Published: 21:26 EST, 4 June 2014 | Updated: 06:42 EST, 5 June 2014. 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. 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". 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. 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. Rock n Roll Music 7.. Log In or Sign Up John Keefe See Photos John Keefe See Photos Profile @john.keefe3 Works at Keefe Clinic John Keefe See Photos John Keefe See Photos John Keefe See Photos John Keefe See Photos John Keefe 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. By 1960 he had become the most popular and successful singer in Australia and a major TV star. During the late Sixties and into the Seventies O'Keefe's personal life became increasingly fraught. J O'K as he was known became the undisputed King of Australian rock and roll. 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. Dale went into the Army and O'Keefe went into the RAAF. O'Keefe, aged 43, collapsed after a heart attack on Thursday night at his home at Double Bay. Born John Michael O'Keefe 19th January 1935 in Bondi Junction, Johnny began his education at a local Catholic school in 1939 aged 4 . Johnny's Golden Album (1958) Johnny O'Keefe 1. A cover by Christopher Otcasek was used on the soundtrack for the movie "Pretty Woman" starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. 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. 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. 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. 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. He returned to the US in March 1960 to complete his contract, but after one final session at Goldstar on the 17th of that month which produced 'Don't You Know' and 'Take My Hand', Liberty did not renew his contract and he returned to Australia. 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. 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. Work The awareness of one's location and how to find the way to other places is crucial for both humans and animals. He was raised as a Catholic and attended the local Catholic primary school, followed by secondary schooling at Waverley College in nearby Waverley.[3]. [citation needed], It was around this time that O'Keefe finally parted ways with his backing group the Dee Jays, as he devoted more and more time to TV. 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. Explore. He matriculated in 1951, gaining an 'A' in French and a 'B' in English, mathematics, physics and economics. 2 straight and 6 curve HO Fastrack style. [36][37][38] He was buried at Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium in Sydney. It was also recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis, Everlife, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Glamour Camp, Marshall Crenshaw, Brian Setzer, Wakefield and Jet. O'Keefe and the Dee Jays quickly attracted a strong local following, due in large measure to O'Keefe's magnetic personality and his dynamic stage performances.O'Keefe's 'trademark' was his flamboyant stage attire, which included gold lame jackets and brightly coloured suits trimmed with fake fur. SPONSORED. (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.) Born 20 Oct 1901 in Narromine, New South Wales, Australia. Limited Credits Liner Notes - Toby Creswell Notes with 24 page booklet. 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. 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. 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. From this point until the late 1960s, all O'Keefe's recordings came out on the Leedon label. The King Of Australian Rock 'n' Roll Johnny O'Keefe is recognised as the pioneer of Australian Rock 'n' Roll music. [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. 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. Feel free to contribute! However the follow-up single charted significantly lower, peaking at a modest No. Besides being a great showman himself, he is also credited for nurturing other Australian talent, like Barry Stanton and Lonnie Lee. Reluctant radio stations gave very little airplay to Johnny's first record but, by the time of his next recording, Wild One, early in 1958, there was sufficient demand from Johnny O'Keefe Fan Clubs throughout the country to make it a hit. 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. 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. [citation needed], His run of Australian hits continued in spite of his mounting personal problems. Manufactured By - Warner Music Australia Pty. Johnny O'Keefe with his children, Peter and Vick, at the Horden Pavilion in 1976. The Legend of The Wild One, with book by John-Michael Howson, David Mitchell and Melvyn Morrow and featuring music made famous by O'Keefe and other hits of the 1950s.A portrait of O'Keefe by Australian artist Ivan Durrant, titled "A Little Bit Louder Now", is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.On Thursday 10 June 2004 a 5 metre tall Monument titled "The Wild One", created by sculptor Dr. Alex Sandor Kolozsy CDVA, was unveiled at the Coolangatta/Tweed Heads, Twin Towns Services Club in memory of the King of Australian Rock and Roll.In October 2010, his 1958 album, Wild One, was listed in the top 40 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums. 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. He had twenty-nine Top 40 hits in Australia between 1958 and 1973. 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.From 1968 onwards O'Keefe devoted most of his time to performing on the burgeoning Australian club and cabaret circuit, and aside from the 1969 live LP Live On The Gold Coast, his only album releases were compilations of past hits, mostly issued on Festival's budget label Calendar.O'Keefe doggedly continued recording new singles during the later 1960s, but only three made it into the Top 40 "Sun's Gonna Shine Tomorrow"(#38, May 1966), "Be Careful Of Stones That You Throw" (#28, August 1966) and a re-release of "She's May Baby" which reached #22 in August 1969. In his twenty-year career, O'Keefe released over fifty singles, 50 EPs and 100 albums. 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. While the song is credited officially to Johnny Greenan, Johnny O'Keefe, and Dave Owens, some sources suggest that O'Keefe was not directly involved in the composition. 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! "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 born in the eastern Sydney suburb of Bondi Junction on 19 January 1935. Was: AU $28.95. While the front of the large car bore the brunt of the very severe impact, all three were seriously injured. 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. Come On and Take My Hand 5. Johnny O'Keefe died on 6 October 1978, from a heart attack induced by an accidental overdose of prescription barbiturates. 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". And into the Army and O'Keefe went into the who is johnny o'keefe son and O'Keefe went into the Army and O'Keefe into! 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