I've been influenced by many artists, chief among them are Miles Davis, Nino Rota, Huddy Leadbetter, Mississippi John Hurt, the Rev. Gary Davis, Jimmy Rodgers, the Carter Family, Stan Getz, Billie Holiday, too many really to list. My father collected early jazz recordings and the music of Bix Biederbecke, Louis Armstrong and the many great musicians of the early 20th Century still have a powerful effect when I hear them. Visit www.redhotjazz.com to hear some of these great artists.
"Along For the Ride" 1990 video from "Redux"
Along For the Ride
Singer/songwriter Danny O'Keefe began his musical career in the Minnesota coffeehouse scene in the 1960's In 1969, a meeting with Buffalo Springfield manager Charles Greene led to a telephone audition with Ahmet Ertegun, President of Atlantic Records, resulting in O'Keefe's first record deal. Atlantic Records released O'Keefe (1972) which featured the top-ten classic hit, "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues", followed by the classic Breezy Stories (1973).
Since its initial thrust onto the airwaves, "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues" has been recorded by Elvis Presley, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Leon Russell, Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie McCoy, Cab Calloway, Earl Klugh, and Chet Atkins among others. Mel Torme performed it on the hit television series, "Night Court" and, most recently, it was recorded by Dwight Yoakam for his Under The Covers release, and featured in the film Wild Things.
Between l975 and 1979, O'Keefe recorded a third album for Atlantic Records and two albums for Warner Bros. Records: So Long Harry Truman (1975, Atlantic), American Roulette (1977, Warner Bros.), and The Global Blues (1979, Warner Bros.).
In 1985, O'Keefe released The Day To Day (Coldwater Records), which was re-released in 1989 as Redux (Beachwood/Chameleon Records). The singles, "Along For The Ride" and "Someday" were charted in both the NAC and the AC charts. A video of "Along For The Ride" was aired on VH1.
Throughout the 1970s and into 80's, O'Keefe toured with many well-known artists and friends including, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Jimmy Buffet, Jessie Colin Young, Maria Muldaur, Linda Ronstadt, Loggins and Messina, and the Hollies. He has also performed on the same bill with acts such as Bruce Springsteen, YES, Tom Waits, John Hammond, Little Feat, Rita Coolidge, Dr. John, The Beach Boys, and others.
Many of O'Keefe's songs have been recorded by well-known artists such as Jackson Browne, "The Road"; John Denver, "Along For The Ride" (co-written with Bill Braun); Judy Collins. "Angel Spread Your Wings"; Sheena Easton, "Next To You" (co-written by O'Keefe and George Merrill); David Lindley, "The Jimmy Hoffa Memorial Bldg. Blues," "More Than Eva Braun", "Well, Well, Well" (co-written with Bob Dylan), and “Jody” (co-written with Bill Braun) ; Jesse Colin Young, "On The Edge" (co-written with Young) and "Catfish"; David Mallett, Molly O’Brien, and Alison Krauss, "Never Got Off The Ground" (co-written with Mallett). The sensational young bluegrass group, Nickel Creek, recorded O’Keefe’s and Tim O’Brien’s, “When You Come Back Down” on their first Sugar Hill release. Tim O’Brien has recorded both “When You Come Back Down” and O’Keefe and Fred Tackett’s “Into the West”.
Recently Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama recorded the O’Keefe/Dylan composition for their Grammy award-winning CD, “There Will Be A Light”. A live CD recorded at the Apollo Theatre has recently been released. Bonnie Raitt has recently released a cd/dvd recording of her VH1 special with a performance with Ben Harper of “Well, Well, Well”. Alan Jackson’s release “Like Red On A Rose” has a song written by Danny and Tim Krekl called “Anywhere On Earth You Are”. It was produced by Alison Krauss.
O'Keefe is as well known in environmental circles as he is in musicians' circles. His inner music naturally led him to an appreciation of songbirds, which have inspired both his music and his activism. In 1998, O'Keefe founded the Songbird Foundation (www.songbird.org), which seeks to protect songbirds and their habitats that are being destroyed by deforestation caused by non-sustainable coffee growing practices in Latin America. The Foundation educates and encourages coffee-drinkers to drink sustainably grown coffee rather than sun-grown coffee. Sustainably grown coffee is shade grown, organic, and Fair Trade.
The new cd "IN TIME" is now available. You can hear some of the songs from the album above and you can order the CD at www.dannyokeefe.com
Hi Danny- thanks for adding- listened to your songs the first time in the seventies- I'm with your music since that time- respect and best regards from Germany -Beige Fish
Just stopping by to say hello and listen to your music again. I especially liked The First Time and Maybe Next Time... Hope 2009 has been good to you. Best wishes...Kari Scott
Hello Danny, thanks for accepting my add friend request. Please check out my lyrics "Let's Make Our Dream Come True" and "A Better Day", I need serious recordings for them. Mischa
Vince is being featured in the current issue of Country Weekly in the Listen Up! section.Also, as part of being featured they are letting all his fans download "Walkaway Joe" from their website. If you would like to purchase more songs by Vince Melamed you can do so on www.adroitrecords.com
Hey, I've got a new acoustic demo up of my song "Snapshot Chronicles" up now. Feel free to listen, comment, and if you like it tell your friends. If not, that's cool too.
Just wanted to let you know I have some samples from my latest album on myspace and would love to here what you think. I had a blast recording it with some of the best in the industry, Like James Burton (Elvis Presley's lead Guitarist) along with many more. Please stop by and have a listen. Blessings Darin Warner
Danny, your music is timeless. I had your first three albums on vinyl way back when, and remembered such classics as "Good Time Charlie", "Magdalena" and "The Road". Your newest work surpasses all those, and shows the great progress you made as a composer, singer and guitarist over the years.
Thank you for providing so much enjoyment. One of these days we are going to have to share a river together. You will like it much more than sea kayaking, I promise!
Keep on writing and rocking Danny! Where in Washington? I live on Guam, still have a house for my daughter on Mercer Island. She's a great singer too. Best always! David Hendricks
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