Dan Treanor was first approached in 1994 by the Colorado Blues Society to start up it’s Blues in the Schools program. His first program that April reached about 30 children. Since that inauspicious beginning, Treanor estimates he has touched the lives of more than 100,000 children. With a master’s degree in American History, Dan’s unique presentation combines history with music. As he says, “it’s a 400-year ride in the classroom.” Several years ago, Dan also took up creating handmade African instruments like the diddley bow, khalam, cane flute, and ngoni so that students can get an up-close look at the instruments important to the blues. His influence spread to the Grand County Blues Society and Austin Blues Society who both asked Dan to help them start their BITS programs. Whether he takes his message to facilities for at-risk kids or hands out harmonicas to first graders, Dan Treanor is there to ensure that the blues is perpetuated.
