After five years with the Royal Canadian Navy (1964-1969), Dan joined the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton where he worked for thirty-one years. He retired from full time employment in November 2000 but has kept busy with part time work in a friend’s landscaping business and as a Technical Consultant with the Ottawa Public Library and subsequently with the City of Ottawa.

Dan has been married to his wife Eileen since 1967 and has two sons, Dean and Dale, of whom he is very proud, and four grandchildren, Alex, Deanna, Sabrina and Brett.

Dan has been involved in the country music industry for over forty years, having recorded his first single, "Rocking Reindeer", in 1959 at the age of thirteen. He returned to the studio in the year 2000 and recorded a CD entitled "Danny Boy". He has played with several bands over the years, including the Yakety Yaks and the Homesteaders, and he was the lead guitar player with Hi and Dri Country for over sixteen years. For almost 10 years, he was one of the lead vocalists and the rhythm guitar player with WRD, a trio that specialized in traditionally-based country music. Dan continues to make special appearances at musical events throughout the valley as requested.

Dan has been a member of the Hall of Fame Board of Directors since August 1990 and became the Treasurer in 1992. In 1999, Dan came up with the concept of holding community dances to further the Hall of Fame’s objectives of "promoting public interest in country music and organizing events at which it can be heard and enjoyed". The first dance, held in Vernon, Ontario, has become an annual event, and the Hall of Fame is working to develop three other dance locations in the Ottawa Valley.

For several years, Dan has chaired the Events Planning Committee and, working with other members of the Board ("a great production team", in his words), has put together all of the elements required for the production of the annual Awards Show and Induction Ceremonies as well as other HOF events. In 2000, Dan also took on the additional role of Producer of the Awards Show and has, to date, produced six consecutive successful events at Centrepointe Theatre. With the reorganization of the Board in 2002, Dan was appointed Director of Events Planning. Dan was inducted into the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame in September 2007.

Dan says "I am proud to be associated with a small group of very creative people who are dedicated to the goals and objectives of the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame, an organization that was formed to recognize the many talented people who made country music what it is today in the Ottawa Valley".