and Steve joined us to form a down to earth, unpretentious four piece that makes you feel like you are at a jam session with four buddies throwing back a few,” Jordan said.
The band plays predominantly older and newer country.

We are always putting a (sometimes small) twist on whatever they play to make it our own and it never fails to please.   We can be in the middle of a set playing a little Lynyrd Skynyrd and then move into Purple Rain by Prince,” said Jordan.

So, although by definition they are a country band, Jordan outlined how they draw their influence from no one particular genre or artist.

“We appreciate music as a whole.  Great music is great music,” said Jordan

The band has spent the majority of its union in Elizabeth City and the surrounding areas, playing both public and private events.

Some of the locations include but (in Elizabeth City)- Big Daddy’s Grouper’s, Logan Rays, The Pines Country Club, Courtney’s, Last Call, and The Potato Fest 2013.

The band has played festivals such as the Hog Fest and the Edenton Annual festival in Hertford and Edenton areas and has now branched out to other locations.

“We have played Kelly’s OBX and are currently booked for events with Morgan’s Corner Proving Grounds Mud Bog and their affiliate in Currituck as well as Toby Keith’s country bar in Newport News, VA and many more are in the works,” said Jordan.

DiAnna Jordan, Daniel’s wife, handles most of the bookings, merchandise, PR, marketing/ media for the band.

“We are in the process of some major changes in all of the media and merchandise departments.  We have some major positive improvements in the works and many updates and upgrades with our website, Facebook, and merchandise,” said DiAnna.

The band does not currently have a CD available.
One of the goals is to solidify a date to lay down a few originals and additional information will be available soon,” said DiAnna.

DiAnna provided some parting thoughts and advice about the band and her journey thus far.
She offered words of encouragement for aspiring musicians.
“I would say from my perspective that its fun, its hard, its frustrating, and rewarding. But do not worry about whether or not you become famous, do it if you love it and push to go as far as you want to get.  Even if you never get a record deal, the support and love from local fans and friends and the good times you have with them is worth the passion and effort,” she said.