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Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Denison Witmer| image = DenisonWitmer.jpg| caption = Denison Witmer| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Denison Stuart Witmer cite web |url= http://www.decapolis.com/musicreviews/interviews/denison.shtml|title=Denison Witmer Interview|accessdate=2012-05-06| origin = Lancaster, Pennsylvania | instrument = Guitar | genre = Acoustic music|Acoustic , Folk music|Folk , Folk Rock, Folk Pop, Alternative rock|Alternative Singer–songwriter | occupation = Songwriter, musician| years_active = 1995–present| label = The Militia Group Burnt Toast Vinyl Velvet Blue Music Fugitive Recordings Tooth & Nail Records Bad Taste Music (Europe) SPUNK& #33; (Australia) Ales Music (Korea) Asthmatic Kitty|Asthmatic Kitty Records (2012-present)| associated_acts =| website = http://www.denisonwitmer.com/ denisonwitmer.com| current_members =| past_members =| notable_instruments = Denison Witmer is an Independent music|indie singer-songwriter from Lancaster, Pennsylvania . His first release, in 1995, was a Compact Cassette|cassette titled My Luck, My Love . He has since released six studio LPs; two live albums, a cover album ( Recovered ); three Extended play|EP s; and an LP with The River Bends—a side project consisting of members of the Philadelphia-based alt-country band One Star Hotel . Witmer's 2005 album, Are You A Dreamer? , produced by Don Peris of The Innocence Mission and featuring Sufjan Stevens , received acclaim, including positive reviews from Pitchfork Media http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/23295-are-you-a-dreamer? artist_title=23295-are-you-a-dreamer Denison Witmer: Are You a Dreamer? : Pitchfork Record Review and Entertainment Weekly . http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1090032,00.html Are You a Dreamer? | Music Review | Entertainment Weekly Witmer and Stevens appeared on Rosie Thomas 's 2007 album These Friends of Mine , an album which included Rosie Thomas' version of Paper Doll, a track originally written and recorded by Witmer. Witmer toured with Rosie Thomas in support of that album in venues across the US and Europe.
Witmer's style has been described as "neo-folk." http://www.fwweekly.com/content.asp? article=1076 FWWeekly: Listen Up: Denison Witmer He has also been compared to 1970s-era singer-songerwriters, including Cat Stevens http://treblezine.com/reviews/950-Denison_Witmer_Are_You_a_Dreamer_.html? method=news Treble : Album Review : Denison Witmer - Are You a Dreamer? and Nick Drake . http://www.gallerylounge.com/artists/usa/pa/denison_witmer/index.shtml Beautiful House Gallery Lounge | Denison Witmer - Recovered Witmer's lyrics are poetic and thoughtful; his guitar work, while simple-sounding, relies on complex fingerpicking.citation needed|date=April 2008
Early Life
Denison Witmer was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.cite web |url= http://archives.nodepression.com/2005/09/is-he-a-singer-songwriter/|title=Denison Witmer & #8211; Is he a singer-songwriter? & laquo; Americana and Roots Music - No Depression|accessdate=2012-05-07 His guitar teacher was Don Peris.cite web |url= http://www.americansongwriter.com/2009/02/interview-denison-witmer/|title=INTERVIEW: Denison Witmer | American Songwriter|publisher= American Songwriter |accessdate=2012-05-07
Career
My Luck, My Love
Witmer released a cassette tape titled My Luck, My Love (album)|My Luck, My Love in 1995. The album was recorded as a project for an English class during Witmer’s senior year of high school. Only 250 copies were made, and the album was given to family and friends. Though My Luck, My Love (album)|My Luck, My Love is Witmer’s first release, he does not view it as his true debut but as the extension of a hobby.cite web |url= http://www.ondarock.it/interviews/denisonwitmer.htm|title=Denison Witmer :: le interviste di Onda Rock|accessdate=2012-05-06
Safe Away
Witmer released his first album Safe Away in 1998. The album, produced by Don Peris , was first self-released by Witmer. He began playing shows in an effort to sell the one thousand copies produced. The album sold out, and indie label Burnt Toast Vinyl approached Witmer, asking to re-release it.
Safe Away received a positive review from Allmusic : “Witmer proceeds through the setlist with the confidence and generosity of a seasoned songwriter, despite the journal-like candor of his lyrics.”cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/safe-away-r580729|title=Safe Away - Denison Witmer | AllMusic|accessdate=2012-05-07
Of Joy & Sorrow
Of Joy & Sorrow was released in 2001. Its title comes from The Prophet (book)|The Prophet by Khalil Gibran : “In one of the stories, the prophet is asked by a woman to talk about the meaning “of joy and sorrow” and then he replies: “... they are inseparable. Together they come, and when one sits, alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed. Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.”
Witmer released his third album, Philadelphia Songs , in 2002. The album was influenced by Witmer’s experience moving from a small town to a big city for the first time. Witmer had a difficult time adjusting to having most of his time taken up by an office job and losing inspiration, and the album was about the ups and downs of young adult life and.cite web |url= http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2002/12/his-philadephia.html|title=His Philadelphia :: Music :: Features | Paste Magazine|accessdate=2012-05-20
Whereas Safe Away was guitar and vocals and Of Joy & Sorrow was more orchestrated, Witmer stated that Philadelphia Songs strikes a balance between his first two albums: “I just feel like I accomplished something that I’ve been trying to accomplish for a while.”
The album was produced by Blake Wescott and features instrumental work by The Six Parts Seven .cite web|url= http://www.tollbooth.org/2002/features/witmer.html|title=Denison Witmer Interview - a Feature of The Phantom Tollboothcite web |url= http://www.burnttoastvinyl.com/new/releases/btv053.html|title=The Six Parts Seven :: The Attitudes of Collapse :: Burnt Toast Vinyl|accessdate=2012-05-21
Recovered
Witmer released a Covers_albums#Tributes.2C_tribute_albums_and_cover_albums|covers album titled Recovered in 2003.
Are You a Dreamer?
Witmer’s fifth album, Are You a Dreamer? , was released in 2005. It was produced by Don Peris who, along with Karen Peris, contributed instrumental and vocal work.
Are You a Dreamer? received a B+ review score from Entertainment Weekly: “His brand of happy anachronism is easy enough to fall into — if you can slow down long enough to enjoy it.”
In 2006, The Militia Group label re-issued his first album Safe Away as a special two-disc edition with new artwork and a bonus EP.cite web |url= http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/03/denison-witmer-ready-to-record-new-album.html|title=Denison Witmer ready to record new album :: Music :: News :: Paste|accessdate=2012-05-21
Beginning with his 30th birthday, Witmer started the website Happy Birthday Denison in which he offered 30 of his songs for free. They were new acoustic renditions of previously released songs, covers, and new offerings. Witmer intended to offer a new free song every year on his birthday. However, the website (previously located at happybirthdaydenison.com) is now down. Happy Birthday Denison also served as a fundraiser for Partners In Health and Musicians On Call , though no donations were required in order to download the songs.
Carry the Weight
Witmer released Carry the Weight in 2008. Produced at London Bridge Studios in Seattle , the album was Witmer’s attempt at a “real studio album.” Carry the Weight features James McAlister and Rosie Thomas on most songs, and Noah Harris.cite web |url= http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/11/catching-up-with-denison-witmer.html|title=Catching Up With... Denison Witmer :: Music :: Features :: Paste|accessdate=2012-05-21
The Ones Who Wait was first available in 2011 under the Mono Vs Stereo label. It received a wider release in 2012 after Witmer signed with Asthmatic Kitty|Asthmatic Kitty Records .cite web |url= http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2012/01/denison-witmer-announces-new-album.html|title=Denison Witmer Signs to Asthmatic Kitty :: Music :: News :: Paste|accessdate=2012-05-21
In Witmer’s own words, the album is about “patience and reverence. Being mindful and open to what you’re experiencing. A desire to take hold of what’s happening in your life, yet trusting the mystery of it enough to let go and participate rather than dictate.”cite web |url= http://asthmatickitty.com/the-ones-who-wait|title=Asthmatic Kitty Records : Denison Witmer & raquo; The Ones Who Wait|accessdate=2012-05-21
The album grew from an EP to a full-length album, described by Witmer as an “accidental record.” It was influenced by landmarks in Witmer’s life, including his marriage, the his father's death, and his first child's birth.cite web |url= http://sojo.net/blogs/2012/03/06/sojomusic-interview-denison-witmer-creating-space-where-truth-can-move|title=The SojoMusic Interview: Denison Witmer, 'Creating Space Where Truth Can Move' - Joshua Witchger | God's Politics Blog | Sojourners|accessdate=2012-05-21
CJ Camerieri, Devin Greenwood, James McAlister, Charles Staub, and Rosie Thomas contributed to The Ones Who Wait .
http://thealbumproject.net/2008/11/full-review-denison-witmer-carry-the-weight/ Full Review of 'Carry The Weight'
Persondata | NAME =Witmer, Denison | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = American singer-songwriter | DATE OF BIRTH = | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Witmer, Denison Category:American male singers Category:American singer-songwriters Category:American vegetarians Category:People from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Category:Living people Category:People from Lancaster, Pennsylvania Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
