Singer-songwriter Dirk Hamilton was born in Indiana and raised in Northern California. He picked up a guitar as a youth and was writing songs and playing live performances by the time he was in high school. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 70s and recorded four critically acclaimed albums: two while at ABC Records, and two while at Elektra/Asylum Records. A poet and musician known for his uniquely intelligent lyrics and passionate performance style, Hamilton creates music that can't be pigeon-holed into one genre or another, so indie rock, alt-rock, roots music, americana and folk-rock are often used. For his lyrics and performance style he is most often compared to Dylan, Van Morrison, and John Hiatt.
Hamilton took a hiatus from music in the early 80s, during which time he took a position counseling troubled teens in Northern California. Eventually though, music began to call to him anew. He formed a band and returned to entertaining audiences with his particular brand of live music. Before long, his inspiration to write resumed as well and he began recording albums again.
In the late 80s, Hamilton was told his music had a large following in Italy. He accepted an offer to do some concerts there, and ever since then, he returns to Italy every year doing concert tours for his fans there.
In 2004, he was introduced to musicians in an Italian band called The Bluesmen, which led to their performing and collaborating on new music together. They tour Italy as Dirk Hamilton and the Bluesmen usually during the summer months.
Hamilton also takes his American rock ensemble, The Dirk Hamilton Band, out for tours of Italy as well as America. Members of this band are long-time collaborators on stage and in the recording studio with Dirk. Concerts featuring this line-up promise a particular soaring creative energy — the kind that is only achieved by musicians who have worked together a long time. The ensemble includes Don Evans on lead guitar, Eric Westphal on bass, and Tim Seifert on drums.
Dirk is just as comfortable playing solo and often tours by himself, singing and playing guitar and harmonica. In more intimate settings such as these, the wit and humanity of his music shines through in a way that only solo performances can provide. Recently he has also enjoyed popularity as a house concert performer, and is happy to arrange those as he travels to do concerts at larger venues. He plays live most often in California, Texas and Italy, with regular venues hosting him in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Austin and Dallas.
Dirk Hamilton is a prolific artist who has released a total of 16 albums under various labels, including his own, Acoustic Rock Records. The latest is The Ghost of Van Gogh, released in December of 2007. A new CD is already recorded and is planned for release in 2008. Hamilton's vast catalogue is a veritable treasure trove of original songs that lend themselves perfectly for use in soundtracks for film and television.
