Vocal artist, dancer celebrates life

Considering he couldn’t walk until he was 2 years old, the fact Jamie Daniel is a dancer and choreographer is something he celebrates every day.

With his heart.

His voice.

And of course, his shoes.

With dulcet tones and a confident stride, the Centennial singer, songwriter, dancer and choreographer describes his music and accompanying onstage performance as simply “a festival with my feet.”

Daniel, who was born and raised in North Carolina, got his start in gospel music in his early teens in the church choir.

However, he got his start in dancing at the hands of his grandmother who prayed for him to walk — every day.

And eventually he did.

Although Daniel says he doesn’t remember the event himself, “my grandmother said I just got up one day and started walking, and I haven’t stopped since.”

Daniel came west to attend Marilyn Hickey Bible College. His love and talent for music would soon find him a sought-after performer for local events and weddings.

With the encouragement of a friend, Daniel would again point his compass to the west.

This time to California.

“I was feeling a bit stagnated as an artist,” he said. “While I enjoyed what I was doing, I knew I was called to do something that was outside of the four walls of the church.”

Living in and around Orange County, Daniel would find success as well as many personal challenges.

By 1999, he appeared on “Your Big Break,” a talent show produced by Dick Clark, and would later become a regular with the Gospel Komedy Slamm, a family-friendly live variety show.

But now married, and with two young boys, Daniel and his wife Christina Phillips felt they needed a more stable platform to raise their family.

So they returned to Centennial, where he now works with Word of Life Christian Center in Lone Tree.

Daniel said the move also gave him a more stable platform to pursue his art.

Life in the ’burbs enabled him to slow down, to reach into his soul and find the sounds he longed to have.

Under the management of the Tate Music Group, Daniel just released his first CD of eight self-penned songs entitled “Live to Love,” a collection of spiritual songs with a jazzy, silky twist.

But Daniel said his new endeavors are not likely to change him, like many artists.

“My time in California has seasoned me,” he said. “I’ve seen what to do in this business, and what not to do. I plan to keep doing what I’ve always done … just keep it all in perspective.”

Daniel’s music is available online through most music outlets.