Rocky Mountain High Newsletter
March 2003



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Bill Danoff and the Starland Vocal Band
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                       by Emily M. Parris

     A Grammy-winning songwriter, Bill Danoff is best known
as co-writer (along with ex-wife Taffy Nivert and singer,
John Denver) of the song, "Take Me Home, Country Roads."  He
also wrote the Starland Vocal Band's 1976 hit "Afternoon
Delight" as well as many songs that were sung by John Denver.
Other familiar Bill Danoff songs include "Potter's Wheel",
"Friends With You", "I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado",
"Late Night Radio" and "Boulder to Birmingham" co-written with
Emmylou Harris.
     Bill Danoff was born May 7, 1946 in Springfield,
Massachusetts. He graduated from Georgetown University with a
degree in Chinese.  He formed a duo with Taffy Nivert called
"Fat City." The song, "Take Me Home, Country Roads",  was
written when they were doing a gig at the Cellar Door in
Washington, D.C. and John Denver was also playing there.
Bill and Taffy's debut album as "Fat City" came out in 1969
and was called "Reincarnation." Other albums included
"Welcome to Fat City" (1972) and "Aces" (1974). The album,
"Aces" also included Jon Carroll on the vocals and the piano.
The couple regularly toured with John Denver and also the
Moody Blues.

     The Starland Vocal Band was formed in 1976. It was
composed of Bill and Taffy plus Jon Carroll and Margot
Chapman. Their song, "Afternoon Delight" reached the top of
the Billboard Hot 100 on July 10, 1976.  When their song
gained national fame they toured throughout the U.S., and
appeared on the Tonight Show and the Merv Griffin Show.
     According to the Artist Facts website, the title of the
song, "Afternoon Delight", came from a special dish at a
restaurant called Clyde's in Washington D.C.  The Afternoon
Delight was a plate of shrimp with Brie and almonds.
The song "Afternoon Delight" was also included in the movies
"Boogie Nights" and "Good Will Hunting".
     In 1977 they appeared on their own show called
The Starland Vocal Band Show. It was on Saturdays on CBS in
the 8:00pm time slot.  David Letterman was a writer for the
show and made his first television appearance on their show.
The group made 4 albums: "Starland Vocal Band" (1976),
"Rear View Mirror" (1977), "Late Night Radio" (1978), and
"4x4" (1980) all on the Windsong Label. In 1995 K-Tel came out
with a compilation called "Afternoon Delight: The Best of the
Starland Vocal Band".  The group disbanded in 1980, and the
members went on to solo careers.
     In 1987 Bill Danoff appeared as a Police Officer in the 
movie "Tin Men."  Bill's first solo recording called 
"Souvenir" was released in 1990, and in 2002 he released a cd 
containing a compilation of songs written by him that were 
also sung by John Denver. The album was produced by John 
Carroll and is called "I Guess He'd Rather Be In Colorado."  
Here is the track list for the album:
   1. Nobody Can Take My Dream From Me
   2. Readjustment Blues
   3. Baby, You Look Good To Me Tonight
   4. Friends With You
   5. Take Me Home, Country Roads
   6. Please, Daddy, Don't Get Drunk This Christmas
   7. She Won't Let Me Fly Away
   8. Dearest Esmeralda
   9. We Don't Live Here No More
   10. Potter's Wheel
   11. Late Night Radio
   12. I Guess He'd Rather Be In Colorado

Awards:
     In 1976 the Starland Vocal Band's song, "Afternoon
Delight" received a Grammy Award for "Best Arrangement for
Voices" and the band also received one for the "Best New
Artist of the Year."  They also received 3 other Grammy
nominations and their song is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2001 Bill Danoff was the recipient of the third annual John
Denver Award at the World Folk Music Association.

    At the present time, Bill owns the Starland Cafe in
Washington D.C. with his wife Joan. She is always there
running the show and Bill is often there on Friday Nights
for a musical show.

__________________________________
WWW Pages related to this article:
  Bill Danoff's Website:
    http://billdanoff.com
  Midi file of "Afternoon Delight."
    http://www.feelingnostalgic.com/afternoondelight.html
  Artist Facts:
    http://www.songfacts.com
  Jon Carroll Home Page
    http://www.angelfire.com/music3/joncarroll/main.html


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