Daniel has been invited to play the drums in Chicago with jazz and blues singer Shirley King, the daughter of famed blues guitarist B. B. King. While there, King has asked Daniel to record a CD with her.

Daniel and his parents will be traveling from Pembroke to the City of Blues on July 24 when the young drummer will take the stage at Willie Dixon's Blue Heaven.

"If B. B.'s in town he'll come along and play as well," said Daniel's father, Douglas. "We're all psyched.'

Douglas and Christine Banks know their son has talent galore and are getting used to the late, late nights at clubs when Daniel plays. And now they're on the road heading half-way across the country - not that they mind.

Daniel, of course, doesn't mind either, staying out 'til the wee hours doing what he loves. "It's one o'clock in the morning and we're exhausted, and he's up there playing," his father said with obvious pride.

That's sort of how it all happened a couple of weeks ago at the Chicken Bone Saloon in Framingham where Daniel was playing on a Sunday night.

Shirley King and her band were in town for the Boston Blues Festival and stopped by the club. The "daughter of the blues" was so impressed with Daniel that she asked him if he'd like to come to Chicago to play sometime over the summer.

"He was playing a few songs and she just came in to watch," said Banks. "She heard Daniel (on the drums) and wanted to get up and sing with him, so she did. We spent the rest of the night with her" at the club.

"She just basically said, 'This kid is unbelievable.'"

Banks said his son has spent the past year playing at local clubs and taking lessons to perfect his technique and style. While the jazz and blues club scene might seem a bit much for a 10-year-old, his parents are always right by his side. Banks said the trend toward smoke-free clubs is most welcome for the entire family.

Daniel "instinctively knows" how to play the drums, according to his father. "He's a natural." He loves the blues, unusual for a 10-year-old.

Shirley King is known for her commitment to the arts and music, going out of her way to promote them in urban neighborhoods. She plays in blues clubs and festivals around the world.

King also works with youths as the artist-in-residence at the highly regarded Urban Gateways Arts in the Schools Program with the Chicago Public Schools. Her goal is to keep the blues alive for a younger generation.

For Daniel, this will be a chance to attend "a big blues festival" in Chicago, his father said. King said she'd like to work with Daniel there for a couple of weeks.

Banks said his son, who attends Hobomock Elementary School, is not into heavy metal like most other adolescents. Daniel likes the real thing. "With a lot of music you hear the drums and it's all electronic," said Banks. "You can tell the difference."

Banks and his wife operate the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Hanover, and their son likes to dance well enough. "But his real passion is the drums," said his father.

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