Danny O'Keefe

Danny O'Keefe

Danny O'Keefe in 1972
Background information
Born 1943 (age 72–73)
Spokane, Washington, United States
Genres Folk
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active 1960s–present
Labels Cotillion, Atlantic, Warner Bros.

Danny O'Keefe (born 1943, Spokane, Washington, United States) is an American singer-songwriter. O'Keefe's musical career has spanned four decades from his early days playing in the Minnesota coffee houses to his present station in the Seattle area. He is still active both in the recording studio and on stage.

Career

In 1968 O'Keefe was a member of a four-man heavy psychedelic rock band named Calliope. The group recorded one album, "Steamed", for Buddah Records before disbanding.

O'Keefe is best known for his only hit single "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues", which was released in September 1972, and reached number 9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and for "The Road", covered by Jackson Browne on Running on Empty. "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" stayed on the Billboard chart for 14 weeks and sold a million copies.[1] The gramophone record's sales culminated in a gold disc issued by the R.I.A.A. in June 1973.[1]

O'Keefe's unique lyrical style and haunting melodies earned him a reputation as an important songwriter of his genre.[2] With Bob Dylan he co-wrote the environmental movement anthem, "Well Well Well".[3]

In concert with his music and through his organization The Songbird Foundation, O'Keefe has been active in the environmental field, helping to develop public awareness of the effect that indiscriminate coffee-growing techniques have on the songbird population.

O'Keefe's songs have been covered by numerous musicians, including Jackson Browne ("The Road"), Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell (Quits), John Denver (Along For The Ride), Donny Hathaway (Magdalena), Jerry Lee Lewis, Judy Collins, Leon Russell, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jimmy Buffett, Alison Krauss, Ben Harper, Cab Calloway, Mark-Almond, Andy Williams, and others; in Italy his song "The Road" has been covered by Ron, with Italian lyrics written by Lucio Dalla (and re-titled "Una città per cantare").

Discography

References

  1. 1 2 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 318. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  2. ↑ Holden, Stephen (1982-09-27). "Folk Program - Danny O'Keefe - Nytimes.Com". New York Times. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  3. ↑ "Danny O'Keefe - Chart history". Billboard. 1972-11-04. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
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