Daniel Caesar
Daniel Caesar or better known by his family as Ashton Simmonds, is a 24-year-old Toronto native. Caesar was musically inclined at a young age through his family and church but launched his musical career in 2015. Before accumulating fame, he was a 17-year-old homeless high school dropout. Continuing to move from house to house and sleeping on sofas and park benches.
Daniel Caesar is also known his acoustic guitar skills. He received his first guitar at the tender age of 10 and instantly fell in love. He learned how to play so well by learning every single song created by John Mayer. Caesar claims that he is still not where he wants to be acoustically and is learning how to improve every day.
Caesar’s music is loved by many, including President Barack Obama. He got two song spots on “Barack Obama’s list of favorite songs of 2017.” President Obama is one of few fans, including Chance the Rapper and Stevie Wonder, who is also one of Caesars influencers.
Influences:
- D’angelo
- Lauryn Hill
- Stevie Wonder
- Frank Ocean
- Kanye West
- John Mayer
- Sade
- Radiohead
- Pink Floyd
- Boyz ll Men
Collaborations
Get You ft. Kali Uchis
Best Part ft. H.E.R.
FRONTAL LOBE MUZIK ft. Pharrell Williams
LOVE AGAIN ft. brandy
Take me away ft. Syd
SUPERPOSITION ft. his longest influencer John Mayer
Awards and Nominations
Awards:
- 2018 Best Part Best R&B performance
- 2017 Freudian Favorite R&B Albums
Nominations:
- 2018 BET Best New Artist
- Juno award for artist of the year
- iHeart radio music award for R&B Artist of the year
- Soul train music certified award
Daniel and H.E.R. performing “Best Part” live at the NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert.
Works Cited
Duffy, Mike. “Meet Daniel Caesar, the Toronto Artist Rising Up the Charts.” Fender Guitars, 5 June 2019, www.fender.com/articles/artists/meet-daniel-caesar-the-toronto-artist-rising-up-the-charts.
R&B, Apple Music. “Daniel Caesar: Influences.” Apple Music, 25 July 2017, music.apple.com/us/playlist/daniel-caesar-influences/pl.bc7a0733821749be93dae140c34a8a24.
Thomas, Fred. “Daniel Caesar: Biography & History.” AllMusic, www.allmusic.com/artist/daniel-caesar-mn0003180014/biography.
Toronto Life. “Ten Things You Need to Know about Daniel Caesar, the Toronto R&B Singer Who Got a Shout-out from Barack Obama.” Toronto Life, 4 Jan. 2018, torontolife.com/culture/music/ten-things-need-know-daniel-caesar-toronto-rb-singer-got-shout-barack-obama/.
YouTube, YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dAOAdjSb0Q.