Dan Robertson is a man of many interests. Exposed to sacred and secular music from a young age, Dan began studying music as a singer in various school and private choirs, including the renowned Atlanta Boy Choir. He began learning viola in the 4th grade and baritone/tuba in 5th grade. He received scholarships and attended the Illinois Summer Youth Music programs (University of Illinois) for several years as well as Georgia Youth Music Program for two for years. Playing for a variety of orchestras including the Lorain County Community Orchestra (1st chair), he concurrently performed in the high school choirs, and symphonic and marching bands. He participated in many Illinois Music Educators Assn. competitions for both solo and ensemble strings and brass. He was the lead singer for the rock and roll band Medusa and began self-study of guitar. With a scholarship for music, he graduated from Westlake, OH high school and attended The College of Wooster (major in psychology, minor in music theory/history). He was a member of the Wooster Scots Marching Band, played bass guitar in the jazz band and performed with the Wooster Chorus for several years.
He formed his first company in 1985, FRAMEWORK Video & Sound, an educational and documentary film production company. He has worked in the video / photography industry and has produced several programs including: The Art of Chinese Tea – The Tea Ceremony and Clan Donnachaidh – The History of the Children of Duncan. He is a student of martial arts and has been an instructor of Tai Ji Quan for over 30 years, elevated to Shifu (master) in 2004 and having instructed over 5000 students. He performed with the Village Theater Guild (Glen Ellyn, IL) and played guitar for the Wheaton Theater Guild’s production of Pippin.
Then… he took a 40 year “hiatus.” from music.
With passing fluency in Chinese, in 1994 Dan traveled to China to film a documentary on tea and ended up developing a passion for tea. He formed The Tea House, importer, blender and purveyor of premium teas from around the world. He also formed World Tea Tours, the first commercial tea tourism company which began with the China Tea Tour then expanded to many Asian tea producing countries. Either for tea sourcing or leading tea tours, over the past 30 years, Dan has traveled all over China, India, Japan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, S. Korea, A frequent writer for tea related publications and with a reputation as an expert in tea, he has served as a judge at international tea competitions and lectured on a vast array of tea topics to both public and private audiences. In 2011 he formed the International Tea Cuppers Club and in 2020 founded and became Headmaster at the International Tea Training Center in Mexico. He also formed his own hubristic tea company robertson*tea which offers only limited production, unique and rare teas.
Around 2017, Dan received a keyboard from his brother which rekindled his love for music. While not a keyboard player he managed to write several dozen musical pieces in many genres, from pop, folk, R&R, blues, jazz, classical and even pipe organ. In 2023 he also revived his viola playing, performing with his brother Jim’s bands and friends. His instrument of choice now is a custom-made 5 string electric viola with which he gets to indulge himself playing all kinds of music. He has also enjoyed playing with friends in Mexico.
AND… after finding his happy place on the Caribbean beaches of Mexico, he found the inspiration to write not only more songs but also a series of stories about a (hopefully) legendary hero named Guillermo la Tortuga. While at first they seeming like children’s books, the stories are actually poems and use not only some more elegant language but a few simple Spanish words as well. The enchanting stories, written under the pen name Roberto de la Playa, begin with The Original and Truthful Legend of Guillermo la Tortuga, (illustrated by Ramona Wickstrom), published in September of 2024. The second story, An Alux on the Loose is currently being illustrated while the remaining tomes Tortuga and the White Widow and Creatures of la Noche are waiting patiently for their turn at the paint brush. The last two stories are inspired by the charm and mystique of the real-life boutique jungle retreat Villa Tortugas in Akumal, Mexico (which Dan and his wife happen to own).
Dan is very pleased and humbled to release his first two solo albums. Pippa’s Purple Palace is a collection of songs ranging from soulful reflections of bye gone days, fantastical and perhaps provocative tunes about special places and people to humorous, tongue-in-cheek melodies and lyrics that are reminiscent of the old Tin Pan Ally music days from the early 1900s, but with some contemporary twists. It was recorded in New Orleans and reflects the musical stylings of the area.
Forty Years After represents more modern melodies and arrangements but with lyrics about timeless emotional favorites like regret, sadness, lost love, gratitude, faith and even moonshine and murder. Recorded in Nashville, the songs give a country feel with steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, and piano but also rowdy saxophone, romantic flute and blistering, though melodic, electric guitar solos.
So, whether it’s music, poetry, tea, tai ji, or intriguing stories, welcome to the unconventional but always colorful world of Dan Robertson.