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About Bill Danoff:
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As he walks out on stage, you may not recognize this quick-witted, energetic
performer with the custom-made Ferrington Guitar. However, when he launches into
some of his tunes like "Afternoon Delight", "I Guess He'd Rather Be In
Colorado", "Boulder to Birmingham" (written with Emmylou Harris) and "Take Me
Home Country Roads" it suddenly hits you that Bill Danoff has been part of your
life since the seventies. "Hey, didn't this guy used to tour with John Denver in
a group called Fat City? . . . or was it the Starland Vocal Band?" Well, actually,
both. Bill was half of Fat City and the leader of Starland. Bill's songwriting
and performing talents are now being showcased in a new format as a solo act
and, lake everything Bill does, it's top-notch.
Bill started writing in college and, upon his graduation from Georgetown
University with a degree in Chinese, he took the obvious next step . . . and went
into full-time music, He formed a duo with Taffy Nivert called Fat City. They
co-authored "Take Me Home Country Roads" with Denver while sharing a gig with
him in D.C. at the Cellar Door. After recording the song with Denver, they went
on tours with both Denver and the Moody Blues. During this time, Fat City had
quite a following of their own and cut several albums. |
Bill Danoff |
In 1976, using Fat City as the core, Bill added Jon Carroll and Margot Chapman
to form the Starland Vocal Band, which quickly gained national fame with the
monster hit, "Afternoon Delight". The band recorded for John Denver's
Windsong label. Starland recorded five albums and toured the
major clubs, concert halls, arenas and festivals throughout the United States.
Bill's songs, "Afternoon Delight", "Baby, You Look Good To Me Tonight", "Late
Nite Radio" and "Friends with You" led to 5 Grammy Nominations, 2 Grammy
Awards, (Best New Artist of the Year and Best Arrangement for Voices) 2 ASCAP
Awards for Outstanding Country Song and 3 Top 10 country hits. There were
numerous television appearances including the Tonight Show, the Merv Griffin
Show and their own CBS series, The Starland Vocal Band Show, that among other
things, introduced neophyte comedian David Letterman to the public.
In 1990, Bill released his first solo recording for his own Watch Your Head
Music Company, SOUVENIR, which contains his new folk classic "Potter's Wheel"
also recorded by Denver, Freyda and Acoustic AttaTude and others.
The timelessness of Danoff's songs continues to be proven. "Afternoon Delight"
is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and can be heard in hit movies like "Good
Will Hunting" and "Boogie Nights" and Bill sang it for classmate
President William Clinton at the Class of 1968 25th Reunion at The White House. Other songs Bill is associated with include "You Look Good to Me Tonight," "Donde
Esta Rosa, " "Friends with You," and "Potters Wheel." He appeared in the
film "TIN MEN" (1987) with Richard Dreyfus and Danny DeVito.
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" is the theme of a recent Japanese Anime movie and
was honored in 1999 by ASCAP in Nashville as one of the top ten Most Performed
Country Songs of the Century.
Bill's outstanding solo acoustic act combines his songwriting skills with his
formidable ability to entertain. It's pop, country, rock and roll and folk, all
woven together. Bill possesses a remarkable storytelling ability as he recounts
tales of how these songs come to be. His deep, rich voice can deliver every
emotional nuance of a sensitive ballad and then swing into rock-and -roll
raucous. His guitar accompaniment moves from delicate finger picking into
percussive slaps and strums as the music demands. His lyrics range from the
haunting to the hilarious with songs like the thought- provoking "Potter's
Wheel" or the irreverent "You Gotta Love The Irish" which instantly got him
banned from the first place he performed it. Bill's shows, like his songs, are
sparkling with wit, comprised of exceptional music and definitely should not be
missed.
A new solo album was released in 2002, titled "I
Guess He'd Rather Be In Colorado," featuring Danoff performing the dozen songs of
his recorded by John Denver. It was produced by fellow Starland Vocal Band
member Jon Carroll, who tours frequently with Mary Chapin Carpenter. Bill is also currently featured in a touring show,
"A Tribute to John Denver" along with several longtime friends and musicians who
worked with John.
Quick Links to pages about:
(Bill's Music Heritage - Overview) (Fat City, Bill & Taffy) (Starland
Vocal Band) (Bill & John Denver)
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