Fellow inspector and friend, Pete MacGane, first boasted to Dan of a girl that worked at Majestic Metal Specialties and likewise sang Country and Western Music on WERI, the local radio station in Westerly, Connecticut. That girl was Cecile (Cil) and she had been singing and entertaining since early childhood. And now at the age of 21 was the star vocalist/announcer of the Pine Hill Ranchers performing a weekly one-hour show on Saturday mornings.

Pete (aware that Cil was very conveniently working days at the plant and at the same time aware of Dan’s country music interests, singing and guitar playing!) thought it only logical to make his friend aware of this 'super talented' young lady. So, tuning in to the broadcast that following Saturday, Dan heard Cil singing "I Overlooked an Orchid."

Dan noting immediately how she was "just as good as any he'd ever heard" including those on the Grand Ole Opry, he just knew he had to meet her! And soon enough he did, at the company's annual Christmas Party where Cil and her band were, ideally enough, performing! Gradually, Dan "picked" his way into a performance with Cil "the Yodeling Cowgirl" and the band at a local Grange Hall gig, where-upon he was asked by the members to join them and 'sit-in' again on their next radio show. Overwhelmed at the offer (not to mention by Cil herself!), Dan accepted. And before too long, he was 'tagging along' on every occasion he could, thereafter.

Romance bloomed! But sure enough (as fate would always seem to have it!), Dan was recalled to the Baltimore plant. Love (being the 'many splendid thing' it is!), he soon found himself (along with another 'in love' inspector) trooping up to Moosup, every Friday night after work for the weekends. But it was not long before he was able to convince Cil to move to Baltimore.

Separated from his first wife for some time but not 'legally' divorced, to keep things right Dan moved Cil into the Mayfair Hotel and later to a nearby boarding house in his neighborhood. Dubbing themselves "The Prairie Sweethearts" (soon after to become "The Singing Sweethearts"), in September of 1952 they secured a gig at Harry’s Corral on Baltimore Street where the owner, Sam Levine, had them sharing a half-hour time slot with another Country act, Texas Bill. Doing Friday nights, Saturday matinees and nights and Sunday matinees, they completed a 12-week stint and were re-hired for another 12 weeks. It was there that they met another Baltimore 'Country Star,' L. C. Smith, who was also playing at the Corral. To this day, they remain great friends with L.C. and, on occasions, can be seen and heard performing together with him and his "Down-home Folks."

But the idea of spending a lifetime "performing for drunks, who could've cared less about true country and western music and history" (the latter, Dan's forte´!) did not appeal to The Singing Sweethearts. Instead Dan chose to work a a regular job and raise a family with Cil and just keep up with their old friends (Ian Tyson, Montana Slim). And with their marriage soon after 'consummated', they did just that!

With lay-offs at Martin’s in 1962, Dan soon became the "Singing Mailman" (as he was known to his 'route' patrons) for a good many years. Retiring in 1985, Dan and Cil have returned to their mutual love of performing anywhere and everywhere they can. Selling their "chock full’a songs" (over 90 minutes worth!) on cassette tapes, and well, just being the TRUE STARS they always were!! Not bad for a 'Long Island' Cowboy (Billy, the Kid’s original birthplace) and a Connecticut "Yodelin' Cowgirl," I’d say!!