Dann Huff

Dann Lee Huff (born November 15, 1960) is an American record producer, studio musician and songwriter.^[3] For his work as a producer in the country music genre, he has won several awards, including the Musician of the Year award in 2001, 2004, and 2016 at the Country Music Association Awards and the Producer of the Year award in 2006 and 2009 at the Academy of Country Music.^[4] He is the father of American singer and songwriter Ashlyne Huff and brother of Giant and White Heart drummer David Huff.

Dann Huff
Birth name	Dann Lee Huff
Born	(1960-11-15) November 15, 1960 (age 62)
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.^[1]
Genres	Country hard rock contemporary Christian music glam metal^[2]
Occupation(s)	Record producer songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals guitar
Years active	1976–present
Formerly of	Giant

Career

Huff grew up in Nashville and attended Brentwood Academy.^[5] His father, Ronn Huff, was an arranger, composer and conductor who wrote orchestrations for film and television and was the pops conductor for the Nashville Symphony.^[6][7] Huff began his career as part of the original Christian rock band White Heart in which he played with his brother David Huff,^[8][9] and later in the melodic hard rock band Giant. He has since then been active as a session guitarist and producer in both rock music and country music with his first guitar recording debut for Ron Haffkine and Kyle Lehning. In the 1980s, Huff played guitar on albums for Michael Jackson, Amy Grant, Scritti Politti, Whitesnake, Roger Hodgson, Steven Curtis Chapman, Doro Pesch, Juice Newton, Michael W. Smith, Whitecross, George Benson,^[10] Whitney Houston's debut album Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand,^[11] Kenny Rogers,^[12] Warren Hill and more.^[13][14] Since the 1990s, Huff has been working as a producer for various bands and artists, touring with Hank Williams, Jr, some of which include Faith Hill, Megadeth, Rebecca St. James, Rascal Flatts^[15] and Lonestar.^[16]

The songs Huff has played on include Whitesnake's 1987 US radio version of "Here I Go Again"^[17] and Michael W. Smith's Go West Young Man.^[18]

In 2012, Taylor Swift produced three songs with Huff and Nathan Chapman for her fourth studio album, Red.^[19]

Collaborations

• Born to Love – Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack (1983)
• Emergency – Melissa Manchester (1983)
• Nightline – Randy Crawford (1983)
• Righteous Anger – Van Stephenson (1984)
• Straight Ahead – Amy Grant (1984)
• What About Me? – Kenny Rogers (1984)
• Can't Wait All Night – Juice Newton (1984)
• Civilized Man – Joe Cocker (1984)
• Starchild – Teena Marie (1984)
• Michael W. Smith 2 – Michael W. Smith (1984)
• Emotion – Barbra Streisand (1984)
• Dancing with Danger – Sam Phillips (1984)
• I Feel for You – Chaka Khan (1984)
• Self Control – Laura Branigan (1984)
• The Wonders of His Love – Philip Bailey (1985)
• Unguarded – Amy Grant (1985)
• Mathematics – Melissa Manchester (1985)
• Hold Me – Laura Branigan (1985)
• 20/20 – George Benson (1985)
• Jane Wiedlin – Jane Wiedlin (1985)
• Watching You Watching Me – Bill Withers (1985)
• Say You Love Me – Jennifer Holliday (1985)
• Black and White in a Grey World – Sam Phillips (1985)
• Take No Prisoners – Peabo Bryson (1985)
• Suspicious Heart – Van Stephenson (1986)
• Cocker – Joe Cocker (1986)
• Headed for the Future – Neil Diamond (1986)
• The Big Picture – Michael W. Smith (1986)
• Winner in You – Patti LaBelle (1986)
• Destiny – Chaka Khan (1986)
• Emotional – Jeffrey Osborne (1986)
• Like a Rock – Bob Seger (1986)
• Solitude/Solitaire – Peter Cetera (1986)
• True Blue – Madonna (1986)
• So Glad I Know – Deniece Williams (1986)
• They Don't Make Them Like They Used To – Kenny Rogers (1986)
• Heart Over Mind – Jennifer Rush (1987)
• Swing Street – Barry Manilow (1987)
• I Prefer the Moonlight – Kenny Rogers (1987)
• Reservations for Two – Dionne Warwick (1987)
• Get Close to My Love – Jennifer Holliday (1987)
• Emotion – Juice Newton (1987)
• All Systems Go – Donna Summer (1987)
• Everlasting – Natalie Cole (1987)
• Bad – Michael Jackson (1987)
• Heaven on Earth – Belinda Carlisle (1987)
• Brazilian Romance – Sarah Vaughan (1987)
• Rainbow – Dolly Parton (1987)
• Get Here – Brenda Russell (1988)
• One More Story – Peter Cetera (1988)
• Forever Your Girl – Paula Abdul (1988)
• Not Me – Glenn Medeiros (1988)
• I 2 (EYE) – Michael W. Smith (1988)
• Till I Loved You – Barbra Streisand (1988)
• Oasis – Roberta Flack (1988)
• Lead Me On – Amy Grant (1988)^[20]
• Other Roads – Boz Scaggs (1988)
• The Rumour – Olivia Newton-John (1988)
• In the City of Angels – Jon Anderson (1988)
• Union – Toni Childs (1988)
• Back to Avalon – Kenny Loggins (1988)
• Bowling in Paris – Stephen Bishop (1989)
• Soul Provider – Michael Bolton (1989)
• Like a Prayer – Madonna (1989)
• Christmas – Michael W. Smith (1989)
• Mr. Jordan – Julian Lennon (1989)
• Be Yourself – Patti LaBelle (1989)
• Barry Manilow – Barry Manilow (1989)
• Laura Branigan – Laura Branigan (1990)
• For the Sake of the Call – Steven Curtis Chapman (1990)
• Other Voices – Paul Young (1990)
• Go West Young Man – Michael W. Smith (1991)
• The Fire Inside – Bob Seger (1991)
• Heart in Motion – Amy Grant (1991)
• Show Me Your Way – Glen Campbell (1991)
• Vagabond Heart – Rod Stewart (1991)
• Home for Christmas – Amy Grant (1992)
• Change Your World – Michael W. Smith (1992)
• Wings of Victory – Glen Campbell (1992)
• The Great Adventure – Steven Curtis Chapman (1992)
• If Only My Heart Had a Voice – Kenny Rogers (1993)
• Home for the Holidays – Glen Campbell (1993)
• The Way That I Am – Martina McBride (1993)
• Duets – Elton John (1993)
• The One Thing – Michael Bolton (1993)
• Take Me as I Am – Faith Hill (1993)
• Through the Fire – Peabo Bryson (1994)
• Merry Christmas – Mariah Carey (1994)
• Heaven in the Real World – Steven Curtis Chapman (1994)
• Not a Moment Too Soon – Tim McGraw (1994)
• Let the Picture Paint Itself – Rodney Crowell (1994)
• House of Love – Amy Grant (1994)
• Christmas Spirit – Donna Summer (1994)
• It Matters to Me – Faith Hill (1995)
• I Think About You – Collin Raye (1995)
• Little Acts of Treason – Carlene Carter (1995)
• Dreaming of You – Selena (1995)
• Fire to Fire – Tanya Tucker (1995)
• The Music of Christmas – Steven Curtis Chapman (1995)
• One Clear Voice – Peter Cetera (1995)
• The Woman in Me – Shania Twain (1995)
• All I Want – Tim McGraw (1995)
• A Very Fine Love – Dusty Springfield (1995)
• Jesus Freak – dc Talk (1995)^[21]
• Shake (John Schlitt album) - John Schlitt (1995)
• Wild Angels – Martina McBride (1995)
• This Is The Time: The Christmas Album – Michael Bolton (1996)
• Blue – LeAnn Rimes (1996)
• Christmas: The Gift – Collin Raye (1996)
• Summer of '78 – Barry Manilow (1996)
• I'll Lead You Home – Michael W. Smith (1996)
• Revelations – Wynonna Judd (1996)
• Unfit for Swine - John Schlitt (1996)
• All That Matters – Michael Bolton (1997)
• Burnin' Daylight - Burnin' Daylight (1997)
• Let's Talk About Love – Céline Dion (1997)
• Everywhere – Tim McGraw (1997)
• Behind the Eyes – Amy Grant (1997)
• Higher Ground – Barbra Streisand (1997)
• Love's Been Rough on Me – Etta James (1997)
• Come On Over – Shania Twain (1997)
• The Other Side – Wynonna Judd (1997)
• Evolution – Martina McBride (1997)
• The Walls Came Down – Collin Raye (1998)
• A Body of Work – Paul Anka (1998)
• Faith – Faith Hill (1998)
• These Are Special Times – Céline Dion (1998)
• Shot Full of Love – Billy Ray Cyrus (1998)
• Live the Life – Michael W. Smith (1998)
• Breathe – Faith Hill (1999)
• Emotion – Martina McBride (1999)
• Timeless: The Classics Vol. 2 – Michael Bolton (1999)
• Southern Rain – Billy Ray Cyrus (2000)
• This Way – Jewel (2001)
• Cry – Faith Hill (2002)
• What the World Needs Now Is Love – Wynonna Judd (2003)
• Martina – Martina McBride (2003)
• When the Sun Goes Down – Kenny Chesney (2004)
• This Woman – LeAnn Rimes (2005)
• Fireflies – Faith Hill (2005)
• Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood (2005)
• Water & Bridges – Kenny Rogers (2006)
• Whatever We Wanna – LeAnn Rimes (2006)
• Waking Up Laughing – Martina McBride (2007)
• Family – LeAnn Rimes (2007)
• Joy to the World – Faith Hill (2008)
• Shine – Martina McBride (2009)
• Stronger – Kelly Clarkson (2011)
• Eleven – Martina McBride (2011)
• Red – Taylor Swift (2012)
• You Can't Make Old Friends – Kenny Rogers (2013)
• Everlasting – Martina McBride (2014)
• Down to My Last Bad Habit – Vince Gill (2016)
• Reckless – Martina McBride (2016)
• Playing with Fire – Jennifer Nettles (2016)
• The Rest of Our Life – Tim McGraw, Faith Hill (2017)
• Wide Open – Michael McDonald (2017)
• Bridges – Josh Groban (2018)

References

1. Dillon, Charlotte. "Dann Huff biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
2. Dunkerley, Beville (June 11, 2014). "Dann Huff on Faith, Keith and Rock-Infused Country". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
3. "Producer Profile: Dann Huff". Rolling Stone. June 11, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
4. "Winner". Academy of Country Music. Retrieved December 16, 2016. Enter Dann Huff in the search field.
5. "Eagles" Brentwood Academy Yearbook. Nashville: Brentwood Academy. 1978.
6. Bostick, Alan (January 23, 2000). "Manchester at ease with orchestra". The Tennessean. p. 10F. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
7. Oermann, Rober K. (May 25, 1983). "Tree signs Ronn Huff To Key Post". The Tennessean. p. 1D. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
8. Rosenthal, Traja (March 14, 1987). "White Heart Beats". Lodi News-Sentinel. Lodi, California, USA. p. 5. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
9. Cusic, Don (2009). Encyclopedia of contemporary Christian music: pop, rock, and worship. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 461. ISBN 978-0-313-34425-1.
10. "20 20 by George Benson @ARTISTdirect". ARTISTdirect. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
11. "Emotion by Barbra Streisand @ARTISTdirect". ARTISTdirect. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
12. "What About Me by Kenny Rogers @ARTISTdirect". ARTISTdirect. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
13. Songs and Albums on which Dann Huff played on
14. Biography of Giant/Dan Huff on Allmusic.com
15. Tucker, Ken (April 15, 2006). "Hitting the high notes". Billboard. e5 Global Media. p. 38. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
16. "Lonely Grill - Lonestar - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
17. Prown, Pete; Newquist, HP (1997). Legends of rock guitar: The essential reference of rock's greatest guitarists. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 211. ISBN 0-7935-4042-9.
18. "1990 album: Go West Young Man". Artist Direct. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
19. "Red - Taylor Swift | Credits". AllMusic.
20. "Lead Me On - Amy Grant | AllMusic". AllMusic.
21. "Jesus Freak - dc Talk | AllMusic". AllMusic.

External links

• Dann Huff discography at Discogs