Dan Zanes: Creating Coolness and Commonality Through Social Music

Jul 17, 2025

Call It Social Music or All-Ages Music (or Both), the Grammy-wining Performer Shares His Recipe for Collaboration, Friendship, and the Democratization of Music

Grammy Award Winner and Smithsonian Folkways recording artist Dan Zanes proves that it’s much easier (and a lot more fun!) to get by with a little help from his friends. Zanes boasts a career full of collaborations with all kinds of music artists–from Lou Reed and Bob Weir to Rosanne Cash and Sheryl Crow–and, thanks in part to his tutelage, many of the younger artists he’s worked with have gone on to create established solo careers or collaborations of their own.

This week, another burgeoning performer, gospel singer Tyree Austin, will join Zanes and his music (and life) partner, Claudia Zanes, on stage at Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods to perform music from their latest album, “Pieces of Home,” along with some of the old favorites that made Zanes a household name for families nationwide. Purchase tickets here. Learn more about Zanes and his music philosophy:

A Musical Evolution

WOLF TRAP: Can you talk a little about the evolution of your music–from creating music for adults to writing music geared toward families and young children.

DAN ZANES: “When my daughter Anna was born 30 years ago, I went looking for music that we could listen to together–a shared experience! I grew up listening to [American folk singer] Lead Belly, Pete Seeger, and Ella Jenkins. I thought when I went into the store I’d find the updated version of those older Folkways records, but at that time it wasn’t really happening like that (except Jenkins, she was still recording great records). [Note: Zanes includes a tribute to Jenkins on his latest album.[

I was looking for something that we [my daughter and I] would both connect to emotionally. I’d been playing rock and roll in a band called The Del Fuegos and I decided to shift my focus and try to record this family-style music to see if I could capture the sound I heard in my head. That became Rocket Ship Beach, my first Dan Zanes and Friends release, in 2000.

For me, the Folkways model was a mix of old and new songs from a variety of places played and sung by a spirited group of people from different backgrounds. I think we achieved that. I call it social music.”

Favorite Collaborations

WT: Many of the artists who’ve performed at Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods have cited their collaborations with you as pivotal to the trajectory of their careers. What are some of your favorite collaborations?

DZ: “The people I always talk about are Sonia De Los Santos, Elena Moon Park, and the late, great Father Goose. They were all in my band, Dan Zanes and Friends, for many years. Sonia is a family music superstar at this point; her records and concerts are consistently inspired and uplifting. She’s Mexican and has always been a remarkable ambassador for the culture. Elena is someone who has created a completely unique space for herself in the family music world. The way she combines East Asian music with other influences is so natural and modern, but still rooted in tradition.

We lost Father Goose recently, and so many of us are still feeling it. He was a musical trailblazer and my first collaborator. When he came into the studio for the songs ‘Father Goose’ and ‘Sunny Side of the Street,’ I knew we were on a new path. He brought something so fresh to family music, and sometimes I think that when an artist is that far in front, they don’t always get the recognition that they deserve. He was on almost every one of my records, and the records that he made under his name are all fantastic. I think his Bam Bam Diddly is the best family music record of all time. [Note: Father Goose is featured in a song on Zanes’ latest album.]

But of all of the incredible collaborators, my favorite (of course!) is Claudia. Her background as a jazz vocalist and music therapist means that she has a completely fresh way of approaching this all-ages music. It feels like we’re just at the beginning of what we’re going to do musically.”

WT: Name something unique that each of your singers and musicians adds to your music.

DZ: “Right now, the musician that Claudia and I are most excited about is a young gospel singer named Tyree Austin. He has the spirit of play and experimentation that makes it possible for him to get right inside the songs. He and Claudia share a love of jazz that makes their musical conversations come alive. He’s also a sax player and a beatboxer, and he’s an awesome tambourine player. When we’re all together, we laugh a lot. This is more important than people might think.”

Connecting on an Emotional Level

WT: What topics are the most fun for you to write about?

DZ: “I’ve always tried to write songs that people of all ages could relate to, songs that could have meaning for a four-year-old and a grandparent. In other words, I’d write about friendship, or the weather, or the natural world before I’d write about learning to eat with a fork. There are endless possibilities when we think about songs that everyone can identify with on some emotional level.

We always hope that when people walk away from our concerts, they want to go out and make their own music. That’s what this is all about. Social music. That’s what we need, more than ever.”

To learn more about Dan and Claudia Zanes and their music visit: Dan + Claudia Zanes and find their new record here: The New Record – Pieces of Home. To view the full schedule of Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods’ summer season, visit wolftrap.org/woods.