Darryl McDaniels

Darryl “DMC” McDaniels is a legendary music icon who first impacted the world over 30 years ago. From the first rap group to grace the cover of Rolling Stone to the first to appear on MTV, Grammy nominated Run-DMC changed music, culture, fashion, language and made American history. It would be hard to overstate his influence on popular culture. 30 million record sales later, and more than ten years after the untimely death of his bandmate Jam Master Jay, DMC still continues to create, inspire and motivate. In 2009, as a member of Run-DMC, he was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2014 he launched a comic book company called Darryl Makes Comics, a new journey that helps bridge the gap between the worlds of hip-hop and the fantastic adventures he got wrapped up in as a youth. The company’s first full length graphic novel hit stores in October 2014 and has since followed up with annually
with a new release. http://www.dmc-comics.com
Darryl is also the co-author of two critically acclaimed books: his recent memoir entitled, Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide (2016/Harpers/Amistad), and a past autobiography King of Rock; Respect, Responsibility and My Life with Run-DMC (2001/ Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martins) as well as an award winning solo
album Checks, Thugs & Rock and Roll.
That album featured the hit single “Just like Me” with Sarah McLachlan a song DMC wrote after discovering he was adopted, that spoke to his new revelation and began his journey down another life path, in search of his birth mother. While

his search struggle was captured in the 2007 Emmy Winning VH1 documentary

DMC: My Adoption Journey, the process gave DMC tremendous insight and

purpose, prompting him to become an advocate for adoption and children in

foster care.

In 2006 he co-founded the Felix Organization with Sheila Jaffe- a nonprofit that

works to provide inspiring opportunities and new experiences to enrich the lives

of children who are growing in the foster care system.

http://www.thefelixorganization.org

All the while, DMC’s music continues to inspire! He recently released a new

single “Flames” that talks about gun violence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN1zuPyggBU featuring John Moyer

(Disturbed) and Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge) and is busy working on new album

entitled DMC: Dynamic Music Collaborations that along with “Flames” will feature

new songs he is recording with Rome (Sublime) Joan Jett, Travis Barker (Blink

182), Tim Armstrong (Rancid), Chuck D, Sum 41, DJ Hurricane (Beastie Boys),

Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), Mick Mars (Motley Crue) and more to be released in

2017. And when DMC is not in the studio recording he’s on the road with his rock

band performing around the globe , including sold out shows in the UK, Hong

Kong and Bahrain to name a few.

In between his work as a musician, published author and speaker, or his work

with his nonprofit, McDaniels has been invited to the White House by President

Obama to address various youth groups on responsibility and has appeared

before Congress and various State legislatures in support of adoptees and foster

children. He recently worked with First Lady Michelle Obama on part of her Get

Fit Campaign.

DMC has received various awards including the Hard Rock’s Love All Serve All

Award for his numerous philanthropic endeavors, Doing Art Together (DAT)

Honoree for his contributions to helping under-served communities in NYC in the

classroom and life, and has received the coveted CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

Champion Award for his tireless work on behalf of foster children through his

FELIX ORGANIZATION/ Adoptees for Children, as well as his work providing

other year-round opportunities for children in foster care. He also serves on the

Board of Directors of The Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit charity that

works closely with all areas of The Madison Square Garden Company, including

the Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, MSG Entertainment and MSG Media, to make

dreams come true for children facing obstacles.