Auerbach Family Portrait. My parents are third and fourth from left; my maternal grandparents, Samuel and Sarah, are in the front row. Sarah came from Ukraine when she was a girl of 14 to save her life; Samuel escaped the programs in Czarist Russia at 21. They met in Chicago.

Young Mozart. I must have been around three. Despite my earnest practice, I never did make it to Carnegie Hall.

Writing First Novel. My Grandpa Sam owned a men's clothing factory in downtown L.A. and would throw a big Christmas party for all his employees every year. Finding this office typewriter was the beginning of my budding career as a writer. (I'm still working on that novel.)

Reading with Sister Judy. My sister is three years older and we shared a room when we were small.

The Tiger. With sister Judy at World Jungle Compound in L.A. The tiger's name is Sultana, and, yes, she is real. One of my favorite childhood photos capturing my inner ragamuffin.

Nerdy Dan at 10. The Cold War, Eisenhower, Korea, Rock Around The Clock, Doris Day, Sinatra, From Here to Eternity.

High School Graduation. Feeling very happy and ready to move on to my next adventure: college in San Francisco.

Marriage to Beth in Mill Valley. My life changed very rapidly with the responsibilities of a married man at 19.

Young Father. Beth, Dan, and my wonderful daughter, Anya. 1964.

Alaska Pipeline Worker. I hitchhiked to Alaska in 1970 on a lark just to see the country and ended up spending six years there. I worked as a union laborer on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Project in 1975 along with thousands of others from around the world seeking their fortune (not unlike the Klondike Gold Rush a century earlier.)

With My Father. My father loved music and people and had an incredibly passionate zest for life. He inspired me to play the harmonica and guitar as a way to spread joy and, ultimately, to have a career in music. His memory is with me every day.

Halibut Fishing. Out on the Pacific with my son-in-law Ross Taylor in Humboldt County. Nice catch for a novice angler.

Minstrel Dan. I've been a freelance entertainer for the past 25 years and feel so fortunate to continue doing what I love. (I've also been an adult education music teacher working with frail and elderly adults in care facilities.)

Giants Game. Having fun with my daughter Anya and her family in San Francisco. Go Giants!

Groupies. One of the perks of my job is to have the attention of lovely ladies. It's rumored that some think I'm really Elvis.