Johnny O’Keefe was a rock and roll singer. He was born in Bondi Junction, New South Wales, on 19 January 1935. O’Keefe founded a rock band (with Dave Owens), the Dee Jays, in 1956. His first big hit came when the band released the song “Wild One” in 1958, which O’Keefe co-wrote (the song was later covered by Iggy Pop as “Real Wild Child”); the song was so successful that they became the first Australian rock musicians to have a hit on the national charts. He had another hit with “Shout” in 1959 and then with “She’s My Baby” in 1960. He also had hits with two gentler songs: “I’m Counting on You” (1961) and “She Wears My Ring” (1964). Johnny O’Keefe died of barbiturate poisoning at St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, on 6 October 1978.
Johnny O’Keefe – Wild One
(written by Johnny O’Keefe, Johnny Greenan, and Tony Withers)
Johnny O’Keefe – Shout [live]
Johnny O’Keefe – She’s My Baby
Johnny O’Keefe – I’m Counting On You
Johnny O’Keefe – She Wears My Ring
Johnny O’Keefe and Del Juliana – Mockingbird
(written by Inez and Charlie Foxx)
Johnny O’Keefe and Margaret McLaren – Mockingbird
(written by Inez and Charlie Foxx)
Johnny O’Keefe – Move Baby Move
Johnny O’Keefe – Sing, Sing Sing
References and further information:
Michael Sturma. O’Keefe, John Michael (Johnny) (1935–1978), Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University (accessed 26 October 2012)
Johnny O’Keefe, Wikipedia (accessed 26 October 2012)
Johnny O’Keefe: Profile, Johnny Rock ’n’ Roll (accessed 26 October 2012)
Johnny O’Keefe [official website] (accessed 26 October 2012)
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