Dan Stokes is a man of many talents - Artist, Singer, Interior Designer, Podcaster, and Counselor. A native of Joliet, Il, D holds a Master's in Education from Hunter College and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (a specialization in counseling for individuals with disabilities). He has served as an adjunct professor at Hunter College. He received a BFA from The Cooper Union for The Advancement of Art and Science, where he studied under painters Jack Whitten and

Irving Petlin , and photographers Norman Sanders and Christine Osinski. Dan’s artistic journey began while attending high school at The Chicago Academy for the Arts studying visual art. It was also at The Academy that he began to experiment in music and theatre. 

 

If you have déjà vu after hearing his voice, it is because you may have heard him before. As the baby-faced member of the R&B Soul group Solo. His identifiable smooth soulful tenor and ringing falsetto ring on hits like “Heaven , Touch me , Xxtra , Blowing my mind , Gone ," and many others. In Dan's voice, you can hear a myriad of the soulful influences of  Luther Vandross, Peabo Bryson, Jeffery Osborne, Babyface, El Debarge, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson. “I can’t help it, those were the voices that shaped my listening ear. The world knows part of my musical story. If you wanna really get to know me to listen to my music or check out some of my art, or the spaces I've designed." 

 

Iamdanstokes.com is Dan's way of merging and exposing all his creative selves. He insists that by nature, he is "a nurturer with an affinity and purpose for appreciating, studying, and creating beauty." 

 

Dan has worked professionally with Bazooka Bubble Gum, Michael Bolton, Chaka Kahn, Disney, LL Cool J, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Gerald Levert, Raphael Saadiq, Angie Stone, Kool, and the Gang, Mc Donald’s, Notorious BIG. Dan continues to paint, make music, design, and counsel. He lives in Brooklyn, New York where he is currently working on his first solo EP and a co-hosting a Podcast with indie jazz and soul artist