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William Thomas Danoff (born May 7, 1946) is an American songwriter and singer.[1] He is known for “Afternoon Delight", which he wrote and performed as a member of the Starland Vocal Band, and for writing multiple hits for John Denver, including "Take Me Home, Country Roads".[2]

Bill Danoff
Danoff as he appeared in a Starland Vocal Band promotional photo dated June 1977
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Thomas Danoff
Born (1946-05-07) May 7, 1946 (age 76)
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)Songwriter, singer
Websitebilldanoff.com

Early life and education


Danoff is a graduate of Cathedral High School in Springfield, Massachusetts, and of Georgetown University.[3]


Career



Starland Vocal Band


On the strength of their track record as songwriters, Danoff and Taffy Nivert recorded several albums before forming the Starland Vocal Band with local musicians Jon Carroll and Margot Chapman. The group recorded "Afternoon Delight" which became a hit in July 1976, reaching #1 on the Hot 100 on July 10. The Starland Vocal Band Show replaced Rhoda as a half-hour weekly series that same summer. Danoff and Nivert also worked with director Robert Altman and producer Jerry Weintraub on the film Nashville, doing research with screenwriter Joan Tewkesbury.[4]


Songwriting


Danoff and his then-wife Taffy Nivert wrote "I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado" and "Take Me Home, Country Roads," both of which were hits for John Denver. "Take Me Home, Country Roads" is an official state song of West Virginia.[5] Danoff has stated he had never been in West Virginia before co-writing the song, having written it in a house in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. He had even briefly considered using "Massachusetts" rather than "West Virginia", as both four-syllable state names would have fit the song's meter. Denver recorded about a dozen Danoff compositions from 1972 through the end of his career.[6]

Danoff also worked with Emmylou Harris, co-authoring "Boulder to Birmingham" (one of Harris' better-known compositions). This track was recorded by The Walker Brothers in 1975 and The Hollies in 1976, and became a Top 10 hit in New Zealand. In 1982, Danoff and fellow Starland Vocal Band member Jon Carroll wrote "Who Knows How To Make Love Stay", a Top 40 Canadian hit for Doug and the Slugs.

Danoff taught a songwriters course in 2007 and a music industry seminar (with Walter Egan) in 2008 at his alma mater Georgetown University.


Personal life


Danoff married Taffy Nivert in 1972.[7] Both were part of the Starland Vocal Band; they divorced after the band’s breakup in 1981.

Danoff has three children: two daughters and a son, Owen, who auditioned for The Voice season 10.


Discography


Albums

Fat City

John Denver with Bill Danoff - Taffy Nivert

Bill & Taffy

Starland Vocal Band

Bill Danoff

Singles

John Denver with Fat City

Bill & Taffy

Starland Vocal Band

Appearances

References


  1. "Bill Danoff". Discogs.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  2. Seida, Linda. "Biography: Bill Danoff". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  3. "About Bill". Billdanoff.com. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  4. Reger, Jeff (March 13, 2008). "Take Me Home". The Georgetown Voice. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  5. "West Virginia State Song, "Take Me Home Country Roads"". Netstate.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  6. "Bill's Music Heritage". Billdanoff.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  7. "For Bill and Taffy Danoff, Pop Music Fame Is More Than Just An Afternoon Delight". People.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  8. Theme music for 1972 Winter Olympics. Limited edition (200 copies) one-sided promo LP with six tracks.





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