Juan Daniel Chávez (Born September 15, 1993 - Guadalajara, MX) is a Mexican-American international performing musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, educator and founder/ CEO of PCCCArts (est. 2020), a non-profit organization that partners with schools and community centered organizations to provide art & STEAM opportunities to students in communities across Chicago. Having 15 years experience in the entertainment industry, his formal career spans nearly 7 years working with musicians and artists from all around the world and across genres.
Early Life
Daniel grew up in Coos Bay Oregon and at a young age, he developed a love for 80’s Regional Mexicano and Top 40 Latin Hits such as “Como La Flor” by Selena; burning his parents and tios' cassette tapes to CDs to accommodate the new era of music consumption. At the age of 10, he picked up the clarinet, trumpet, and saxophone and played in his school's concert band hoping to one day play in a Mexican banda. After school, Daniel participated in the Oregon Coast Lab Band, a local non-profit with a mission to preserve jazz, America's musical legacy through education and performance where he performed with artists such as Mic Gillette, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy & Bria Skonberg. He continued to learn, record, and tour across the west coast with the lab band throughout high school, gaining valuable experience in the music industry.
Early Music Career
Daniel went on to graduate high school with honors and received a full-ride scholarship to attend the Oregon Center for the Arts (OCA) at Southern Oregon University (SOU) where he studied Music under mentors such as Rhett Bender, Terry Longshore, Cindy Hutton, Alexander Tutunov & Tony Hayes to name a few. During his time at OCA, he helped build the institutions developing jazz & pep band programs, student taught elementary school to college age students, participated in and wrote for multiple collegiate ensembles, and was a part of a foreign exchange program to South Korea. Outside of school, Daniel was performing with artists such as Morgan James with the Britt Festival Orchestra and was a part of the world premiere of “Natural History - Symphony for Nature'' on PBS. Daniel graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in music education w/ an emphasis on classical music in 2016.
Following graduation, Daniel recorded his first album as a leader, “Chillin’ with the Daniel Chavez Quartet” featuring Tony Hayes. This 5 song album features Daniel Chavez on Tenor saxophone, Brandon Crafts on Guitar, Garret Baxter on Bass, Jake Riggs on Drums, and guest appearance by Tony Hayes on Tenor saxophone.
Daniel then signed with Lime Entertainment, an agency that booked him to play and entertain on Royal Caribbean & Celebrity Cruise Lines, backing up comedians, dancers, and musical artists such as 90’s icon Deborah Cox. Throughout his time with Lime Entertainment, Daniel played on 7 cruise ships across fleets and traveled to more than 30 countries, working and connecting with people from over 100 nations.
After two and a half years traveling at sea, Daniel sought to be more grounded and closer to family. He moved to Los Angeles for a brief moment when he quickly realized he was looking for something different. Daniel took a trip to Chicago in the Fall of 2018 where he was swept up by the Windy City and has been planting roots ever since. He now resides in the Pilsen neighborhood with his wife Katrise.
Today
Daniel collaborates as a side man and leader with a broad array of artists in genres such as Regional Mexicano, Blues, Jazz, Latin, Pop, Hip Hop, and Soul; given Chicago's diverse music scene. He has recorded, written, and performed with artists such as ‘The Voice’ runner-up Katie Kadan, Marca MP with Banda Estrategia, Herman Olivera & Willy Garcia with the GFC International All-Star Big Band. You will frequently find him backing up Chicago raised chicana artist, Rosalba Valdez with Los Valientes. The group recently headlined alongside Chris Perez for NMMA’s 2023 “Selena Tribute Concert” in Chicago’s Jay Prtitzker Pavillon
As a community leader and organizer, Daniel is the founder, CEO and a mentor at The People's Center for Cultural & Contemporary Arts. The non-profit arts organization provides art and STEAM opportunities to students in under-resourced communities across Chicago by partnering with schools and community centered organizations. PCCCArts’ mission is to bridge the opportunity divide in low to moderate-income areas by providing enhanced access to the arts for youth and adults. We empower students with vital and adaptable creative skills so that they are equipped to overcome challenges, seize future opportunities, and build lifelong community connections. Daniel believes that the arts are a vehicle for celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion, creating sustainable connections to community and networks that afford greater opportunities.