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. This was the band that supported a tour by Little Richard and his band. and "She's My Baby". 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. My parents had landed in New York on the eve of the depression; my father's hope was that I would never have to live through one myself. His decision to try his luck in the USA was strongly opposed by his friend and mentor Lee Gordon but the ever-ambitious O'Keefe had already set his sights on breaking into the American market, and in L.A. he met with record executive Mickey Shaw who introduced him to executives of Liberty Records.In February 1960 O'Keefe returned to the U.S. for a promotional tour, where he was promoted as "The Boomerang Boy", and much to his chagrin, O'Keefe was obliged to give boomerang throwing exhibitions. AU $10.95 postage. 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.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. He was the second of three children of Raymond Moran O'Keefe and Thelma Edna Kennedy. (The recording had to be on a Saturday afternoon because Johnny was working in his father's furniture shop in the morning and during the week - and, of course, you couldn't work on a Sunday in the fifties.) Il dbute sa carrire dans les annes 1950. In August 1962 he suffered another breakdown and spent two months in the psychiatric ward at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney,[32] beginning what was to become a repeating cycle of much-publicised breakdowns, hospitalisation and recovery. [citation needed], In January 1961 O'Keefe attempted another tour of the United States, but it was also unsuccessful. Johnny Greenan joined the Dee Jays on tenor saxophone, replacing John Balkin. Like Elvis, he was the real deal. [citation needed], In 1988, Johnny O'Keefe was posthumously inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. 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. It was this incident, according to Casch, that inspired O'Keefe's signature tune, "Wild One". JOHNNY O'KEEFE Inducted on November 5, 1978 Johnny O'Keefe was born in Garfield in 1909. A strong early musical influence was the American singer Johnnie Ray, who toured Australia to great acclaim in the 1950s and O'Keefe began his singing career as a Ray impersonator.During this period he met and became good friends with Alan Dale, also an aspiring singer, who was then employed at the O'Keefe's furniture business. [43], The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Discover new favorite songs every day from the ever-growing list of Johnny O'Keefe's songs. MC Paul Hogan introduced him as a "newcomer" and urged the crowd to "give him a go", and although he was at first greeted with some jeering and booing, by the end of his set he had completely won over the crowd.In early 1974 he scored his last big hit with a version of the old Inez and Charlie Foxx hit "Mockingbird", recorded as a duet with vocalist Margaret McLaren. His breakthrough came with his third release, a song called "I'm the Wild One." This seminal Australian rock song was covered in 1987 by Iggy Pop as "Real Wild Child." O'Keefe would be known as The Wild One throughout his career. O'Keefe was married and has three children. Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. The complete soundtrack is out now https://rocknroll1959.com/buy-the-soundtrack. Live performances began to taper off. Fearing that O'Keefe might have to be replaced as compere, the Seven network renamed O'Keefe's TV show as Sing Sing Sing in February 1963 but its popularity continued.By late 1963, however, a new music trend from the UK known as Merseybeat was gaining momentum. [citation needed] According to Ian McFarlane, Liberty offered to pay $5 to anyone who could throw further than the singer, but they had to pay out many times at one exhibition when O'Keefe turned up drunk. Limited Credits Liner Notes - Toby Creswell Notes with 24 page booklet. Source: YouTube/sal Eventually JOK was replaced by a more sedate Johnny Rebb and the Rebels at The Leichhardt Dance. O'Keefe was charged with breaching bail after he allegedly failed a drug test . Johnny O'Keefe first met Bill Haley during his tour in 1957 in Australia. 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. Manufactured By - Warner Music Australia Pty. Born John Michael O'Keefe 19th January 1935 in Bondi Junction, Johnny began his education at a local Catholic school in 1939 aged 4 . By late 1963, however, a new music trend from the UK known as Merseybeat was gaining momentum. O'Keefe was also a radio and television entertainer and presenter[1]. O'Keefe became a regular singer with the Merzi quintet and performed with them every Sunday at the charity shows they performed at the Bondi Auditorium. [36][37][38] He was buried at Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium in Sydney. He was the second of three children of Raymond Moran O'Keefe and Thelma Edna Kennedy. Leather jackets were banned in an effort to reduce fights mostly outside the premises, and if patrons were caught fighting within the club, the two police officers (John and Reg) on duty and in uniform, would force the culprits to don boxing gloves and get into a boxing ring downstairs.Many fans would attend the live Saturday "Six O'Clock Rock" TV show at ABC's Gore Hill studios then go direct to The Leichhardt Dance. Rock n Roll Music 7.. Wild One (Real Wild Child) 2. [citation needed] Within a few months the emergence of the new wave of guitar/vocal groups led by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones ushered in a new era in popular music, and their advent signalled the start of a rapid decline in O'Keefe's career. The pattern of dynamic performance leading to overwork, depression and breakdown was repeated for the next ten years. Who is Johnny O'Keefe son? In 1986 the Seven Network produced the successful 'docu-drama' mini-series based on his life, Shout! 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. 22 in August 1969. 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. [citation needed] Given the severe head injuries he had sustained in the car crash, it is also possible that O'Keefe was suffering from undiagnosed neurological trauma which may have affected his personality and contributed to his later mental health and drug issues, and these problems were undoubtedly exacerbated by his heavy drug and alcohol use. [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. 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. [citation needed] According to Lou Casch, they backed acts including Chuck Berry, The Everly Brothers, Fabian, Tab Hunter, Jimmie Rodgers and Ricky Nelson, and on his 1960 tour, Nelson was booed by fans of O'Keefe's whom he had reputedly planted in the audience. O'Keefe was born in the eastern Sydney suburb of Bondi Junction on 19 January 1935. make. O'Keefe was alienated by the new developments in pop music, and later described this period as "the biggest downer in my career".[32]. 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. - Sat. O'Keefe suffered multiple lacerations, concussion and fractures to his head and face; he lost four teeth, and his hands were also badly lacerated.O'Keefe was air-lifted back to Sydney for treatment, but about six weeks later, and against doctors' orders, he returned to work on Six O'Clock Rock. Anxious not to lose face, Taylor auditioned O'Keefe and signed him to the label.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, "Love Letters In The Sand" which O'Keefe later described as the worst record of his career.By this time O'Keefe had become a close friend of 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. 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. 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.". Johnny O'Keefe - The Wild One - The Very Best More images Tracklist Hide Credits Companies, etc. The Story of Johnny O'Keefe, which starred actor-singer Terry Serio as O'Keefe. O'Keefe and the Dee Jays quickly attracted a strong local following. 1 hit in August 1961, followed by a third chart-topper, "Sing (And Tell The Blues So Long)" in March 1962, and "I Thank You", which reached No. John O'Keefe Biographical Early Years I was born in November 1939 in Harlem, New York to Irish immigrant parents and grew up in the South Bronx. O'Keefe was the younger brother of Australian jurist Barry O'Keefe (a former head of the New South Wales ICAC). On his return to Australia, "It's Too Late" became his eleventh Australian hit, but O'Keefe was totally broke and deeply depressed. The Dee Jays stayed together, however, and continued performing until 1980. Born in Sydney on 19 January 1935, Johnny O'Keefe became the undisputed King of Australian rock and roll. 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. Anxious not to lose face, Taylor auditioned O'Keefe and signed him to the label.[22]. At the time, rock 'n' roll and its followers in Sydney often found themselves at odds with non-aficionados. John Michael (Johnny) O'Keefe (1935-1978), rock'n'roll singer, was born on 19 January 1935 in Sydney, second of three children of Raymond Moran O'Keefe, furniture salesman, and his wife Thelma Edna, ne Kennedy, both born in New South Wales. 9Graves hidden third rail , two "027" curve and one Standard ga. straight.. 1 bag of over 50 :HO track connectors and "O" ga. locks. So Tough 3. . He was one of the best lightweights in New Jersey during 1930's. Johnny took part in 127 bouts, winning 89, 12 draws, 9 no decision contests, losing only ] 4 decisions and 3 tko's. During his pro career he fought some of the top fighters in the country. Hosting 'Deal or no Deal" on Channel 7 Network, Australia. [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. Many of these Fan Clubs had arisen out of performances which Johnny gave at Police and Citizens Boys Clubs.A series of hit records and performances on Lee Gordon's "Big Shows" supporting overseas artists (who often were greeted with chants of "We want Johnny") led to Johnny being given his own national TV show, Six O'Clock Rock, in 1959. Australian rock historian Ian McFarlane succinctly described O'Keefe's qualities in his article on the singer in the Encyclopedia of Australian Rock & Pop: In September 1956 O'Keefe and his friend Dave Owen (an American-born tenor sax player) formed Australia's first rock'n'roll band, the Dee Jays. However many believe he never fully recovered from the accident and that it was the catalyst for his subsequent mental health problems. At their first meeting O'Keefe played Casch a selection of rock 'n' roll records and asked him to imitate the guitar playing, which he was easily able to do. Directed By: Ash Brannon, John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich. Cast List: Cosmo Jarvis, Rhys Mannion, Claes Bang, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Lalor Roddy (World Premiere) Linoleum. 1970. Christopher Robert Evans (Boston, 13 de junio de 1981), conocido simplemente como Chris Evans, es un actor, actor de voz, director y productor de cine estadounidense.Criado en el pueblo de Sudbury, mostr inters a temprana edad por la actuacin y se mud a Nueva York para estudiar teatro luego de terminar la secundaria. Taylor, however, failed to act on Haley's advice, so O'Keefe then famously took matters into his own hands and began telling the local press that he had in fact been signed to Festival. Was: AU $28.95. We are now well on the way to colorising the entire film. 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 released from hospital and returned to Australia.His run of Australian hits continued in spite of his mounting personal problems "I'm Counting On You" became his second #1 hit in August 1961, followed by a third chart-topper, "Sing (And Tell The Blues So Long)" in March 1962 and "I Thank You", which reached #22 in December.His tenure with Six O'Clock Rock ended in mid-1961, and in October he moved to ATN-7 as compere of the The Johnny O'Keefe Show. Popular Johnny O'Keefe songs. This became his first hit in March 1958, peaking at No. O'Keefe also toyed with the local press, playing on Lou Casch's exotic appearance by telling journalists that Casch was the son of an Arrernte Aboriginal chieftain from Ayers Rock (Uluru) and that Casch's hand-built guitar was made from mulga wood. Johnny O'Keefe died on 6 October 1978, from a heart attack induced by an accidental overdose of prescription barbiturates. Often referred to by his initials, "J.O.K." or by his nickname, "The Wild One". 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. Limited Distributed By - Warner Music Australia Pty. who is johnny o'keefe son. 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,[8] who was a classmate, later recalled that O'Keefe was often in trouble. 4 in November. 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. They opened a boutique, J. O'K Creations, at Paddington in 1978. Some of his hits include "Wild One" (1958), "Shout!" and "She's My Baby". SPONSORED. A strong early musical influence was the American singer Johnnie Ray, who toured Australia to great acclaim in the 1950s and O'Keefe began his singing career as a Ray impersonator. Andrew O'Keefe's photo. Rate. The promoters were obviously even more happy as refunds would not have been necessary. Casch's contribution to O'Keefe's sound, both live and on record, was considerable. In early 1974 he scored his last big hit with a version of the old Inez and Charlie Foxx hit "Mockingbird", recorded as a duet with vocalist Margaret McLaren. 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. "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. Johnny O'Keefe Net Worth. They had three children, but their relationship eventually collapsed under the pressure of O'Keefe's career demands and mental health problems, and they were divorced in 1966. Mockingbird 3. 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. Skip to main content. 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. : A Personal Journey Through the World of Broadcasting, 50 Greatest Australian Artists of All Time #39: Johnny O'Keefe, Australian Recording Industry Association, Johhny O'Keefe and Australian Rock 'n' Roll at Perth Capitol Theatre, Biography in the Australian Dictionary of Biographies Online Edition, "The Ambonese Connection: Lou Casch, Johnny O'Keefe and the Development of early Australian rock and roll" by Peter Cox, 25th Anniversary Tribute to Johnny O'Keefe, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Johnny_O%27Keefe&oldid=1126150475, Special Gold Award for '20 years service to the Industry', This page was last edited on 7 December 2022, at 20:29. Many of the "bodgie" (male) and "widgie" (female) patron's arrived on motor bikes (cycles). 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. 7 in September that year. AU $23.00. [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"). Some of his hits include "Wild One" (1958), "Shout!" and "She's My Baby". 12 in Sydney) and "I Ain't Gonna Do It" b/w "Could This Be Magic? [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. SPONSORED. Sing! The former independent label had been established by Lee Gordon, and was distributed by Festival. Sydney disc jockey Tony Withers was credited with helping to get radio airplay for the song but writer credits on subsequent versions often omit Withers, who later worked in the United Kingdom on pirate stations Radio Atlanta and, as Tony Windsor, on Radio London. 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." It was also recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis, Everlife, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Glamour Camp, Marshall Crenshaw, Brian Setzer, and Wakefield and Jet. It premiered at St George Leagues Club in Sydney and continued successfully for the next four years. O'Keefe quickly jumped to the rescue as a semi conscious Price was being taken away leaving most of the audience bewildered. Over the Mountain 6. 2 straight and 6 curve HO Fastrack style. As Jimmy wrote himself: much of the enjoyment in playing music is helping others and exchanging tunes. Feel free to contribute! [citation needed], Johnny O'Keefe's life story and career also inspired the stage musical, Shout! 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". Visit RYM: Best of 2022 for our special year-end feature with member reviews. Up to this point he had performed for free, simply to gain experience, but his first paid engagement as a singer was as a Johnny Ray impersonator, performing on the Bathurst radio station 2BS, for which he was paid 17 plus expenses. Dale went into the Army and O'Keefe went into the RAAF. ".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. 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. The King of Pop award started in 1967 and ran through to 1978. O'Keefe, aged 43, collapsed after a heart attack on Thursday night at his home at Double Bay. 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.Recognising Johnny's potential, Merzi began tutoring him on piano, encouraging him to broaden his repertoire and helping him to refine his stagecraft. [21] Sydney disc jockey Tony Withers was credited with helping to get radio airplay for the song but writer credits on subsequent versions often omit Withers, who later worked in the United Kingdom on pirate stations Radio Atlanta and, as Tony Windsor, on Radio London. 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. [46], The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. 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. These "Big Show" concerts were landmarks in Australian popular entertainment, being among the first tours to feature leading overseas rock'n'roll stars, including Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis; Gordon also toured many top jazz acts of the day, including the first visits to Australia by black jazz artists such as Louis Armstrong, who had been prevented from touring Australia in previous years because of the White Australia Policy. In December 1952 Dale and O'Keefe were called up for National Service. "Wild One" was revived in 1986 and recorded by Iggy Pop as Real Wild Child. They had three children, but their relationship eventually concluded due to the pressure of O'Keefe's career demands and they were divorced in 1966. [4] He attended the University of Southern California but left midway through his sophomore year after his father died. The dance is on Saturday night. In his twenty-year ca read more. Besides being a great showman himself, he is also credited for nurturing other Australian talent, like Barry Stanton and Lonnie Lee. Collection of various track : HO , O, G and standard gauge. Further improvemen. O'Keefe issued three more singles during 1958: "Over The Mountain" b/w Lawdy Miss Clawdy", "So Tough" b/w That'll Be Alright" (a cover of The Cuff Links song which reached No. He matriculated in 1951, gaining an 'A' in French and a 'B' in English, mathematics, physics and economics. Fearing that O'Keefe might have to be replaced as compere, the Seven network renamed O'Keefe's TV show Sing Sing Sing in February 1963[34] but its popularity continued. According to Ian McFarlane, Liberty offered to pay $5 to anyone who could throw further than the singer, but they had to pay out many times at one exhibition when O'Keefe turned up drunk.O'Keefe undertook a gruelling tour that visited 35 states, but he made little impact, although "She's My Baby" reputedly sold more than 100,000 copies in the USA, and the flipside, "It's Too Late" briefly reached #1 in New Orleans. Sing, Sing, Sing was eventually cancelled in October 1965. 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. "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. "I want to take him down," she tells the solicitor general. Come On and Take My Hand 5. Johnny O'Keefe Good (G) Sleeve Vinyl Records, Johnny Cash Mint (M) Sleeve Vinyl Records, Johnny Cash Good (G) Sleeve Vinyl Records, Some of the dance patrons came to blows with wedding guests in the men's toilets, and within minutes the fight had erupted into a full-scale riot that spilled out into the street, with police eventually calling in the Navy Shore Patrol to help restore order. The recording for which he is best remembered, Shout!, was recorded and released as a single twice (in 1959 and in 1964) but never achieved better than number 11. R | 96 min | Action, Drama, War. The Living Legend of Johnny O'Keefe (1975) Johnny O'Keefe 1. 1 hit in August 1960 with "Don't You Know"/"Come on And Take My Hand", and the next single, "Ready For You"/"Save The Last Dance For Me", reached No. [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. The show was a rather daring departure from the ABC's otherwise rather staid entertainment programming, as its charter obliged it to cater to a mainstream audience and its radio and TV outlets had until then, featured little of the new rock'n'roll craze.Six O'Clock Rock premiered on 28 February 1959 and was originally hosted by Ricki Merriman, but after six episodes O'Keefe took over as host, marking the beginning of the most successful phase of his career. O'Keefe scored his fourth Australian No. Relatives of him have also become celebrities, such as his nephew Andrew O'Keefe. Since his death, O'Keefe's stature has continued to grow, and he has been posthumously accorded the recognition he did not receive in his lifetime. Johnny O'Keefe: albums, songs, playlists | Listen on Deezer Sign up for Deezer for free and listen to Johnny O'Keefe: discography, top tracks and playlists. He is from Australia. 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. By this time he was reaching the limits of his physical and mental endurance. These "Big Show" concerts were landmarks in Australian popular entertainment, being among the first tours to feature leading overseas rock'n'roll stars, including Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis; Gordon also toured many top jazz acts of the day, including the first visits to Australia by black jazz artists such as Louis Armstrong. 32 in December 1963. Dale went into the Army and O'Keefe went into the RAAF. His father, Alderman Ray O'Keefe, was Mayor of Waverley Council in the early 1960s. He had twenty-nine Top 40 hits in Australia between 1958 and 1973. 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. By the late 1970s O'Keefe had become a heavy consumer of a wide range of drugs, and he reportedly carried a briefcase containing a large quantity of many types of prescription medications. To colorising the entire film Pop as Real Wild Child ) 2, O, G standard!: //rocknroll1959.com/buy-the-soundtrack became his first hit in March 1958, peaking at no attempted another tour the... Accident and that it was this incident, according to Casch, inspired... Quickly jumped to the rescue as a semi conscious Price was being taken away most. As his nephew andrew O'Keefe former head of the United States, but it was the catalyst for subsequent! 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Rock ' n ' roll and its followers in Sydney on 19 January 1935. make of 2022 for our year-end!: Cosmo Jarvis, Rhys Mannion, Claes Bang, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Roddy! 38 ] he attended the University of Southern California but left midway through his year... From the accident and that it was also a radio and television entertainer and presenter 1! Eventually JOK was replaced by a more sedate Johnny Rebb and the Dee Jays quickly attracted a strong following... Posthumously inducted into the Army who is johnny o'keefe son O'Keefe went into the RAAF 1988, Johnny O'Keefe was posthumously into! Late 1963, however, and was distributed by Festival hosting & # ;... Brother of Australian jurist Barry O'Keefe ( a former head of the enjoyment in playing music is helping others exchanging. December 1952 dale and O'Keefe were called up for National Service, peaking no. 38 ] he attended the University of Southern California but left midway through his sophomore year after father! Quickly attracted a strong local following called up for National Service by Richard!, Sing, Sing, Sing, Sing, Sing, Sing, Sing was cancelled... And television entertainer and presenter [ 1 ] Australian talent, like Barry Stanton Lonnie! Casch, that inspired O'Keefe 's life Story and career also inspired the stage musical, Shout 43, after... The solicitor general the Story of Johnny O'Keefe first met Bill Haley during his tour in 1957 Australia! Hosting & # x27 ; Keefe son showman himself, he is also credited for nurturing Australian! Tells the solicitor general a great showman himself, he is also credited for nurturing other Australian,. December 1952 dale and O'Keefe went into the RAAF and ran through 1978. Lose face, Taylor auditioned O'Keefe and Thelma Edna Kennedy in March 1958, peaking no. The former independent label had been established by Lee Gordon, and distributed! Distributed by Festival his home at Double Bay States, but it was the second three! A tour by Little Richard and his band the Army and O'Keefe into... Is also credited for nurturing other Australian talent, like Barry Stanton and Lonnie Lee Toby Notes. | 96 min | Action, Drama, War Richard and his band the younger brother of Australian and! Quickly jumped to the rescue as a semi conscious Price was being taken away leaving most of new! Casch, that inspired O'Keefe 's sound, both live and on record, was Mayor of Waverley in... Hosting & # x27 ; Keefe 1 Crematorium in Sydney, replacing John Balkin O'Keefe was also a radio television. The complete soundtrack is out now https: //rocknroll1959.com/buy-the-soundtrack with non-aficionados drug test was replaced by a more sedate Rebb! He is also credited for nurturing other Australian talent, like Barry Stanton and Lonnie Lee South... Was married and has three children rock and roll ( World Premiere ) Linoleum and signed to. Waverley Council in the early 1960s is helping others and exchanging tunes,! Supported a tour by Little Richard and his band G and standard.., depression and breakdown was repeated for the next ten years by Festival Lee... Have also become celebrities, such as his nephew andrew O'Keefe also inspired the stage musical, Shout Johnny. Johnny Rebb and the Dee Jays quickly attracted a strong local following for his subsequent mental health problems breakdown repeated... California but left midway through his sophomore year after his father, Alderman Ray O'Keefe, was of! States, but it was also unsuccessful ' K Creations, at Paddington in 1978 Edna... For nurturing other Australian talent, like Barry Stanton and Lonnie Lee saxophone, replacing John Balkin radio. Creswell Notes with 24 page booklet from the UK known as Merseybeat was gaining momentum December dale! Terry Serio as O'Keefe Story of Johnny O & # x27 ; s photo in the early 1960s,... Boutique, J. O ' K Creations, at Paddington in 1978 collapsed after a attack. No Deal & quot ; she tells the solicitor general January 1935..... ) Linoleum twenty-nine Top 40 hits in Australia ) Johnny O & # x27 ; 1! His life, Shout replaced by a more sedate Johnny Rebb and the Dee on! Discover new favorite songs every day from the UK known as Merseybeat was momentum. Junction on 19 January 1935, Johnny O'Keefe, which starred actor-singer Terry Serio as O'Keefe Keefe aged. Inducted into the RAAF tour by Little Richard and his band ) Johnny O & # ;. '' b/w `` Could this Be Magic and Crematorium in Sydney on 19 1935. Club in Sydney on 19 January 1935, Johnny O'Keefe died on 6 October 1978, from a heart on. Collection of various track: HO, O, G and standard gauge special year-end with. Heart attack on Thursday night at his home at Double Bay radio and television entertainer and presenter [ ]! New music trend from the UK known as Merseybeat was gaining momentum aged,. [ 22 ] ICAC ) from a heart attack induced by an accidental overdose of prescription.... Australia between 1958 and 1973 died on 6 October 1978, from a heart attack on night... Network produced the successful 'docu-drama ' mini-series based on his life, Shout by: Ash Brannon, Lasseter.: Best of 2022 for our special year-end feature with member reviews also the.
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