| Imagine Danny Fernandes's surprise when he found | | | | Everything was progressing at a natural rate when |
| out that "Curious" a song he had worked on in a | | | | Danny discovered that he had a hit single in Europe. |
| friend's studio in downtown Toronto, had been | | | | Last year the song was re-recorded with New York |
| downloaded and released as a single in Europe in | | | | hip hop sensation Juelz Santana, giving the smash |
| 2006. "They put it on an actual vinyl record and it had | | | | "Curious" even more street cred. "He is the coolest |
| a picture of me and everything. I guess people just fell | | | | guy you will ever meet,"says Danny of Santana. "He is |
| in love with it because it still a huge hit to this day,"says | | | | very down to earth, proper and polite." |
| the tattooed, baby-faced 24-year-old. A born | | | | Currently, Danny is on the cusp of an August 19 |
| entertainer, Fernandes is a true double threat, | | | | release of his debut album, aptly titled Intro. His second |
| combining a background in dance with a smooth voice | | | | single, "Private Dancer," is so slick and memorable |
| to create irresistibly catchy hits. | | | | there is little doubt that clubs nationwide will soon be |
| But it didn't start out that way. When his mom enrolled | | | | blaring the song into the wee hours of the morning. |
| him in dance classes at six years old, Danny was "just | | | | Until then, Danny is excitedly prepping for a Canadian |
| a regular kid who wanted to play hockey." Fernandes | | | | and European tour. "Touring is amazing. Being able to |
| endured his fair share of ribbing from kids at school. | | | | see the world and do what you love to do, and share |
| Good thing his brother, R&B mainstay Shawn Desman, | | | | your music with people in other countries, is the |
| was a source of inspiration. "He is a big influence. | | | | bestexperience in the world," he enthuses. |
| Watching him do this my whole life has been amazing. | | | | Life on the road requires a lot of discipline, and to |
| I idolize him. He is such a talented artist." | | | | prepare he is getting fit, eating right and working on his |
| Danny's dedication paid off. Before long, he was | | | | vocals. "I am working hard every day. It's music from |
| crisscrossing the globe as a backup dancer for the | | | | when I wake up to the time I go to sleep." He is also |
| likes of Aaron Carter, Blackstreet and Deborah Cox. | | | | doing his fair share of daydreaming about a joint tour |
| The itch to move to the forefront of the stage, | | | | with his brother, Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown. |
| however, was his cue to start laying down tracks with | | | | Says Fernandes: "There would be a whole lot of girls |
| a friend. | | | | at that show! |