DenHollinden.com/au is the Australian edition of the official music site of country music singer, recording artist, ASCAP songwriter and producer Den Hollinden. Den Hollinden music is a special blend of real country music, Americana and troop-support songs--fresh ideas and true emotion on the wings of traditional acoustic and vintage electrified sounds like steel guitar and Dobro. The Australian edition of the page concentrates on opportunities for listening to and helping to promote Den Hollinden music in Australia and where available, links to Den Hollinden projects that are more geographically friendly to listeners in Australia and Oceania. The Australian portion of DenHollinden.com and DENCOUNTRY.COM should be considered "under construction." Please report any problems you notice as you surf.
DenCountry.com is another name for DenHollinden.com. The thought was that Den Hollinden isn't the easiest name in the world to spell. The den on each end is easy enough, but what to do with the middle can cause problems. For example, does Hollinden have one L or two? Is the next part in or en? You get the idea. Most people remember there's this guy named Den who sings country. If that's all you remember, you've got all the info you need to get to Den Country.
(Read more about Den Country...)
Den Hollinden roles in the music business:
Den Hollinden: Country music singer
Although Den Hollinden is a Hoosier by birth and many of his songs are about his native Southern Indiana, musically he ascribes to the Texas singer/songwriter tradition. He won't generally sing somebody else's work without a good reason, and whenever gender-appropriate, it will be his voice you hear performing the music he writes. That voice is from an earlier time in the evolution of country music when voices were more distinctive, and it was easier to tell one singer apart from the next. Den's is a rich, reassuring baritone which Den's music is tailor-made to use as the vehicle for its message.
Den Hollinden is a member of the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM).
Den Hollinden: Recording artist
Den Hollinden is a recording artist for Washington DC area Denuine Records™. He is also a member of the premiere professional organization for that profession, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) the Grammy people. Den Hollinden music can be found on compact disc (CD) and digital media such as MP3 files.
Den Hollinden: ASCAP songwriter
Den Hollinden is a prolific songwriter and composer affiliated with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), placing him in the company of songwriters like country star Alan Jackson and Paul Dresser, author of "On the Banks of the Wabash Far Away," the Indiana state song. Hollinden's musical style runs the gamut from traditional country music through hillbilly and something bordering on Bluegrass. The more contemporary-styled songs tend more toward country rock than to pop. Subject matter often causes Hollinden's music to be classified as Americana, patriotic or Christian.
Den Hollinden music is published by Denuine Publishing™ (ASCAP.)
Den Hollinden: Producer
Den Hollinden's involvement with his music touches all phases of its development, from initial song idea to shrinkwrapped end product and beyond. An important step along that path is production. When arrangements are being hammered out and a particular microphone being selected for a track in a project, it will be Den making the decisions. This end-to-end attention is what ensures finished songs convey precisely the emotion envisioned.
Den Hollinden: Live entertainer
After a near-eternity of being locked away in the studio writing, recording and producing, Den has begun to perform live again. Recent live dates in the Washington DC area were Den's first non-studio work since performing his "Old 124" for Jasper, Indiana's WJTS TV viewers. Show dates will be posted here and on related sites when a more regular schedule materializes. In the meantime, you have at least a measureable chance of catching Den at Songwriters Association of Washington (SAW) and Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) events throughout the Washington DC area, as well as at the Austin Grill in Silver Spring, Maryland (Montgomery County) on Monday nights. The best ways to keep informed are to sign up for Den's email newsletter, become Den's MySpace friend and visit DenHollinden.com/DenCountry.com often.
How to classify Den Hollinden music:
Den Hollinden music: Real country
Den Hollinden music has the raw, real sound of traditional country music much like that of country's founding fathers. Acoustic instruments like acoustic guitar, Dobro and mandolin are preferred over electrified versions, and vintage electrified instruments like steel guitar and 50's model electric guitars are preferred over electronically synthesized sound bytes. The end result is a rootsy, honest feel that's vital and interesting without making your ears bleed. Den's approach to music has won him fans even among the ABC (anything but country) crowd who strongly dislike the music played on top 40 "country" radio.
Den Hollinden music: Americana
Much Den Hollinden music can be classified by subject matter as Americana--simple songs about the day to day events that define American life. Many of these songs were inspired by real happenings in Den's native southern Indiana (mainly Dubois and Spencer counties.) Good examples are "St. Henry Christmas" that takes you all the way from the Bungalow Bar in Den's St. Henry, Indiana hometown, through Evansville, Indiana (the nearest town of any size) and beyond before bringing you right back home to St. Henry Church. "The Basketball Song" is inspired by a big basketball win by the Forest Park Rangers in nearby Ferdinand, Indiana. Quite a few towns in the surrounding community have their own songs: from "Girls of Holland, IN" to "Christmas in Huntingburg," the location of Southridge High School where Den graduated.
Appropriately, the area that hatched many Den Hollinden songs also enjoys the benefit of the end product. Den Hollinden music--including "St. Henry Christmas"--has been played on Southern Indiana radio/TV, including WBDC radio in Huntingburg, Indiana and WJTS television in Jasper, Indiana. "St. Henry Christmas" is now just as much of a Dubois County tradition as the other popular local holiday tune, "Dubois County Christmas."
Even Hollinden's current location, the Washington, DC area/Northern Virginia, gets a nod with "How to Be a Country Star in DC" that Den has performed live both at Songwriters Association of Washington (SAW) events, as well as at the Austin Grill in Silver Spring (Montgomery County) Maryland.
"Biggest Hearts in Texas" was written to help raise money for pediatric cancer patient Merrik Medrano at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Den Hollinden is a member of the Americana Music Association (AMA).
Den Hollinden music: Troop support songs
As a former United State Marine and Desert Storm veteran who served in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq with the Fourth Civil Affairs Group (4th CAG), Den Hollinden puts a high priority on using his musical talent to help support our troops and veterans--particularly those from the current Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The result includes a song about Patrick Miller called "Broke Stuff" and one about Jessica Lynch called "I Am a Soldier Too." All these songs were written for Den's SOMEBODY OVER THERE album. SOMEBODY OVER THERE's title song tells the story of war from the viewpoint of families missing a loved one serving overseas. Some of these are both Americana as well as troop/veteran support songs. A good example is "Old 124" that salutes both the spirit of our military veterans as well as the Ferdinand Legion (American Legion Post 124 in Ferdinand, Indiana.)
Internet legends were born with "Friendly Fire," Den's answer to the Dixie Chicks song "Travelin' Soldier" and (along with "Toby, Pass the Duct Tape") their infamous "just so you know" comment.
Den Hollinden music is for you
Everything Den Hollinden does musically is for you, his fans. Den Hollinden music is a group effort involving Den's various activities, yes, but with your experience as the key element. Nothing Den does has meaning until the sound he produces touches your ears, until the emotion he communicates touches your heart. Please take a moment to let Den know how he's doing, then come star in his show!
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