Dan Oxley, the son of missionary parents, was born and raised in Japan. It was there
that he began to learn to play the trumpet when he was 8 years old from a Japanese
music teacher who lived next door his experiences living in a country with so few
christians gave him the passion early in life to use his talent in sharing the gospel.
He literally grew up playing his trumpet on the street corners of japan
He attended school at the Christian Academy of Japan in Tokyo, but came to the U.S.
his senior year where he graduated from Wheaton Central High School in the Chicago
area. He then attended Grace College in Winona Lake, IN where he was introduced
to Jerry Franks and played in his revolutionary jazz band of the 70's, Dimensions
in Brass. In 1978, Dan left college to travel with the contemporary Christian group,
Truth. While traveling with Truth, Dan met singer Donna Carter, whom he married
in 1979. Together in 1980, they left the road and settled in the Los Angeles area
where they both finished college at Azusa Pacific University. After living in the
Los Angeles area for 10 years, they relocated in Nashville.
Over the years, Dan has toured extensively across America performing at festivals,
churches, conventions and colleges. Has has traveled to foreign countries such as
Russia, Japan, China, South Korea and North Korea. In 1992, he particapted in this
first International Christian Arts Festival in St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra.
In 1996, Dan was able to be one of a very few Americans allowed into North Korea
in the past 40 years. There, he participated in the international Spring Arts Festival
in which artists from over 40 countries participated. That year was was also part
of the JERUSALEM 3,000 GOSPEL MUSIC CELEBRATION, which commemorated the 3,000th
anniversary of the year the city was named capital of Israel.
Dan is a specialist on the EVI, an electronic valved wind controlled midi instrument.
It is featured on many of his recordings. Very few musicians have mastered the art
of the EVI, and Dan is one of them.
As a studio musician and producer, he has backed up numerous artists in both the
secular and Christian music field. Dan has his own home studio where he produces
all of his recordings as well as projects for outside clients. Dan has released
several solo albums including a Christmas album, an album dedicated to classic hymns
entitled THE HYMNS PROJECT, a pop album entitled A NEW DAY, a collection of his
concert favorites simple titles DAN OXLEY, and a praise and worship album entitled
THE DAN OXLEY PRAISE BAND.