Johnny O'Keefe (born 1935, died 1978) was an Australian rock'n'roll singer who rose to fame in 50's and 60's with hits like "Wild One", "Shout" and "She's My Baby". Dale went into the Army and O'Keefe went into the RAAF. These overseas acts in turn inspired a new generation of local 'beat' stars, spearheaded by Bobby & Laurie, Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, Ray Brown & The Whispers, Tony Worsley & The Fabulous Blue Jays, Normie Rowe, and The Easybeats, who took the Australian pop scene by storm and (at least in Australia) soon came to rival the popularity of the biggest overseas acts.Although he had helped the careers of many of his rock'n'roll contemporaries, O'Keefe was resistant to the changes in pop music and made himself unpopular amongst the new groups by banning "long-haired" acts (such as The Missing Links) from appearing on Sing, Sing, Sing. The court heard Mr O'Keefe suffered from bipolar disorder and was in a "hypomanic" state during the incident, in which he admitted to spitting, slapping and kicking Dr Lavee. "O'Keefe was the promoter, singer, bouncer, door attendant, sold the ice creams, mixed the drinks and cleaned the halls, while working during the days at his father's furniture store. "O'Keefe was the promoter, singer, bouncer, door attendant, sold the ice creams, mixed the drinks and cleaned the halls, while working during the days at his father's furniture store."[19]. Il dbute sa carrire dans les annes 1950. [36][37][38] He was buried at Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium in Sydney. By this time O'Keefe was reaching the limits of his physical and mental endurance, and in all probability he was suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. However the tour eventually fizzled out in late November, as O'Keefe had behaved badly which did not endear him to Liberty Records which had spent over $17,000 promoting him. [citation needed] On the business front, he signed a new contract with Festival at the end of 1969 and continued to record and release singles, but it was not until July 1972 that he finally scored another hit with a re-recorded version of 1958 hit "So Tough", which reached No. Johnny had a solid musical background and listened to the radio almost constantly at home although he did not often sing around the house. Source: YouTube/sal 7 in September that year. Johnny O'Keefe with his children, Peter and Vick, at the Horden Pavilion in 1976. It fared well against stiff competition from the better-known James Taylor-Carly Simon version, which was rush-released in Australia to compete with it, but many of O'Keefe's supporters claim that O'Keefe's version was deliberately ignored by some commercial radio stations, in favour of its US rival.In August 1974 O'Keefe put together a package tour called "The Good Old Days of Rock'n'Roll" which featured many of his old friends including Johnny Devlin, Lonnie Lee, Jade Hurley, Barry Stanton, Tony Brady and Laurel Lea. J O'K as he was known became the undisputed King of Australian rock and roll. "Their first performance was at Stones Cabaret in the beach side suburb of Coogee, and by early 1957 they were playing four dances a week and also performing on Saturdays in the interval between films at the Embassy Theatre, Manly. Rate. John O'Keefe, in full John Michael O'Keefe, (born November 18, 1939, New York City, New York, U.S.), British-American neuroscientist who contributed to the discovery of place cells in the hippocampus of the brain and elucidated their role in cognitive (spatial) mapping. It was recorded at Goldstar recording studios in Hollywood on November 5, 1959. Live performances began to taper off. She's My Baby 2. n.d., [Biographical cuttings on Maureen O'Keefe, wife of Johnny O'Keefe, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals] Wikipedia Citation Please see Wikipedia's template documentation for further citation fields that may be required. . John Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe (19 January 1935 - 6 October 1978) was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. In 1959, Lee Gordon contracted O'Keefe to perform and be filmed in his film 'RocknRoll', a live filming of one Lee Gordon's 'Rock'n'Roll Spectacular' shows that travelled nationally during that year. Kendra Wilkinson cuts a casual figure while out with her son Hank Jr., 13, and eight-year-old daughter Alijah He had twenty-nine Top 40 hits in Australia between 1958 and 1973. 5. [14] Radio personality Harry Griffiths, who met O'Keefe at this time, remembered him as "a bad-tempered ratbag" who often argued with Merzi, although Merzi commented that they never clashed over music. In December 1952 Dale and O'Keefe were called up for National Service. 4. That award was presented to him by the the talented Bryan O'Leary, a former pupil of Jimmy's, who was in turn a pupil of Bryan's grandad Johnny O'Leary. He was born in Sydney on 19th January 1935 and in a career that spanned 20 years he released over 50 singles, 50 EP's and 100 albums. By this time he was reaching the limits of his physical and mental endurance. record in their library, and they refused to play his new single "Wild One" although a hastily issued version by NZ rocker Johnny Devlin was played. He was born in Ambon in 1924, grew up in Aceh and Jakarta, began playing guitar at an early age, and became a dedicated jazz musician. During the late Sixties and into the Seventies O'Keefe's personal life became increasingly fraught. [citation needed], His run of Australian hits continued in spite of his mounting personal problems. After his second stint of National Service he began singing with Merzi two nights a week, playing at university college dances, 21st birthdays and private parties and Merzi also managed to get O'Keefe a regular spot on the 2UW live radio show Saturday Night Dancing. 1. [18], At the time Casch joined the band, they were promoting their own dances at local venues such as the Balmain Workingmen's Institute and Stone's Cabaret. Live performances began to taper off. Free postage. [9] During his time at high school Johnny joined the school cadets, where he made good progress learning trumpet,[6] and he (reluctantly) sang solo in the school choir. or by his nickname "The Wild One", O'Keefe was the first Australian rock n' roll performer to tour the United States, and the first Australian artist to make the local Top 40 charts. There was little or no rock music scene in Australia, and certainly no Australian rock recordings, prior to 1957, when Bill Haley toured the country. "I want to take him down," she tells the solicitor general. Casch recalled that he actually played behind Jerry Lee Lewis, whose own backing musicians were so daunted by the Dee Jays' performance that they got too drunk to play.[24]. [25], O'Keefe had played a few dates in New Zealand in 1958, but in early 1959 rising NZ promoter Harry M. Miller organised a two-month tour. On the business front, he signed a new contract with Festival at the end of 1969 and continued to record and release singles, but it was not until July 1972 that he finally scored another hit with a re-recorded version of 1958 hit "So Tough", which reached #7 in September that year.In January 1973 O'Keefe performed at the second Sunbury Pop Festival. These drugs were treatment for his bipolar disorder. He is one of five children raised in Sydney. The tenacious O'Keefe performed his routine no matter how small the audience, sometimes braving the rotten eggs and fruit thrown at him by local louts.[16]. Relatives of him have also become celebrities, such as his nephew Andrew O'Keefe. O'Keefe's debut single (issued as a 78rpm record), "You Hit The Wrong Note, Billy Goat" b/w "The Chicken Song", was released in July 1957 but it failed to chart and sold poorly, as did the follow-up, a cover of Pat Boones "Love Letters in the Sand" which O'Keefe later described as the worst record of his career. It was also reported that he was deeply depressed by the death of his idol Elvis Presley in August 1977, and that he had repeatedly remarked to friends "I'll be next".O'Keefe's last public appearance was on Seven Network's Sounds program, taped on 30 September 1978.Johnny O'Keefe died six days later, on 6 October 1978, from a heart attack induced by an accidental overdose of prescribed drugs. The enterprising O'Keefe was involved in every aspect of the group's career including hiring the halls, placing ads in the local newspapers and putting up posters. AU $10.95 postage. He is from Australia. Johnny was stationed at Richmond approximately 50 kilometres (31mi) North-West of Sydney, and served his six-month period in two blocks, from DecemberFebruary 1952 and DecemberFebruary 1953. Being unable to read or memorise the script, the young O'Keefe improvised his part.The young O'Keefe was intelligent and perceptive, with a great sense of humour, although his school grades fluctuated due to his misbehaviour and the fact that he was easily distracted; Sydney radio personality Gary O'Callaghan, who was a classmate, later recalled that O'Keefe was often in trouble. . [13], The first turning point in O'Keefe's career was in early 1953, when he began singing with the quintet of jazz accordionist Gus Merzi at charity dances. Further improvemen. According to Lou Casch, on one occasion, while O'Keefe and the Dee Jays played at an upstairs dance venue in Newtown, an "Italian wedding" reception was also taking place downstairs. O'Keefe had played a few dates in New Zealand in 1958, but in early 1959 rising NZ promoter Harry M. Miller organised a two-month tour. Born 20 Oct 1901 in Narromine, New South Wales, Australia. He was the second of three children of Raymond Moran O'Keefe and Thelma Edna Kennedy. [20] While the song is credited officially to Johnny Greenan, O'Keefe, and Dave Owens, some sources suggest that O'Keefe was not directly involved in the composition. He was raised as a Catholic and attended the local Catholic primary school, followed by secondary schooling at Waverley College in nearby Waverley.[3]. Some of his hits include "Wild One" (1958), "Shout!" and "She's My Baby". The TV show ran until 1962 when Johnny left to tour America (with limited success).Overwork led to Johnny being instructed by his doctors to take a rest, but he was soon back on television with another show Sing! La influencer comparti una de registros audiovisuales del expresidente brasileo, quien estaba rodeado de personas que buscaban tomarse . 1970. Sing! or by his nickname, "The Wild One", O'Keefe was the first Australian rock'n'roll performer to tour the United States, and the first Australian artist to make the newly-introduced local Top 40 charts, and he remains Australia's most successful chart performer, with twenty-nine Top 40 hits to his credit in Australia between 1959 and 1974.Johnny O'Keefe was the younger brother of Australian jurist Barry O'Keefe (a former head of the New South Wales ICAC) and the uncle of comedian and TV presenter Andrew O'Keefe. [45], The King of Pop Awards were voted by the readers of TV Week. Move Baby Move 4. Johnny O'Keefe, Soundtrack: Adventures in Babysitting. Died. O'Keefe made his stage debut at the age of four when he played the role of 'Dopey' in the Waverley College production of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". During his high school days he would sing at the odd school dance and socials. Halfway into the Vietnam War (1959-1975), a special US combat unit is sent to hunt and kill the Viet Cong soldiers in man-to-man combat in the endless tunnels underneath the jungle of Vietnam. Impressed, O'Keefe offered him the job and handed him a pile of records, saying "Here, learn these. [citation needed]. O'Keefe was married and has three children. who is johnny o'keefe sonwayne fontes brother. His drug and alcohol use escalated, he suffered a series of highly-publicised breakdowns, and he was involved in driving offences and a charge of possession of marijuana ca. Johnny O'Keefe had been performing in talent shows, mainly doing impersonations of Johnny Ray singing songs such as Crying and The Little White Cloud that Cried (complete with prop glasses filled with water to make artificial tears). He realised immediately that this was the style of music he wanted to perform, and from this point on he dedicated himself single-mindedly to becoming a rock 'n' roll singer and a star. [27], "She's My Baby" had been recorded in Los Angeles with producer Snuff Garrett during O'Keefe's first visit to the United States in October 1959. Johnny O'Keefe died on 6 October 1978, from a heart attack induced by an accidental overdose of prescription barbiturates. In early 1959 ABC hired Johnny O'Keefe & The Dee Jays as the resident band for its new one-hour live television show Six O'Clock Rock which featured local artists. We have estimated Johnny O'Keefe's net worth , money, salary, income, and assets. 1933). This was followed by another support spot on the second all-star Big Show, which included The Crickets (with lead singer Buddy Holly on his first and only Australian tour), Jerry Lee Lewis and Paul Anka.During this period The Dee Jays also acted as the backing band for many of the international acts that Gordon toured, since they were at the time the only rock'n'roll band in the country who could read music. In a recent interview, Australian poet Robert Adamson - a one-time wild one himself - spoke about the music of his adolescence:"Johnny O'Keefe was the wildest thing I'd heard, he had a croaky. O'Keefe continued to issue singles, including a cover of the Harry Vanda-George Young song "Saturday Night", originally recorded by The Easybeats.On 14 February 1975 (St Valentine's Day) at the Masonic Hall, Waverley, O'Keefe married for the second time to Maureen Joan Maricic, a 29-year-old fashion consultant. Son of prominent Sydney Judge Barry O'Keefe (b. [citation needed]. He blacked out and woke three days later to find himself in a psychiatric hospital. The event cemented O'Keefe's status as Australia's top pop star came just after the NZ tour ended. Johnny O'Keefe won one awards in that time, and the encouragement award was named named him.[47]. O'Keefe was the younger brother of Australian jurist Barry O'Keefe (a former head of the New South Wales ICAC). 2 on the singles chart. During these appearances, O'Keefe would sing his specialty, Johnny Ray's "Cry", while wearing a pair of trick glasses which would squirt water over the audience. Often referred to by his initials, "J.O.K." or by his nickname, "The Wild One". Limited Marketed By - Warner Music Australia Pty. Johnny O'Keefe - The Wild One - The Very Best More images Tracklist Hide Credits Companies, etc. Johnny O'Keefe Good (G) Sleeve Vinyl Records, Johnny Cash Mint (M) Sleeve Vinyl Records, Johnny Cash Good (G) Sleeve Vinyl Records, Wild One (Real Wild Child) 2. The Story of Johnny O'Keefe, which starred actor-singer Terry Serio as O'Keefe. 8 nationally in April 1974. Although it was claimed that it was recorded live at the Stadium, it was in fact a studio recording, overdubbed with the sound of a real Stadium audience. [10], He had already begun performing at dances and 'socials' while at high school, but his interest in music blossomed after he left school. Johnny Rebb wore a toupee and was escorted through the crowd to the bandstand accompanied by a bodyguard-manager. He was raised as a Catholic and attended the local Catholic primary school, followed by secondary schooling at Waverley College in nearby Waverley.Johnny had a solid musical background and listened to the radio almost constantly at home although he did not often sing around the house. [10] In 1952 he enrolled in a part-time economics degrees course at the University of Sydney, but soon abandoned it and enrolled in a short course at the College of Retailing in Sydney, after which he went to work in his father's furniture store in Pitt Street, Sydney. O'Keefe is one of five children. who is johnny o'keefe son. There was little or no rock music scene in Australia, and certainly no Australian rock recordings, prior to 1957, when Bill Haley toured the country. 2 straight and 6 curve HO Fastrack style. John Michael O'Keefe n le 19 janvier 1935 Bondi Junction en Nouvelle Galle du Sud et mort le 6 octobre 1978 Sydney, est un chanteur de rock 'n' roll australien. He was also a keen swimmer, surfer and sailor and often sailed with the Vaucluse Juniors sailing club.He matriculated in 1951, gaining an 'A' in French and a 'B' in English, mathematics, physics and economics. During this period The Dee Jays also acted as the backing band for many of the international acts that Gordon toured, since they were at the time the only rock'n'roll band in the country who could read music. A local band, the Dee Jays with vocalist Johnny O'Keefe, was chosen as the supporting act. His father was Barry O'Keefe, a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. There was little or no rock music scene in Australia, and certainly no Australian rock recordings, prior to 1957, when Bill Haley toured the country. Explore. [31] The show was a major success, but this only added to his already hectic workload and increased the pressure on him. [citation needed], In January 1961 O'Keefe attempted another tour of the United States, but it was also unsuccessful. He was the second of three children of Raymond Moran O'Keefe and Thelma Edna Kennedy. It was produced and broadcast by the newly opened Channel TEN-10 and filmed at various outdoor locations around Sydney, and O'Keefe released a 'spin-off' album also titled Where The Action Is during the year, but the series was not successful and budget problems and low ratings led to its cancellation in November 1967. In his twenty-year career, O'Keefe released over 50 singles, 50 EP's and 100 albums.Often referred to by his initials, "J.O.K." Some of his hits include "Wild One" (1958), "Shout!" and "She's My Baby". This became his first hit in March 1958, peaking at #20 on the newly established Sydney Top 40 (at this time there was no national pop chart in Australia). In the early hours of 27 June 1960, O'Keefe, Johnny Greenan and Greenan's pregnant wife were driving back to Sydney from the Queensland Gold Coast. Johnny's car crash, 1960 NFSA ID 1349308 Year 1966 Courtesy Nine Network Request access Access fees Summary In this clip, from a 1966 Bandstand special, Johnny talks to Brian Henderson about returning from his disappointing American tour and the lead-up to his horrific car crash in June 1960. When Gene Vincent and his band were stranded in Honolulu on their way to Australia, Gordon contacted O'Keefe and asked him to fill in for Vincent for the first night of the tour in Wollongong. Kenneth O'Keefe makes another stunning save! O'Keefe was involved in every aspect of the group's career including hiring the halls, placing ads in the local newspapers and putting up posters. He is a nephew of the Australian rock and roll singer Johnny O'Keefe. He was 52.<br><br>He was born February 9, 1965 in Fort Knox, Kentucky son of Leokadia (Duvenage) Dunn of Brewster, NY and the late . O'Keefe and the Dee Jays' first major break was a support spot on Lee Gordon's first "Big Show" rock'n'roll tour, which starred Little Richard, Gene Vincent, and Eddie Cochran. [25], O'Keefe's last public appearance was on Seven Network's Sounds program, taped on 30 September 1978, six days prior to his death.[7]. AU $23.00. O'Keefe's tenure with Six O'Clock Rock ended in mid-1961, and in October he moved to ATN-7 as compere of the Johnny O'Keefe Show. By this time O'Keefe had become a close friend of the music concert promoter, Lee Gordon, and their popularity really took off when O'Keefe and the Dee Jays were installed as the featured support act for Gordon's famous "Big Show" concert bills at the Sydney Stadium. His second Leedon single was a cover of The Isley Brothers' "Shout!" [citation needed] These overseas acts in turn inspired a new generation of local 'beat' stars, spearheaded by Bobby & Laurie, Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, Ray Brown & The Whispers, Tony Worsley & The Fabulous Blue Jays, Normie Rowe, and The Easybeats, who took the Australian pop scene by storm and (at least in Australia) soon came to rival the popularity of the biggest overseas acts. Haley was impressed by O'Keefe, giving him a song to record ("You Hit The Wrong Note, Billy Goat") and recommending him to Ken Taylor, A&R manager of leading local record company Festival Records. O'Keefe was also a radio and television entertainer and presenter[1]. [citation needed], Although he had helped the careers of many of his rock'n'roll contemporaries, O'Keefe was resistant to the changes in pop music and made himself unpopular amongst the new groups by banning "long-haired" acts (such as The Missing Links) from appearing on Sing, Sing, Sing. He died in 1978. He was the second of three children of Raymond Moran O'Keefe and Thelma Edna Kennedy. Johnny O'Keefe first met Bill Haley during his tour in 1957 in Australia. Johnny Greenan joined the Dee Jays on tenor saxophone, replacing John Balkin. [citation needed] Samples from the Iggy Pop version were incorporated into the theme music for the ABC's long-running late-night music video show Rage, which premiered in 1987, and the opening credits of the show include footage of O'Keefe on stage. 10:00AM - 8:00PM; Google+ Twitter Facebook Skype. [46], The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. [August 2003] His father, Barry O'Keefe, died in Sydney, Australia on 24 April 2014, aged 80. He attended Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, and then studied arts and law at the University of Sydney. When Gene Vincent and his band were stranded in Honolulu on their way to Australia, Gordon contacted O'Keefe and asked him to fill in for Vincent for the first night of the tour in Wollongong. The King of Pop award started in 1967 and ran through to 1978. ".In November 1964, O'Keefe had another spell in psychiatric hospital, which he came to jokingly refer to as his "holiday camp".His popularity continued to decline and sales of his records fell. In August 1974 O'Keefe put together a package tour called "The Good Old Days of Rock'n'Roll" which featured many of his old friends including Dinah Lee, Johnny Devlin, Lonnie Lee, Jade Hurley, Barry Stanton, Tony Brady and Laurel Lea. Impressed, O'Keefe offered him the job and handed him a pile of records, saying "Here, learn these. [28], In the early hours of 27 June 1960, O'Keefe, Johnny Greenan and Greenan's wife Janice were driving back to Sydney from the Queensland Gold Coast. Australian rock historian Ian McFarlane succinctly described O'Keefe's qualities in his article on the singer in the Encyclopedia of Australian Rock & Pop:"J.O'K was the first to admit that he was a limited singer, but he possessed an incredible drive, a fierce ambition to succeed, a tireless facility for self-promotion, a tremendous flair for showmanship and a larrikin spirit that was irrepressible.". This, together with a serious car smash which required several operations to reconstruct his face, culminated in Johnny's death from a heart attack in October 1978.During his career, J O'K had five number one records and ten other top ten hits. O'Keefe took the staid NZ music scene by storm, although he was banned from playing at some halls and faced problems getting airplay. Limited Credits Liner Notes - Toby Creswell Notes with 24 page booklet. Besides being a great showman himself, he is also credited for nurturing other Australian talent, like Barry Stanton and Lonnie Lee. Johnny O'Keefe's life changed irrevocably after seeing and hearing Bill Haley singing "Rock Around the Clock" in the film Blackboard Jungle in June 1955. [35], In January 1973 O'Keefe performed at the second Sunbury Pop Festival. [citation needed], In 1998, Australia Post issued a special stamp edition celebrating the early years of Australian rock'n'roll; the first stamp in the series commemorated Johnny O'Keefe's rise to stardom in 1958. O'Keefe quickly took over the running of almost every aspect of the show, selecting guest artists, choosing their material, supervising the rehearsals and conducting the band.No doubt assisted by his high profile, O'Keefe scored two more Top 20 hits in the first half of 1959 with the singles "What Do Ya Know?" It premiered at St George Leagues Club in Sydney and continued successfully for the next four years. b/w "You Excite Me" (#9, May 1959).At this point O'Keefe switched to Festival's new subsidiary Leedon Records. Rock and roll star Johnny O'Keefe has left a lasting legacy among Australians and fans right across the world. Directed By: Ash Brannon, John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich. et She's my Baby [1].Au cours de ses vingt ans de carrire, O'Keefe a sorti plus de cinquante singles, 50 EP et 100 albums. As soon as he was released from close confinement he escaped, but by chance he was able to make contact with Lee Gordon, who happened to be in London at the time, and with Gordon's help (and that of O'Keefe's wife and his parents) he was transferred to St George's Hospital to recover, and he returned to Australia as soon as he was well enough to travel. [15], Recognising Johnny's potential, Merzi began tutoring him on piano, encouraging him to broaden his repertoire and helping him to refine his stagecraft. [citation needed] It was recorded at a 5-song session at Goldstar recording studios in Hollywood on 5 November 1959 ("She's My Baby", "It's Too Late", "Own True Self", "Ready For You" and "Come On and Take My Hand").
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