Bill Danoff

Not to be confused withWilliam Danoff.

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

William Thomas Danoff(born May 7, 1946) is an Americansongwriterand singer.He is known for “Afternoon Delight",which he wrote and performed as a member of theStarland Vocal Band,and for writing multiple hits forJohn Denver,including "Take Me Home, Country Roads".

Early life and education

Danoff is a 1964 graduate ofCathedral High SchoolinSpringfield, Massachusetts,and ofGeorgetown University.

Career

Starland Vocal Band

On the strength of their track record as songwriters, Danoff and Taffy Nivertrecordedseveralalbumsbefore forming theStarland Vocal Bandwith local musicians Jon Carroll and Margot Chapman. The group recorded "Afternoon Delight"which became a hit in July 1976, reaching #1 on theHot 100on July 10. TheStarland Vocal Band ShowreplacedRhodaas a half-hour weekly series that same summer. Danoff and Nivert also worked with directorRobert Altmanand producerJerry Weintraubon thefilmNashville,doing research with screenwriterJoan Tewkesbury.

Songwriting

Danoff and his then-wifeTaffy Nivertwrote "I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado" and "Take Me Home, Country Roads,"both of which werehitsforJohn Denver."Take Me Home, Country Roads" is an official state song ofWest Virginia.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 ofWashington, 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.

Danoff also worked withEmmylou Harris,co-authoring "Boulder to Birmingham"(one of Harris' better-known compositions). This track was recorded byThe Walker Brothersin 1975 andThe Holliesin 1976, and became aTop 10hit inNew 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 forDoug and the Slugs.

Danoff taught a songwriters course in 2007 and a music industry seminar (withWalter Egan) in 2008 at his alma materGeorgetown University.

Personal life

Danoff marriedTaffy Nivertin 1972.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 forThe Voiceseason 10.

Discography

Albums

Fat City

• Reincarnation(ABC, 1969)
• Welcome To Fat City(Paramount, 1971)

John Denver with Bill Danoff - Taffy Nivert

• Victory Is Peace(Tomorrow Entertainment ER-7209-LP, 1972)

Bill & Taffy

• Pass It On(RCA, 1973)
• Aces(RCA, 1974)

Starland Vocal Band

• Five albums; details atSVB page

Bill Danoff

• Souvenir(Watch Your Head, 1990)
• I Guess He'd Rather Be In Colorado(Watch Your Head, 2002)
• Blasted In The Basement(Oasis, 2007)

Singles

John Denver with Fat City

• "Take Me Home, Country Roads" / "Poems, Prayers And Promises" (RCA, 1971)

Bill & Taffy

• "Pass It On" / "Didn't I Try" (RCA UK, 1973)
• "Maybe"/" How Lucky Can You Be "(RCA Germany, 1974)
• "Maybe" (stereo) / "Maybe" (mono) (RCA promo, 1974)

Starland Vocal Band

• Ten singles; details atSVB page

Appearances

• Capital Acoustics: Contemporary & Traditional Folk Music of the Washington DC Area(Institute of Musical Traditions, 1991), "Trying To Live In Time"
• The 8th Annual World Folk Music Association Benefit Concert(World Folk Music Association,1993), "Potter's Wheel"
• Jon Carroll and Love Returns at the Barns at Wolf Trap(FestivaLink, 2007, Internet release), "Blasted In The Basement"

External links

• Official website
• Billboard biography