Chris Daniels

Chris "Spoons" Daniels (born September 30, 1952) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. A member of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, he is best known for his work with Chris Daniels & the Kings, a band he has led since 1984. He is considered an "icon of Colorado music" and is recognized for his role as a member of Magic Music, frequently described as Colorado's first jam band. In 2018 television producer Lee Aronsohn filmed and released an award winning documentary about the band titled, 40 Years in the Making: The Magic Music Movie. He first learned about the band when reading about Daniels.

After receiving his degree, Daniels returned to Colorado and formed Spoons, who in 1981 released the album Definitely Live on Sunshine Records. In 1982, he toured the United States with Russell Smith of the Amazing Rhythm Aces, performing on guitar, mandolin, and banjo. He also founded a late-night concert series called the "After Hours Jam" at the Sheridan Opera House in Telluride, during the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. He was the bandleader and master of ceremonies for the series, which also included performances by others. Daniels met David Bromberg at the After Hours Jam, and they later played together at concerts in Colorado, Chicago, and New York. In 1989, Daniels appeared on Bromberg's album Sideman Serenade. Following his tenure at Arapahoe, he joined the faculty of the University of Colorado, Denver. He is an assistant professor in the College of Arts & Media and serves as the area head for the music business program.

As a songwriter, Daniels has collaborated with artists including Gary Nicholson, Al Kooper, and Bill Payne and his songs have appeared on albums by Hazel Miller and Tom Wasinger, among others. Daniels' music has been featured on the television show Men in Trees, and, as a commercial singer, he has worked on commercials for companies including McDonald's, Ford Motor Company, and Coors Beer.

Daniels was a co-nominee for a 2013 Grammy Award for Jumpin' Jazz Kids, a children's album he worked on with Al Jarreau, Hubert Laws and Dee Dee Bridgewater. That same year, Daniels was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.

In 2015, Daniels released Funky to the Bone, which was critically acclaimed by international media outlets and blues and soul magazines including Downbeat and Roots Music Report. Daniels teaches full-time and performs more than 100 shows a year.

In early 2018, Daniels was named the executive director of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.

In 2021 Daniels, Hazel Miller and Dana March released What We Did, an album that raised funds for Inner City Health Center, a health and wellness provider for underserved populations in Denver and the surrounding metro area.

In 2024, 2024 Chris Daniels & The Kings with Freddi Gowdy released 40: Blues With Horns Volume II celebrating their 40th year.

Discography Year Title Artist Label Producer 1981 Definitely Live Spoons Sunshine Records 1983 Juggler Chris Daniels Next Coast Records 1985 Has Anyone Seen My Keys? Chris Daniels & The R&B Kings Harmony Records Bob Burnham 1987 When You're Cool Chris Daniels & The Kings Moon Voyage Records Jim Mason 1990 That's What I Like About the South Chris Daniels & The Kings Redstone Records/Provogue Al Kooper 1992 In Your Face Chris Daniels & The Kings Chris Daniels & The Kings Larry Wilkins 1994 Is My Love Enough Chris Daniels & The Kings Flying Fish Records/Sky Ranch-Virgin Records (Paris) Chris Daniels/Bill Payne 1995 Live Wired Chris Daniels & The Kings Flat Canyon Chris Daniels 1997 Louie Louie Chris Daniels & The Kings Moon Voyage Chris Daniels 2000 Choice Cuts: The Best of... Chris Daniels & The Kings K-Tel Records/Moon Voyage Records Chris Daniels 2003 The Spark Chris Daniels & The Kings Moon Voyage Records/Music & Words Records/Buffalo Records Chris Daniels 2005 10 Chris Daniels & The Kings Moon Voyage Records Chris Daniels 2008 Stealin' the Covers Chris Daniels & The Kings Moon Voyage Records Chris Daniels 2010 We'll Meet Again Chris Daniels & The Kings Moon Voyage Records/AmbianZ Records Chris Daniels/Henk Schoomacher 2012 Better Days Chris Daniels (solo album) Moon Voyage Records Chris Daniels/Jim Ratts/John McVey 2015 Funky to the Bone Chris Daniels & The Kings Moon Voyage Records Chris Daniels/John McVey 2017 Blues with Horns, Vol. 1 Chris Daniels & The Kings with Freddi Gowdy Moon Voyage Records