Dann Huff
Dann Lee Huff (born November 15, 1960) is an American record producer, guitarist and songwriter. For his work as a producer in the country music genre, he has won several awards, including the Musician of the Year award in 2001, 2004, and 2016 at the Country Music Association Awards and the Producer of the Year award in 2006 and 2009 at the Academy of Country Music. He is the father of American singer and songwriter Ashlyne Huff, a member of Giant and White Heart and brother of drummer David Huff.
Also recorded as Dann Lee Huff
Dann Huff
- Name
- Dann Huff
- Birth Name
- Dann Lee Huff
- Born
- 15 November 1960
- Occupation
- * Record producer
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- hard rock
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Dann Lee Huff (born November 15, 1960) is an American record producer, guitarist and songwriter. For his work as a producer in the country music genre, he has won several awards, including the Musician of the Year award in 2001, 2004, and 2016 at the Country Music Association Awards and the Producer of the Year award in 2006 and 2009 at the Academy of Country Music. He is the father of American singer and songwriter Ashlyne Huff, a member of Giant and White Heart and brother of drummer David Huff.
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In this article
Biography
Biography
Huff worked across musician, guitarist, singer, record producer and composer and 1 further recorded occupations. The registers place that work in hard rock. This article rests on 33 catalogued compositions, 4 issued recordings and 8 scholarly references drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Dann Huff • Birth Name — Dann Lee Huff • Born — 15 November 1960 • Origin — Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. • Instrument — * Vocals • guitar • Genre — * Country • hard rock • contemporary Christian music • glam metal • Occupation — * Record producer • Singer • Songwriter • Years Active — 1976–present • Past Member Of — * Giant • White Heart
Career
Career
Dann Lee Huff was born November 15, 1960, in Nashville, Tennessee. He attended Brentwood Academy. His father, Ronn Huff, was an arranger, composer and conductor who wrote orchestrations for film and television and was the pops conductor for the Nashville Symphony. Huff began his career as part of the original Christian rock band White Heart in which he played with his brother David Huff, and later in the melodic 80s-style hard rock band, Giant, that produced 2 albums but ultimately never caught on as the rock styles transitioned into the 1990s grunge rock. He has since then been active as a session guitarist and producer in both rock music and country music with his first guitar recording debut for Ron Haffkine and Kyle Lehning. In the 1980s, Huff played guitar on albums for Michael Jackson, Amy Grant, Scritti Politti, Whitesnake, Roger Hodgson, Steven Curtis Chapman, Doro Pesch, Juice Newton, Michael W. Smith, Whitecross, Peter Cetera and George Benson, Whitney Houston's debut album Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, Warren Hill, Johnny Van Zant, and more. Since the 1990s, Huff has been working as a producer for various bands and artists, touring with Hank Williams, Jr, some of which include Faith Hill, Megadeth, Rebecca St. James, Rascal Flatts and Lonestar. The songs Huff has played on include Whitesnake's 1987 US radio version of "Here I Go Again" and Michael W. Smith's Go West Young Man. In 2012, Huff produced three songs with Nathan Chapman for Taylor Swift's fourth studio album, Red. On, Huff’s first solo album, ‘When Words Aren’t Enough’, was released via digital download, on CD, and on vinyl.
Collaborations
Collaborations
• Born to Love – Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack (1983) • Emergency – Melissa Manchester (1983) • Nightline – Randy Crawford (1983) • Righteous Anger – Van Stephenson (1984) • Straight Ahead – Amy Grant (1984) • What About Me? – Kenny Rogers (1984) • Can't Wait All Night – Juice Newton (1984) • Civilized Man – Joe Cocker (1984) • Starchild – Teena Marie (1984) • Michael W. Smith 2 – Michael W. Smith (1984) • Emotion – Barbra Streisand (1984) • Dancing with Danger – Sam Phillips (1984) • I Feel for You – Chaka Khan (1984) • Self Control – Laura Branigan (1984) • The Wonders of His Love – Philip Bailey (1985) • Unguarded – Amy Grant (1985) • Mathematics – Melissa Manchester (1985) • Hold Me – Laura Branigan (1985) • 20/20 – George Benson (1985) • Jane Wiedlin – Jane Wiedlin (1985) • Watching You, Watching Me – Bill Withers (1985) • Say You Love Me – Jennifer Holliday (1985) • Black and White in a Grey World – Sam Phillips (1985) • Take No Prisoners – Peabo Bryson (1985) • Suspicious Heart – Van Stephenson (1986) • Cocker – Joe Cocker (1986) • Headed for the Future – Neil Diamond (1986) • The Big Picture – Michael W. Smith (1986) • Winner in You – Patti LaBelle (1986) • Destiny – Chaka Khan (1986) • Emotional – Jeffrey Osborne (1986) • Like a Rock – Bob Seger (1986) • Solitude/Solitaire – Peter Cetera (1986) • No easy Way out – Robert Tepper (1986) • True Blue – Madonna (1986) • So Glad I Know – Deniece Williams (1986) • They Don't Make Them Like They Used To – Kenny Rogers (1986) • Heart Over Mind – Jennifer Rush (1987) • Swing Street – Barry Manilow (1987) • Beverly Hills Cop II – Bob Seger (1987) - played guitar for "Shakedown" • I Prefer the Moonlight – Kenny Rogers (1987) • Reservations for Two – Dionne Warwick (1987) • Get Close to My Love – Jennifer Holliday (1987) • Emotion – Juice Newton (1987) • All Systems Go – Donna Summer (1987) • Everlasting – Natalie Cole (1987) • Tiffany – Tiffany (1987) • Bad – Michael Jackson (1987) • Heaven on Earth – Belinda Carlisle (1987) • Brazilian Romance – Sarah Vaughan (1987) • Rainbow – Dolly Parton (1987) • Get Here – Brenda Russell (1988) • One More Story – Peter Cetera (1988) • Forever Your Girl – Paula Abdul (1988) • Not Me – Glenn Medeiros (1988) • I 2 (EYE) – Michael W. Smith (1988) • Till I Loved You – Barbra Streisand (1988) • Oasis – Roberta Flack (1988) • Lead Me On – Amy Grant (1988) • Other Roads – Boz Scaggs (1988) • The Rumour – Olivia Newton-John (1988) • In the City of Angels – Jon Anderson (1988) • Union – Toni Childs (1988) • Back to Avalon – Kenny Loggins (1988) • Bowling in Paris – Stephen Bishop (1989) • Soul Provider – Michael Bolton (1989) • Like a Prayer – Madonna (1989) • Christmas – Michael W. Smith (1989) • Mr. Jordan – Julian Lennon (1989) • Be Yourself – Patti LaBelle (1989) • Barry Manilow – Barry Manilow (1989) • Laura Branigan – Laura Branigan (1990) • For the Sake of the Call – Steven Curtis Chapman (1990) • Other Voices – Paul Young (1990) • Go West Young Man – Michael W. Smith (1991) • The Fire Inside – Bob Seger (1991) • Heart in Motion – Amy Grant (1991) • Show Me Your Way – Glen Campbell (1991) • Vagabond Heart – Rod Stewart (1991) • Home for Christmas – Amy Grant (1992) • Change Your World – Michael W. Smith (1992) • Wings of Victory – Glen Campbell (1992) • The Great Adventure – Steven Curtis Chapman (1992) • If Only My Heart Had a Voice – Kenny Rogers (1993) • Home for the Holidays – Glen Campbell (1993) • The Way That I Am – Martina McBride (1993) • Duets – Elton John (1993) • The One Thing – Michael Bolton (1993) • Take Me as I Am – Faith Hill (1993) • Clay Walker – Clay Walker (1993) • Cheap Seats – Alabama (1993) • Through the Fire – Peabo Bryson (1994) • Merry Christmas – Mariah Carey (1994) • Heaven in the Real World – Steven Curtis Chapman (1994) • Not a Moment Too Soon – Tim McGraw (1994) • Let the Picture Paint Itself – Rodney Crowell (1994) • House of Love – Amy Grant (1994) • One Emotion – Clint Black (1994) • Read My Mind (album) – Reba McEntire (1994) • Blackhawk (album) – Blackhawk (1995) • Christmas Spirit – Donna Summer (1994) • It Matters to Me – Faith Hill (1995) • I Think About You – Collin Raye (1995) • Little Acts of Treason – Carlene Carter (1995) • Dreaming of You – Selena (1995) • Fire to Fire – Tanya Tucker (1995) • Strong Enough (Blackhawk album) – Blackhawk (1995) • Brett James (album) – Brett James (1995) • The Music of Christmas – Steven Curtis Chapman (1995) • One Clear Voice – Peter Cetera (1995) • The Woman in Me – Shania Twain (1995) • All I Want – Tim McGraw (1995) • A Very Fine Love – Dusty Springfield (1995) • Jesus Freak – dc Talk (1995) • Shake (John Schlitt album) - John Schlitt (1995) • Wild Angels – Martina McBride (1995) • In Pictures – Alabama (1993) • This Is The Time: The Christmas Album – Michael Bolton (1996) • Blue – LeAnn Rimes (1996) • Christmas: The Gift – Collin Raye (1996) • Right in the Middle of It – Chely Wright (1996) • Summer of '78 – Barry Manilow (1996) • I'll Lead You Home – Michael W. Smith (1996) • Revelations – Wynonna Judd (1996) • Measure of a Man (Kevin Sharp album) – Kevin Sharp (1996) • Unfit for Swine - John Schlitt 1996) • All That Matters – Michael Bolton (1997) • Burnin' Daylight - Burnin' Daylight (1997) • Let's Talk About Love – Céline Dion (1997) • Words (Sherrié Austin album) – Sherrié Austin (1997) • Everywhere – Tim McGraw (1997) • Behind the Eyes – Amy Grant (1997) • Higher Ground – Barbra Streisand (1997) • Love's Been Rough on Me – Etta James (1997) • Come On Over – Shania Twain (1997) • Cryptic Writings- Megadeth (1997) • The Other Side – Wynonna Judd (1997) • Evolution – Martina McBride (1997) • The Walls Came Down – Collin Raye (1998) • Big Hopes – Ty Herndon (1998) • A Body of Work – Paul Anka (1998) • Faith – Faith Hill (1998) • These Are Special Times – Céline Dion (1998) • Shot Full of Love – Billy Ray Cyrus (1998) • Live the Life – Michael W. Smith (1998) • Lonely Grill – Lonestar (1999) • The Whole SHeBANG – SHeDAISY (1999) • Risk - Megadeth (1999) • Breathe – Faith Hill (1999) • Emotion – Martina McBride (1999) • Timeless: The Classics Vol. 2 – Michael Bolton (1999) • Southern Rain – Billy Ray Cyrus (2000) • This Way – Jewel (2001) • Cry – Faith Hill (2002) • What the World Needs Now Is Love – Wynonna Judd (2003) • Martina – Martina McBride (2003) • When the Sun Goes Down – Kenny Chesney (2004) • "We Can" - LeAnn Rimes (2003) • This Woman – LeAnn Rimes (2005) • Fireflies – Faith Hill (2005) • Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood (2005) • Water & Bridges – Kenny Rogers (2006) • Whatever We Wanna – LeAnn Rimes (2006) • Waking Up Laughing – Martina McBride (2007) • Family – LeAnn Rimes (2007) • Joy to the World – Faith Hill (2008) • Shine – Martina McBride (2009) • Get Closer — Keith Urban (2010) • Stronger – Kelly Clarkson (2011) • Eleven – Martina McBride (2011) • Red – Taylor Swift (2012) • You Can't Make Old Friends – Kenny Rogers (2013) • Everlasting – Martina McBride (2014) • Down to My Last Bad Habit – Vince Gill (2016) • Reckless – Martina McBride (2016) • Playing with Fire – Jennifer Nettles (2016) • The Rest of Our Life – Tim McGraw, Faith Hill (2017) • Wide Open – Michael McDonald (2017) • Bridges – Josh Groban (2018)
Career and working life
Career and working life
Huff worked as musician, guitarist, singer and record producer, and the authority record catalogues a further 2 occupations under the same name, among them composer and guitar. Huff was active from 1976. The fields Huff worked in include hard rock. Huff played the guitar and the voice.
Catalogued output
Compositions
The entries below are works composed by the subject, as the institutional registers catalogue them; later performances and commercial recordings of the same music are listed separately. 33 further compositions are catalogued under Huff's name without a date the collections agree on, which is why they are set apart from the dated run rather than placed in it. A selection is set out below and the complete run may be opened beneath it. It's Not the End of the World. It All Belongs.
The entries follow MusicBrainz
Right Out of My Head
Slow Dance to Goodbye
Giant Free Fall
I’ll Be There (When It’s Over)
Thunder and Lightning
When Words Aren’t Enough (for Sherri)
Get Used to It
Time to Call It Love
Waiting on a Whisper
Time to Burn
Holdin’ On for Dear Life
The complete catalogue · 21
The entries follow MusicBrainz
Right Out of My Head
Slow Dance to Goodbye
Giant Free Fall
I’ll Be There (When It’s Over)
Thunder and Lightning
When Words Aren’t Enough (for Sherri)
Get Used to It
Time to Call It Love
Waiting on a Whisper
Time to Burn
Holdin’ On for Dear Life
'Till the Sun
Now Until Forever
Lay It on the Line
Save Me Tonight
So Help Me God
The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)
I Don’t Hear You
Crimes of Passion
One Man, One Heart
Primary material
Recordings and discography
The discography assembled here shows how Huff's work has been published in sound, not what Huff made. 4 sound issues are catalogued, carrying dates from 1993 to 2025. An issue is a published recording, distinct from the composition it carries, from a printed score of that composition and from any single performance of it; none of the entries below is counted in the catalogue of compositions above, and several of them carry the same work in different readings. The performers and issuing labels are as the discographic register states them; where it names no performer the article names none.
Solos
2007
When Words Aren’t Enough
2025
Winterlude
1997
Light Jazz Christmas
1993
Primary material
Documents and archives
institutional register
- Bibliothèque nationale de France authority file 139721141
General reference · Bibliothèque nationale de France
- Discogs authority file 271408
General reference · Discogs
- GND (German National Library) authority file 134412389
General reference · GND (German National Library)
- ISNI authority file 0000000119444777
General reference · ISNI
- Library of Congress authority file no98127143
General reference · Library of Congress
- MusicBrainz artist authority 0039cd9c-ea95-4553-86c4-4f729984cc2f
General reference · MusicBrainz
reference work
- “Dann Huff”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Authority records
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Dillon, Charlotte. Dann Huff biography. AllMusic.
- 2.Dunkerley, Beville. Dann Huff on Faith, Keith and Rock-Infused Country. Rolling Stone. 2014-06-11.
- 3.Producer Profile: Dann Huff. Rolling Stone. June 11, 2014.
- 4.Winner. Academy of Country Music.
- 5.Brentwood Academy. "Eagles" Brentwood Academy Yearbook. 1978.
- 6.Bostick, Alan. Manchester at ease with orchestra. The Tennessean. 10F. January 23, 2000.
- 7.Oermann, Rober K. Tree signs Ronn Huff To Key Post. The Tennessean. 1D. May 25, 1983.
- 8.Rosenthal, Traja. White Heart Beats. Lodi News-Sentinel. 5. March 14, 1987.
- 9.Cusic, Don. Encyclopedia of contemporary Christian music: pop, rock, and worship. Greenwood Publishing Group. 461. 2009. 978-0-313-34425-1.
- 10.20 20 by George Benson @ARTISTdirect. ARTISTdirect.
- 11.Emotion by Barbra Streisand @ARTISTdirect. ARTISTdirect.
- 12.What About Me by Kenny Rogers @ARTISTdirect. ARTISTdirect.
- 13.Behind the Song: "Brickyard Road," Johnny van Zant. April 10, 2020.
- 14.[ Songs and Albums on which Dann Huff played on]
- 15.[ Biography of Giant/Dan Huff on Allmusic.com]
- 16.Tucker, Ken. Hitting the high notes. Billboard. e5 Global Media. 38. April 15, 2006.
- 17.Lonely Grill - Lonestar - Credits - AllMusic. AllMusic.
- 18.Prown, Pete. Legends of rock guitar: The essential reference of rock's greatest guitarists. Hal Leonard Corporation. 211. 1997. 0-7935-4042-9.
- 19.Artist Direct. 1990 album: Go West Young Man.
- 20.AllMusic. Red - Taylor Swift | Credits.
- 21.When Words Aren't Enough, by Dann Huff. Bandcamp.
- 22.Dann Huff – When Words Aren't Enough (CD). Baked Alaska Records.
- 23.Dann Huff – When Words Aren't Enough (Vinyl). Baked Alaska Records.
- 24.AllMusic. Lead Me On - Amy Grant | AllMusic.
- 25.AllMusic. Jesus Freak - dc Talk | AllMusic.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
institutional register
Bibliothèque nationale de France authority file 139721141Bibliothèque nationale de France
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
GND (German National Library) authority file 134412389GND (German National Library)
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Library of Congress authority file no98127143Library of Congress
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Wikidata, structured authority record Q1164355: Dann HuffWikimedia Foundation
Secondary witness
Every cited source · 9
- 01
Bibliothèque nationale de France authority file 139721141
institutional register · General reference · Bibliothèque nationale de France
Consult the source - 02
- 03
GND (German National Library) authority file 134412389
institutional register · General reference · GND (German National Library)
Consult the source - 04
ISNI authority file 0000000119444777
institutional register · General reference · ISNI
Consult the source - 05
Library of Congress authority file no98127143
institutional register · General reference · Library of Congress
Consult the source - 06
MusicBrainz artist authority
institutional register · General reference · MusicBrainz
Consult the source - 07
- 08
Wikidata, structured authority record Q1164355: Dann Huff
institutional register · General reference · Wikimedia Foundation
Consult the source - 09
“Dann Huff”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
reference work · Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Consult the source
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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