In his long career, Dan Crary has emerged as one of the world's premier acoustic lead guitarists, both as a soloist and as a featured instrumentalist in bands such as the Bluegrass Alliance, Sundance, Berline/Crary/Hickman and California. He is widely regarded as an innovator in the introduction of flat-picked lead guitar in bluegrass.

Aside from his virtuosic guitar style, he’s developed a reputation as one of the finest teachers of bluegrass guitar at festivals and workshops, and is a long-time Taylor Guitars Signature Artist.

In addition to being a popular performer and recording artist, he's also been a Professor of Communications at the University of California at Fullerton, a highly regarded musicologist, a widely published writer, and a witty raconteur who has collected a trunk full of anecdotes in his world travels. His ability to connect both musically and personally has brought him success, with concert and workshop appearances in from North America to Europe, Japan and the South Pacific. His 1994 CD “Jammed If I Do,” with guests Tony Rice, Doc Watson, Norman Blake, and Beppe Gambetta, was hailed as one of the decade's great gatherings of guitarists, while his solo album, “Thunderation,” an "Indie" award for "Best String Instrumental Album." Dan's “Holiday Guitar” won 1998's "Indie" for "Best Seasonal Music" from the Association For Independent Music.