Dan Tyminski
A powerhouse bluegrass vocalist and multi-instrumentalist whose gritty voice became the unexpected sound of a global pop phenomenon.
Born 1967 (age 59)·American bluegrass musician·Birthday: June 20·Generation X
Biography
Dan Tyminski's voice is the sturdy, weathered backbone of modern bluegrass. Hailing from Vermont, he was a prodigy on the mandolin and guitar, but it was his raw, soulful baritone that carved his path. He found a musical home for nearly three decades as a vital member of Alison Krauss's band Union Station, his instrumental prowess and harmonies providing essential texture. While respected within the genre, global fame arrived unexpectedly in 2000 when his lead vocal on 'I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow' for the 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' soundtrack introduced millions to bluegrass. The track won a Grammy and became an unlikely anthem. Tyminski navigated this success without pretense, returning to his roots with a series of robust solo albums and collaborative work. He represents a bridge between traditional bluegrass purity and contemporary appeal, a musician's musician whose authenticity never wavers.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Dan was born in 1967, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1967
#1 Movie
The Jungle Book
Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Dan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1967Born
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1972Started school
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1980Became a teenager
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Could drive
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Could vote
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Turned 21
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Turned 30
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 40
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 50
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 59 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Provided the lead vocals for 'I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow' on the 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' soundtrack, which won the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration.
- Won 14 Grammy Awards as a member of Alison Krauss and Union Station.
- Released multiple solo albums, including 'Wheels,' which won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album in 2009.
- His song 'Hey Brother,' where he provided the vocals, became a worldwide electronic dance music hit for Avicii.
Did You Know?
He was the singing voice for George Clooney's character in the film 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'
Tyminski is an accomplished pilot and flies himself to many of his tour dates.
He left Union Station in 2021 after 29 years with the band to focus on his solo career and family.
He played the mandolin on the track 'The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn' from the 'O Brother' soundtrack.
“That's me just trying to sing the song the way it was meant to be felt.”
