In The Groove: Jeff Daniels on the music that made him
The “Dumb and Dumber” actor breaks down the music that has stayed with him throughout his career with In The Groove’s Ryan Patrick Hooper.
Jeff Daniels is arguably the biggest actor to ever come out of Michigan. And while he’s spent time on Broadway and starred in major motion pictures like “Dumb and Dumber,” he’s always kept his love for the Mitten State front and center.
This year, his Purple Rose Theater Company celebrates 35 years of supporting regional plays and actors in Chelsea. Daniels himself is directing a new show called “The Classic King,” written by Richard Johnson, who spent decades as an editor for the Automotive News. It’s currently being staged at the Purple Rose now through March 8.
Ahead of that show, Daniels joined In The Groove to talk about his role at the theater, his most famous roles over the years and all the music that has influenced him along the way, including falling in love with Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant.”
“Here comes Arlo Guthrie and an acoustic guitar and a 15-minute song about a restaurant and I loved it. That was probably the trigger for getting an acoustic guitar,” says Daniels.
From there, Daniels became obsessed with Bruce Springsteen bootlegs in the late 1970s as his career started to take off. Today, he’s fascinated by new folk artists taking political stands like Jesse Welles.
“He writes one of those every day! He’s just on it and honest. It’s great, I love him,” says Daniels.
Listen to In The Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.
