Hicks was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on December 9, 1941. His father, Ivan L. Hicks (married to the former Evelyn Kehl), was a career military man. At age five, an only child, Hicks moved with his family to California, eventually settling north of San Francisco in Santa Rosa, where he was a drummer in grade school and played the snare drum in his school marching band.
At 14, he was performing with area dance bands. While in high school, he had a rotating spot on Time Out for Teens, a daily 15-minute local radio program, and he went on to study broadcasting at San Francisco State College during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Taking up the guitar in 1959, he became part of the San Francisco folk music scene, performing at local coffeehouses. Hicks joined the San Francisco band The Charlatans in 1965 as drummer.
In 1967, Hicks formed Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks with violinist David LaFlamme. LaFlamme left to form It's a Beautiful Day, and was quickly replaced by jazz violinist "Symphony" Sid Page. Vocalists Sherry Snow and Christine Gancher, guitarist Jon Weber, and bassist Jaime Leopold filled out the band, unusual in having no drummer. This line-up was signed to Epic and in 1969 issued the album Original Recordings, produced by Bob Johnston. The first Hot Licks line-up lasted until 1971 and then disintegrated.
When Hicks reformed the band, Page and Leopold remained, and vocalists Naomi Ruth Eisenberg and Maryann Price joined, followed later by guitarist John Girton. This group recorded three albums, culminating in 1973's Last Train to Hicksville (on which the group first added a drummer). After existing as a critical success only, this last album gained the group wider acclaim, as evidenced by Hicks' appearance on the cover of Rolling Stone. Thus, it was a great surprise to many when he chose that moment to disband the Hot Licks. Asked why in 1974, he said:
"I didn't want to be a bandleader anymore. It was a load and a load I didn't want. I'm basically a loner... I like singing and stuff, but I didn't necessarily want to be a bandleader. The thing had turned into a collective sort of thing – democracy, vote on this, do that. I conceived the thing. They wouldn't be there if it wasn't for me. My role as leader started diminishing, but it was my fault because I let it happen; I cared less as the thing went on."
As time passed, this particular Hot Licks band became Hicks' "classic" band, in part due to Page's passionate fiddling, combining swing and classical training, as well as Price's sultry jazz vocals in the style of Anita O'Day, reflecting her pre-Hicks performing experience. This particular group reunited for a 1991 taping of an hour-long Austin City Limits television broadcast in the 1992 season.
The 1992 reunion program also featured Hicks' new group, The Acoustic Warriors, a combination of folk, swing, jazz and country styles. The Acoustic Warriors band consisted of Dan Hicks, Brian Godchaux on violin and mandolin, Paul "Pazzo" Mehling (founder of the Hot Club of San Francisco) on guitar and Richard Saunders on bass.
In 1993 the Acoustic Warriors continued to perform locally around San Francisco and on the road, but this edition placed Paul Robinson on guitar, Nils Molin or Alex Baum on string bass, Stevie Blacke on mandolin and Josh Riskin on drums.
Hicks recorded one CD with the Acoustic Warriors. Shootin' Straight was released by Private Music in 1996. Recorded live at McCabe's in Santa Monica, it featured Jim Boggio on accordion/piano, Stevie Blacke on mandolin/violin, Paul Robinson on guitar, Alex Baum on bass and Bob Scott on drums.
Hicks continued to play in bands of other names, and he also began using the Hot Licks name again.
Michael Goldberg reviewed Hicks' comeback album, Beatin' the Heat (2000):
"When he first appeared on the scene in the '60s, Hicks was a young guy playing old sounds. But there was something fresh, even original about his approach then, and he hasn't lost his special touch. His voice and his sly, humorous point of view set him apart from any crowd. Now that he's an old-timer, his music seems even more solid and substantial.
Dan Hicks has the coolest friends. On his wonderful new album, Beatin' the Heat (Surfdog), his first in years—Hicks gets some help from Elvis Costello, Rickie Lee Jones, Bette Midler, Tom Waits along with recent swing revivalist and onetime Stray Cats guitarist Brian Setzer. But Hicks—who for many years seemed to be hangin' around Mill Valley not doing a whole lot of anything—knows this may be his chance for a real comeback. He doesn't waste his shot, getting great work from his guests without letting them dominate. His voice—which suggests a straw boater hat, handlebar mustache, bow tie, seersucker suit and spats—is front and center, even when he's dueting with Costello or Jones. "Meet Me on the Corner," a highlight here, finds Setzer delivering a burning rockabilly guitar solo and Costello offering a frantic vocal, all the better to show off Hicks' singing and writing. Going head to head with Waits on "I'll Tell You Why That Is," a song way over in Waits' territory, Hicks still stands out. (Waits' vocal turn is a knockout too—not to be missed.)
I even think some of the songs that feature no one but Hicks and his current version of the Hot Licks (Sid Page on violin, Kevin Smith on upright bass, Gregg Bissonette on drums, and Jessica Harper and Karla De Vito on background vocals), such as "Hummin' To Myself" and "He Don't Care," may be the strongest here... Hicks' arrangements make use of banjo, fiddle and Django Reinhardt–like jazz guitar at times. He uses doo-wop style harmony singers to play against affable lead vocals laced with dry, dry humor.
The Surfdog album reinvigorated Hicks, and the guests reflected their longtime admiration for the Hot Licks. This Surfdog success led to several more albums for Surfdog, including a 2007 downloadable compilation of Hicks's previously released duets. Until his final bout with cancer, Dan and the Hot Licks continued to tour internationally.
As a side venture, in recent years Dan occasionally played jazz standards at intimate venues in the San Francisco Bay Area with Bayside Jazz. Backed by a combo of Hot Licks, Acoustic Warriors and other seasoned pros, he put his spin on standards.
“The Swinger", The Oxford American, Nov.2007, by David Smay:
“Nobody’s ever come up with a proper label for Dan Hicks. That’s partly because he leapt over the vast jazz divide created by bop. Bebop subdivided the rhythm and broke the melody into cubist fragments until swing was something you did between your ears instead of out on the dance floor. But there was a time from the ’20s through the ’40s when swing—“hot rhythm”—rippled through every form of popular music. That’s the music Dan Hicks plays, and there’s no single word for it because it wasn’t limited to any one genre. Django Reinhardt, the Mills Brothers, Spade Cooley, Hank Garland, the Boswell Sisters, Stuff Smith, and Bing Crosby all swung. You can make yourself nutty trying to define what Dan Hicks is. Then again, you could just say: Dan Hicks swings. And while he may be an idler and a roué, nobody’s written ten better songs about breezing down the road than Dan Hicks. And in the rarefied genre of songs about buzzards & bacon grease, well, he’s the master.”
Onstage at the Carouse; in Missoula, Montana in the Fall of 1987, he described his music as "folk jazz".
Billboard Music Biography of Dan Hicks:
”Throughout his decades-long career, Dan Hicks stood as one of contemporary music's true eccentrics. While steeped in folk, his acoustic sound knew few musical boundaries, drawing on country, call-and-response vocals, jazz phrasing, and no small amount of humor to create a distinctive, albeit sporadic, body of work which earned him a devoted cult following.”
Dan describing his music in a July 3, 2007 interview before a gig at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge, CO (YouTube):
"My music is kind of a blending. We have acoustic instruments. It starts out with kind of a folk music sound, and we add a jazz beat and solos and singing. We have the two girls that sing, and jazz violin, and all that, so it's kind of light in nature, it's not loud. And, it's sort of, in a way, kinda carefree. Most of the songs are, I wouldn't say funny, but kinda maybe a little humorous. We all like jazz, so we like to play in a jazzy way, with a swing sound you know, so I call it "folk swing". There are a lot of original tunes that I've been writing through the years, so that has its personal touch on it."
Doin' It
Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just to see Twin Peaks
I never looked up once (Why's that?)
There's too many girls on the street
Tried my hand at working
Couldn't get a lick of work done
With all them girls runnin' around
I was missing out on all of my fun! (Missing all my fun!)
But I'm a real big sports fan
I'm always at the game!
Keepin' my eyes open
For some good lookin' dame
Now Jack, don't set me back
I'm shooting straight from the hip (Shootin' from the hip!)
Winnin' girls and chicks and stuff
There ain't a girl I can't get
Ain't one gonna gimme the slip!
So cool do I come off (Comin' off!)
Take a little time and then I'm gone
What can I tell ya?
With all that leg I gotta admit
So cool is my approach
My style is known from coast to coast
What can I tell ya?
I'm doin' it right
I'm dynamite
I'm doin' it right
I'm dynamite
Just light my fuse and hold on tight
And the night's real cold
Well, everything told
Put another log on the fire
Busy busy busy being the king
I'll try to slip you inbetween
If you have to wait in time
It's well worth your time
I'll get you in right under the wire
Yeah, all my friends they eat a lot
I don't give a damn if they do
Most of my food is dressed in skirts
And walkin' by two by two
You know, I got religion
And I pray whenever I can
With all them girls runnin' around
I thank the lord that I'm a man
Went to school to get some smarts
Learned a lot, maybe not
The girlies I studied with was always young and hot
There ain't no reason I should lie
I ain't that kind of a guy
For a one night stand, I am the man
To get your girlfriend high!
Lemme get your girlfriend high!
So cool do I come off
Take a little time and then I'm gone
What can I tell ya?
With all that leg I gotta admit
So cool is my approach
My style is known from coast to coast
What can I tell ya?
I'm doin' it right
I'm dynamite
I'm doin' it right
I'm dynamite
Just light my fuse and hold on tight
And the night's won't be cold
Everything be told
Put another log on the fire
Busy busy busy being the king
I'll try to slip you inbetween
If you have to wait in line
It's well worth your time
I'll get you in right under the wire!
Hey, the army, they called me up
I'm afraid that I can't go (How come?)
I'm a lover, not a fighter!
This time they should know
I plan to spend the rest of my life doing what I do
I'll travel abroad, I'll dine on cod
And oh waiter, a table for two
Hey waiter, a table for two!
Yeah, I went to San Francisco
Just to see Twin Peaks
I never looked up once (FOR REAL!)
There's too many girls on the street
Tried my hand at working
Couldn't get a lick of work done
With all them girls runnin' around
I was missing out on all of my fun!
But I'm a real big sports fan!
I'm always at the game (Batter up!)
Keepin' my eyes open
For some good lookin' dame
Now Jack, don't set me back
I'm shooting straight from the hip
Winnin' them girls and chicks and stuff
There ain't one I can't get
Ain't one gonna gimme the slip!
So cool do I come off
Take a little time and then I'm gone
What can I tell ya?
With all that leg I gotta admit
So cool is my approach
My style is known from coast to coast
What can I tell ya?
I'm doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
Doin' it
The song "Doin' It" by Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks is a playful and satirical commentary on the singer's experiences in San Francisco. The singer starts by describing his visit to Twin Peaks, but admits he didn't even look up because there were too many girls on the street. He then goes on to talk about his struggles to work in the city due to all the distractions of the women around him, but boasts about his success with women in general. The singer comes across as a smooth-talking ladies' man, claiming that he can get any girl he wants and that his style is known from coast to coast. He also touches on his love of sports and his dedication to pursuing fun and pleasure rather than fighting in the army.
The lyrics of the song are clearly meant to be tongue-in-cheek, and it's likely that the singer's braggadocio is meant to be humorous. At the same time, there is an underlying commentary on the sexism and objectification of women that was prevalent in society during the time the song was written (the early 1970s). The singer's focus on women as objects of desire rather than as complex individuals is indicative of a culture that viewed women primarily through the lens of men's desires. The song also touches on themes of freedom and pleasure-seeking, as the singer rejects traditional notions of work and duty in favor of pursuing his own enjoyment.
Line by Line Meaning
I went to San Francisco
I traveled to San Francisco
Just to see Twin Peaks
My reason for going was to observe Twin Peaks
I never looked up once
I was too focused on the street
There's too many girls on the street
There were a lot of attractive women around me
Tried my hand at working
I attempted to find employment
Couldn't get a lick of work done
I was too distracted to be productive
With all them girls runnin' around
The women in the area kept distracting me
I was missing out on all of my fun! (Missing all my fun!)
I wasn't able to enjoy myself
But I'm a real big sports fan
I'm enthusiastic about sports
I'm always at the game!
I attend sporting events frequently
Keepin' my eyes open
I'm on the lookout
For some good lookin' dame
I'm searching for an attractive woman
Now Jack, don't set me back
Don't hold me back, Jack
I'm shooting straight from the hip (Shootin' from the hip!)
I speak frankly and honestly
Winnin' girls and chicks and stuff
I am successful with women
There ain't a girl I can't get
I can attract any woman
Ain't one gonna gimme the slip!
I won't be rejected
So cool do I come off (Comin' off!)
I appear very composed and chilled out
Take a little time and then I'm gone
I don't stick around for long
What can I tell ya?
I don't have much else to say
With all that leg I gotta admit
I can't resist attractive women's legs
So cool is my approach
I'm very smooth with my interactions
My style is known from coast to coast
My approach to dealing with people is famous all over the country
I'm doin' it right
I'm living my life to the fullest and liking it
I'm dynamite
I'm an impressive and powerful individual
Just light my fuse and hold on tight
Be ready for action once I start moving
And the night's real cold
The nights are chilly
Well, everything told
All factors considered
Put another log on the fire
Let's make the atmosphere more comfortable
Busy busy busy being the king
I am constantly occupied with being on top
I'll try to slip you inbetween
I'll do my best to find time for you
If you have to wait in time
If you have to wait in line
It's well worth your time
It will be worth the wait
I'll get you in right under the wire
I'll do my best to accommodate you
Yeah, all my friends they eat a lot
My friends are big eaters
I don't give a damn if they do
But I'm not bothered by it
Most of my food is dressed in skirts
I am attracted to women and often interact with them
And walkin' by two by two
Especially when they walk in pairs
You know, I got religion
I am a religious person
And I pray whenever I can
I say prayers whenever possible
I thank the lord that I'm a man
I'm grateful to be a man
Went to school to get some smarts
I attended school to gain intelligence
Learned a lot, maybe not
I may not have learned everything I needed to
The girlies I studied with was always young and hot
The girls in my classes were attractive and youthful
There ain't no reason I should lie
I'm speaking truthfully
I ain't that kind of a guy
I'm not the type of person to be dishonest
For a one night stand, I am the man
I'm very successful with short-term relationships
To get your girlfriend high!
I will make your girlfriend very happy
So cool do I come off
I present myself as a very laid-back person
And the night's won't be cold
The chilly nights won't be unpleasant
Everything be told
To sum things up
If you have to wait in line
If you have to be patient
I'll get you in right under the wire!
I'll find a way to get you in under the deadline
Hey, the army, they called me up
The military has contacted me
I'm afraid that I can't go (How come?)
I cannot participate (why?))
I'm a lover, not a fighter!
I'm not interested in combat
This time they should know
The recruiters should be aware of my stance
I plan to spend the rest of my life doing what I do
I intend to continue living my life as I always have
I'll travel abroad, I'll dine on cod
I'll go overseas and eat cod
And oh waiter, a table for two
I request a table for two, please
Hey waiter, a table for two!
I repeat, waiter, a table for two!
Yeah, I went to San Francisco
I journeyed to San Francisco
I never looked up once (FOR REAL!)
I didn't glance upwards (honest!)
I was missing out on all of my fun!
I wasn't able to enjoy myself
But I'm a real big sports fan!
I have strong enthusiasm for sports
I'm always at the game (Batter up!)
I frequently attend live sports events
I'm shooting straight from the hip
I'm being completely honest and forthright
Winnin' them girls and chicks and stuff
I'm very successful with women
There ain't one I can't get
All women are attracted to me
I'm doin' it
I'm living life to the fullest
Contributed by Audrey A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.