Danny O'Keefe

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. The gramophone record's sales culminated in a gold disc issued by the R.I.A.A. in June 1973.

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

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