What people are saying about JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound:

“The Uptown Sound is the real deal” - Chicago Tribune

“Neo-soul glory” - New York Times

“A cross between The Chambers Brothers and agit-punks The Make-Up, Mr. Brooks and co are one of the hottest US soul acts right now” - MOJO

“Relentlessly catchy, Grade: A-” - The Onion AV Club

“Easily one of Chicago’s top indie bands… JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound’s mix of star-quality presence and musical precision kept club goers either dancing or just staring in slack-jawed awe” - KEXP Equalizer

“One of the most energetic, joyful live bands going on today… like if Otis Redding individually whipped each member of the Velvet Underground off of heroin, and transformed them into a disciplined, show-stopping Stax soul band” - minneapolisf**kingrocks.com

Conjuring up a soothing air of smolderingly hypnotic bluesy guitar passages and rock solid funky grooves, Daryl Hance is an artist who sings his songs and his guitar with a cool abandonment. Contrasting from dark and brooding to a recognition and celebration of all things, his songs and music are as much about the moment we all live in as they are a reflection of experiences that span a lifetime. A prolific well straight out of the book of normal everyday life.

In February 1990 Daryl received a call from JJ Grey, a friend he had met when they worked together at an air conditioning company on Jacksonville's west side back in 1986. Becoming re-aquainted they spent the early-mid 1990s piecing together several different projects before starting the rock and soul band Mofro (JJ Grey & Mofro) in the late 1990s. Releasing four acclaimed albums, they have been playing and touring almost constantly in the United States since 2001, as well as in Canada, Europe, and Australia . During this time, Hance has been steadily building up his own repertoire of homecrafted songs and musical ideas.

Daryl has been writing music since he started playing guitar in 1986, but had only dabbled in songwriting from time to time. It wasn't until 1997 while recording music at home one night after work that he discovered he could actually sing and write songs for himself. After returning home to Florida from London in September 1999, where he had joined Grey in getting Mofro going, he went to work. When not touring with Grey and Mofro or working a day job, he spent much of his time writing and recording song demos and honing his craft. Working to make his voice and guitar at ease with one another.