Dan Schwartz was a lifelong musician and accomplished percussionist whose presence brought joy, connection, and energy to every room he entered. Known affectionately as “Dr. D,” he earned the nickname as the “rhythm doctor” because of his extraordinary ability to shape and elevate the sound of any group he played with. For more than 50 years, Dan performed with numerous bands and ensembles throughout the South Coast and beyond, including Bobby Green & Coleus, The Whaling City Sound Super Band, the Stan Strickland Band, the Southcoast Jazz Orchestra, and many others. He also toured Cape Verde with the New England Cape Verde All-Star Review. Dan was admired not only for his musical talent, but for the humility, warmth, and joy he brought to every performance. Those who played with him knew that his presence made the music more alive and deeply connected.

In Dan’s memory, we are creating the Dan “Dr. D” Schwartz Music Scholarship Fund to support people of any age pursuing music study. Dan loved jazz, Latin jazz, and Afro-Cuban music, and he understood that meaningful musical growth often happens in many different settings. This scholarship is intended to support not only traditional college music study, but also private lessons and other non-traditional paths for those committed to learning and growing as musicians. While the details of the scholarship are still being finalized and will be developed in the coming months, our hope is to build something that reflects Dan’s lifelong passion for music and his generous spirit.

Dan was the kind of person people loved listening to, playing with, and simply being around. He brought deep passion and presence to his music, and his beautiful energy touched so many lives. Thank you for helping us honor Dan’s legacy and create opportunities for others to pursue music in his memory.