Biography

As a child, Dennen was homeschooled, where he was given creative free rein by his parents. He spent much of his time learning to play music. After becoming proficient in the guitar, he started to write his own songs.

Dennen attended Camp Jack Hazard, a residential summer camp, as a child and adolescent, and worked there as a counselor. He has continued to help the camp, performing at a fundraiser in February 2012 for the Jack and Buena Foundation, which now runs Camp Jack Hazard. Brett's older sister and younger brother also attended the camp, and his mother has served on the board of directors of the Jack and Buena Foundation.

He attended UC Santa Cruz from 2000-2004, where he was a student at Kresge College. He led numerous anti-smoking campaigns on campus, and was instrumental in removing ash trays from building entrances.

Dennen has been a part of The Mosaic Project, a San Francisco Bay Area-based nonprofit organization, since its conception. The Mosaic Project works towards a peaceful future by uniting young children of diverse backgrounds, providing them with essential skills to thrive in an increasingly diverse society, and empowering them to strive for peace.

Musical career

In 2004, Dennen released his debut, self-titled album, Brett Dennen on a boutique indie label, Three Angels and A Saint Records, produced by Dennen & Leslie Merical. Denzyl Feigelson (of iTunes) heard Brett perform songs from this debut live in Ojai, and got hold of a burned CD, which he put in the hands of influential KCRW DJ Chris Douridas. When Douridas debuted "Desert Sunrise" on his Valentine's Day show in 2004, the response was huge, which ultimately lead to Dennen's record deal with Dualtone Records.

His second album, So Much More, includes the singles "Ain't No Reason", "She's Mine" and "Darlin' Do Not Fear".

Dennen also contributed a cover of "Private Life" to the 2006 tribute album Drink To Bones That Turn To Dust: A Toast To Oingo Boingo.

In an interview with American Songwriter magazine, Dennen acknowledged Paul Simon's significant influence on his music as well as commenting that Paul Simon's "“Graceland is my all time favorite album.”

Brett opened for John Mayer on his tour in 2008.

In 2008, "Darlin' Do Not Fear," from So Much More, was featured in the award-winning, independent film Sherman's Way.

As The Mosaic Project's Resident Rock Star, Dennen created an original musical curriculum for the program which they released as an album called Children's Songs for Peace and a Better World in 2003. It won a Children's Music Web 2004 Award and a Parent's Choice 2004 Approved Award.

Dennen was named by Rolling Stone magazine as an “Artist to Watch,” and in 2008, Entertainment Weekly called him one of its eight "Guys on the Rise". He has attended festivals such as the Rothbury Music Festival in Michigan, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Lyons Folk Festival, and the Mile High Music Festival in Colorado.

In 2008, Dennen, along with Jason Mraz, contributed the song "Long Road to Forgiveness" to the Survival International charity album Songs for Survival. Earlier in the fall, Dennen toured Australia with Pete Murray. In late October, Hope for the Hopeless, Dennen's third album, was released. The song "Ain't Gonna Lose You" was featured on Grey's Anatomy and topped the iTunes folk charts. The record reached number 6 in the digital charts, and was followed by a successful mini-tour.

On August 1, 2009, Dennen performed at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island.

On October 9, 2009, Brett Dennen appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.

In 2010 Dennen played at the Oulipo Ballroom in Kentucky. He played a mixture of Paul Simon covers along with unreleased tracks from his upcoming album. His fourth album, Loverboy, was released on April 12, 2011. In 2009, Dennen's song "She's Mine" was featured on the soundtrack for the movie According to Greta; in 2010, Dennen's song "Darlin' Do Not Fear" was featured on the soundtrack for the TV show Parenthood.

It was announced on July 22, 2013 that Dennen's fifth album, Smoke and Mirrors, is to be released on October 22, 2013. This news was accompanied with the first single, "Wild Child".

On October 24 "Sweet Persuasion" was featured on the TV show Parenthood. Songs "When We Were Young" and "Hard Times Come Again No More" were also used on other episodes of the drama.

"Comeback Kid (That's My Dog)" is the theme song on the NBC comedy, About A Boy. The song was also used in the series finale of 'Wizards of Waverly Place.

Discography

Albums.

Studio albums

• Brett Dennen (2004)
• So Much More (2006)
• Hope for the Hopeless (2008)
• Loverboy (2011)
• Smoke and Mirrors (2013)
• Por Favor (2016)

Live albums and EPs

• Peace EP (2006)
• (More) So Much More (2007)
• Live Sessions EP (iTunes exclusive) (2009)

Singles

• "Ain't No Reason" (2006)
• "Make You Crazy" ft. Femi Kuti (2008)
• "Heaven" ft. Natalie Merchant (2009)
• "Sydney (I'll Come Running)" (2011)
• "Comeback Kid (That's My Dog)" (2011)
• "Wild Child" (2013)
• "Out of My Head" (2014)

Other contributions

• Children's Songs for Peace and a Better World (2003)
• Drink to Bones That Turn to Dust: A Toast to Oingo Boingo (2006)
• Don't Think Twice, It's Alright - Ted Lennon & Brett Dennen (2007)
• CLIF GreenNotes Protect the Places We Play (2008) Find It Here
• Songs for Survival (2008)
• Parenthood (television soundtrack) (2010)
• The Protector (TV series) (2011)
• "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" for "Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International" (2012)
• "Colours_(Donovan_song)" for "Gazing With Tranquility - A Tribute to Donovan" (2015)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]