Dana Spigener:

Dana Spigener is a Texas-born, multi-skilled musician, and performer whom has become a respected fixture of the CenTex Live Music scene over the last several years, although he has performed and toured extensively during his musical career. Dana initially came to the Waco area in 1964 from his birthplace of Ft. Worth as a youth with his family after his father became Plant Engineer at the Mrs. Baird's Bakery here. He became interested in music prior to that at an early age and was a big fan of the music of the Platters and Carl Perkins. (Vocal harmony and amazing guitar, anyone?) Dana was drawn to the “heartbeat" of the music and initially learned to play the drums and still does. His brother Derek, who eventually toured for many years with Charlie Pride, soon took over the skins, and Dana took up bass guitar and along with Derek learned what a “rhythm section" means. Dana has added guitar, dobro, vocal harmony, songwriting, and harmonica to his musician's toolbox over the years.

Dana started his first band "Dana and the Delegation" at an early age and he has never looked back; always remaining open to new ideas and learning new techniques to enhance his skills at music performance and songwriting. This attitude allowed him to tour extensively with Derek as a member of country music star Janie Frickie's band. Even though he was not originally a Top 40 Country Music fan, Janie “boosted his interest and caught his ear”. In recent years he has performed as a solo artist and sideman with many notable musical artists and now performs as an Original Roots duo with his youngest daughter Jonna Mae. This duo was awarded an MACT Groovy Music Award for Duo of the Year and Dana also received the Instrumentalist of the Year Groovy Award that same year. The Music Association of Central Texas is fortunate that Dana brings his respect for his fellow songwriters and musicians, his strong advocacy for professional performance, and his commitment to professionalism with him to assist the MACT Board of Directors in furthering our mission. The Membership and our Board are fortunate to have him as a Director on the MACT Board!

His recommendation and motto for success in pursuit of a musical career is simply “Be everywhere and be nice to everyone". Very good advice, indeed!