Finding a way to stop the insanity of 2020 wasn’t easy for Ben DeBerry and Dorothy Daniel, the down-home, genuine, bona fide husband-and-wife singing-songwriting duo who combined their names and talents to become the Danberrys in 2009. During a year gone haywire by the global pandemic, the East Nashvillians watched their baby girl turn 1 year old in May and planned to give birth to a brand-new album around the same time. With moments of bliss and anguish intermingling before some light began to emerge near the end of a long, dark tunnel, they managed to ease their pain by singing other folks’ tunes.
The Danberrys’ soothing rendition of “Helplessly Hoping,” written by Stephen Stills for Crosby, Stills and Nash’s self-titled album that was released in 1969, provides more comfort and joy than a cozy quilt during a bleak winter blizzard. The harmonious roots couple, who officially arrived 40 years after the song from that classic album began making an impact as a B-side single, present their exclusive music video premiere of “Helplessly Hoping” today at PopMatters.