Bio

Mission To glorify God in all I do and to use my talents to be an inspirational light in the world as stated in Matthew 5:14-16; using my music and testimony as a bridge to lead the lost to the love of Jesus; to enhance the experience of the believer through music so they are inspired to draw closer to God. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." ~Matthew 5:14-16 Singing, songwriting and performing have been woven into the fabric of Daniel Jens' life for over two decades. Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Daniel performed in several successful unsigned rock bands until he found his true calling in singing and writing Christian music. It is this shift of focus, Daniel says, that has caused his music to hold a more selfless meaning. He now sees his musical passion as a chance to glorify God, rather than a means to build himself up as a performer. This lesson was tough, and the road was filled with stumbling blocks, but a new spirit and vision led by the Lord has proven to be life-changing and more rewarding than Daniel ever could have imagined. This year’s journey began with Daniel returning home safely to his wife and family after a 15-month tour in Iraq. Daniel continues to reflect on the adversity he faced, yet he is also thankful for the opportunities he was given to glorify God in the midst of war. With Jesus as his strength, Daniel committed his talents to do the Lord’s work as much as his military duty allowed him. He accomplished this by playing and singing at church services, prayer breakfasts and the US Embassy. The highlights of his performances came when he played for fellow soldiers to help boost morale. Daniel not only received a Certificate of Appreciation for "…bringing a touch of class to the battalion" during his tour in Iraq, but he also won the 10-week “Blackjack Idol” competition, held by Blackjack, the 1st Cavalry Division's 2nd Brigade. Daniel’s most notable accomplishment this year is his appearance on NBC’s America’s Got Talent Season 3. Months of exposure on this live talent show helped Daniel gain an enormous increase in his fan base. His journey on the show started back in April of 2008, when he auditioned in front of the judges in Dallas, Texas. After receiving a standing ovation from the audience and overwhelming support from the judges, Daniel advanced to the next round hosted in Las Vegas. Vegas also proved to be a success when Daniel was chosen as one of the Top 40 to move on to perform live in Los Angeles. His Top 40 performance then helped advance him through to the Top 20, and after his second live performance in the Top 20, Daniel placed 11th in America’s Got Talent, the summer’s top rating television show. Daniel undoubtedly gained priceless experience during this journey. Since his performance on America’s Got Talent, Daniel has performed at the following: • AUSA Military Convention, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington DC • Habitat for Humanity home dedication, Florida • USO Retired Veterans Dinner, Killeen TX • Let it Shine Christian Concert, Harker Heights TX Notable performance locations include: • United States Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq • Planet Hollywood Theatre, Las Vegas, NV • Majestic Theatre, Dallas TX • Shank Hall, Milwaukee WI • The Rave, Milwaukee WI • Bay Fest, Greenbay, WI As an active musician at his church in Texas, Daniel now works with fellow musicians in organizing and delivering weekly worship. Daniel has also been working at developing a solid music ministry. The vision of his ministry is to spread the gospel through song. Whether he is worshipping in the park, at church services or at youth events, Daniel knows that God remains in control of his talents and future. Daniel's military commitment will soon come to an end. Anticipating the end of this life-changing experience as an American soldier, Daniel fervently waits for his opportunity to make a name for himself in the Christian music industry. His desire is to work with a music label on developing an album that represents contemporary Christian rock and worship, while still including songs that can crossover into mainstream radio. He is a strong and diverse songwriter and he believes he holds the ability to write music that is inspirational and gospel-driven. His past musical and life experiences have carried him to this point, and he is readily anticipating the day when he can enjoy a professional, full-time musical career.