Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Fuqua. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Daniel has been playing sax for over 20 years. The first time he saw one was at church at 11 years old, and he was immediately fascinated by it. “I want to do THAT!”, he informed his parents, who were less than enthralled given his history of picking up new hobbies and dropping them just as quickly. However, eventually, they agreed and bought him his first saxophone for his next birthday. He stayed up all night playing it.
But… he was horrible.
Fortunately, that changed! When his Mom saw his dedication, she prayed for God to help him. It was clear to everyone’s ears that some divine intervention would be welcome! He answered her prayers, and the very next day Daniel experienced a transformation, unlike anything he had experienced before. Suddenly he was able to see and hear the notes and truly feel the music. It was an instant connection that’s never gone away; an outlet for emotions that can’t be matched.
“That’s what I love most about music,” he says. “It evokes so many emotions and is often tied to memories as well. It has the power to change a person’s mood or attitude. When done right, it’s deeply fulfilling for both my audience and me.”
It can also bring some awesome opportunities! After playing in various jazz ensembles in high school and beyond, Saxman was invited to open for Yolanda Adams at Bethune-Cookman University in 2009 and has traveled overseas spreading love through his music.
When he’s not playing at local events or serving at his church (both his parents are pastors), he enjoys spending time with his lovely bride Kyara, an elementary school teacher and praise dancer.
Daniel loves jazz, gospel, R & B, and even country every now and again! He prides himself on being a pretty well-rounded musician, and is eager to provide the best musical experience for his audience!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I’d say the biggest enemy of a growing artist is the comparison syndrome. I found myself comparing my sound to my peers. In addition to that, I struggled with my image. I felt I was too large, I didn’t have the look for the part, and I’d be judged by my outer appearances versus my talent.
It wasn’t until about 2017 when I started to date my now wife, that she explained I had a unique God-given gift and that it was ok to just be myself. Once I found my identity, I became comfortable in my skin, and worked on mastering my sound, things started to turn in a more positive direction for me and it translated into my music.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a professional saxophonist and vocalist. I’ve been performing professionally for about five years at several restaurants around the Central Florida area. In that time frame, I’ve performed about 100 weddings 15 house parties, 25 birthday parties, and serval other various events. I’ve come from humble beginnings.
I started first playing in local churches I would do a program here and there and then around 2017 I was approached by a musician friend who said his coworker it’s opening a restaurant in New Smyrna Beach FL. At that time that was about a 25-minute drive from where I lived. I had no experience outside of the church scene but I was open to the challenge.
I auditioned one day by playing My Girl (acapella) as soon as I was done the owners said “You’re Hired”. Since then we performed every Friday and Saturday night with just a keyboard and a sax doing acoustic covers to popular songs. Around 2019 my colleague suggested I incorporate singing during our gigs. I was very timid and skeptical about doing this but I went along with it and surprisingly it worked!
Summer of 2019 the keyboardist and the owners could not resolve an external conflict. So the owners reached out to me and asked if I could carry this show by myself. Yet again I’m up to the challenge I decided to find tracks to the songs we performed and before I knew it I became a one-man band. To this day three years later I’m surprisingly able to do a four-hour show with my tracks, sax, and vocals!
From that one restaurant, I’ve gained the affection and attention of many venues that stretch from New Smyrna Beach, DeLand, Daytona Beach, Orlando, Palm Coast, Ocala, Jacksonville, cocoa beach, Melbourne, and other cities surrounding Central Florida. Just recently I’ve been contacted to perform in South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.
I think what makes me different from other musicians is I don’t just perform the songs I like. I scanned the audience and capture their emotions through song. I don’t stick with one genre I perform jazz, R&B, gospel, rock, pop, and country. It never ceases to amaze me when I’m done with the show and I get feedback from people saying “that song reminds me of a past loved one” or “that was our wedding song”.
It gives me so much joy and my motto is “touching lives one note at a time”. I always say towards the end of the show “if I haven’t touched one life tonight then I didn’t do my job right.”
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
My website is www.saxmanfuqua.com my social media handle is @SaxmanFuqua. For booking, you can email info@saxmanfuqua.com or call 855-Saxman-1.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.saxmanfuqua.com
- Instagram: @SaxmanFuqua
- Facebook: @SaxmanFuqua
- Twitter: @SaxmanFuqua
- Youtube: @SaxmanFuqua
Image Credits
Kenneth Grant Inzpirations and Jim Parks
