East Nashville musical duo, The Danberrys, have a new record out called “Shine” and it’s one any fan of “funky and folky” Americana music needs to hear. The Danberrys are Dorothy Daniel and Ben DeBerry who are married to each other and have made highly acclaimed music together since 2009. Give a watch and listen to Ben’s swampy guitar and Dorothy’s soulful voice on their video for “The Road” from the new LP. Then play it in your car for full effect!

Of course, there’s no live shows until things clear up, but watch their Facebook page for some occasional streams. Thanks Dorothy and Ben for your 11 Answers. Let’s all get to know The Danberrys!  

PS – I couldn’t get away without acknowledging that Ben is the first musician in this series to apparently get up early enough to escape East Nashville for the M-F 11am-3pm pizza at the fabulous Joey’s House of Pizza. Same goes for giving the secret handshake to Dorothy as a fellow CPA!

Where are you from originally, when did you move to Nashville and why?

Dorothy: I was born in Nashville and grew up right outside of Nashville in Dickson, TN. I moved back to Nashville after college for my first accounting job (Yes, I’m also a CPA).

Ben: I was born in Peoria, IL, but also grew up in Dickson (We were high school sweethearts). We broke up for about five years after school, and I was teaching music and living in Cookeville, TN when we ran back into each other. I moved to Nashville to live with Dorothy when we got married four months later.

What are the first and the last records you bought, and where did you buy them? Were they CD, vinyl or digital?

Dorothy: I’m pretty sure my first record was by Ace of Base on cassette tape (Sigh). The last thing I bought, although Ben did the actual purchasing, was Amos Lee’s My New Moon. I listened to that record on repeat while I was pregnant with our daughter.

Ben: The first tape I bought was in fourth grade and it was by Billy Ray Cyrus. The first CD I bought once I had my musical bearings was Jimi Hendrix’s The Ultimate Experience.  The last record I bought was George Jones’ Alone Again.  

First and last live concerts that you’ve seen?

Dorothy: My first live concert was The Moody Blues with my best friend Emily and her mom Rosie when I was in sixth grade. My last live concert was The Wood Brothers at the Ryman Auditorium on Valentine’s Day. Our good friends, Stoney Lamar and Susan Casey who own The Purple Onion in Saluda, NC (a great restaurant and music venue) had extra tickets so they gifted them to us.
 
Ben: The first concerts I saw were all orchestral pops shows.  The first rock concert I attended was The Doobie Brothers at Starwood Amphitheater in the mid ‘90s. Michael McDonald came out for a good part of the set and it was fantastic.  The last big concert I attended was also The Wood Brothers at the Ryman.  

Whose star should be added to the Music City Walk of Fame?

Dorothy: Stevie Wonder. Obviously. 😉 
 
Ben: Buddy Spicher or Kenny Malone.

Where do you go in Nashville for coffee and pizza?

Dorothy: Super easy question! We live in East Nashville, so Dose and Five Points Pizza, in that order.

Ben: Pizza is definitely Joey’s House of Pizza. I don’t really do coffee shops but when I do it’s the drive-thru at Sip Coffee in Inglewood.

What’s your favorite record to ever come out of Nashville?

Dorothy: Super hard question. Maybe the hardest question ever. I really love Lillie Mae’s Forever and Then Some. We’ve also had two separate neighbors (same house) release two outstanding records since we moved into this house: Jedd Hughes’ West and Carl Broemel’s All Birds Say.

Ben: Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline is hard to beat.  

Where’s the best place to eat late at night after a show?

Dorothy: Definitely Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge. They make the best tacos.
 
Ben: Dino’s has the best late-night burger and fries around

The Bluebird calls and asks you to host an “In the Round.” Pick three local songwriters to join you.

Phillippe Bronchtein, Joe Pisapia and Kelsey Waldon.

What are your favorite music venues to play in town?

Dorothy: Again, gotta say Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge on this one! They’ve done a great job of cultivating an unpretentious listening crowd. Also, the Basement Nashville has also been a long-time favorite.
 
Ben: Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge, The Basement and The 5 Spot.

Name a musician who you’d like to see move here?

Dorothy: The Meters. But they’ll never leave New Orleans. 😉
 
Ben: Bill Frissell. I would love to see him play on a regular basis.

Finally, what’s in your musical future?

Dorothy: That’s especially hard to say right now, given the pandemic and touring halt, but it’s pretty safe to say that we’ll keep making music. I definitely see a European tour in our future, if I have anything to say about it!

Ben: I am really excited about writing new material for our next record. Touring is obviously what we want to do but under the circumstances, it’s hard to know when that will be viable again.