Despite his well-earned, A-list celebrity built from decades of critically acclaimed acting performances, Jeff Daniels could well be your next-door neighbor.
In a way, it’s difficult to reconcile that the man who tells you humorous details about his personal life — such as fans following him into restrooms to seek autographs — with the much-lauded actor with key roles in films including “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” “The Squid and the Whale,” “The Crossing,” and, of course, “Terms of Endearment.”
“If I never do anything else but this, I’ll be happy,” Daniels said about recording and performing his often-humorous folk songs. “I’ve always been interested in it ever since I was a young kid and bought a guitar.”
Not that Daniels considers himself a musician. He has too much respect for those who’ve spent decades playing music to consider himself anything more than a visitor to that art form. Plus, he’s candid that if Broadway or a major motion picture calls, he’ll be interested.
Daniels shifted his focus from an actor who dabbled in music — writing songs and playing for the amusement of family and friends — to someone who recorded albums and gave concerts for the sake of the Purple Rose of Cairo professional theater he founded in Chelsea, Mich. When the theater company needed extra funds several years ago, Daniels brought his music into the public forum, recording albums and playing. He’s been at it ever since.
What he’s come to realize is that the musical direction is a perfect way to combine his experience in acting, comedy, production and other artistic elements.
“It became stories and comedies by someone who was able to do comedy in his acting career,” he said. “It’s a study of what makes something funny. It’s not just a joke well told but also one that has a common truth.”
Take the song “Daddy’s Little Daughter,” which details Daniels’ efforts to teach his then-teenage daughter to drive. Daniels deftly pulls the audience into the story, asking them about teaching children to drive. Then he lovingly tells his trepidation — outright fear, actually — as his often-distracted daughter took the wheel under his tutelage.
“At first she hated it,” Daniels said about his daughter’s reaction to the song. “Now she loves it.”
In fact, his daughter will occasionally join him onstage when he sings the song. She’ll even act out the parts with such props as a steering wheel rescued from a junk yard.
Talking about the 55 movies he’s made, including some he said will become classics and others he concedes weren’t well-done — Daniels said the transition into comedy/acting/folk/music is a perfect match for him.
“I’m thrilled to do this,” he said. “I’m happy going in my RV, driving to places and playing for people who want to see me.”
