Biography
Despite earning a pair of Grammy Awards, multiple additional nominations, and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Bill Danoff remains far from a familiar name to most listeners. His contemporary John Denver achieved far greater public recognition, in large part because several songs Danoff created helped transform the New Mexico-born folk-rock singer into a 1970s star. Together with Denver and Taffy Nivert, Danoff composed the chart-topping single “Take Me Home Country Roads,” which became Denver’s signature hit. The same pair of writers supplied another Denver recording, “I Guess He’d Rather Be in Colorado,” which the state later adopted as its official theme. Danoff is also credited with the popular track “Baby You Look Good to Me Tonight.”
While studying at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Danoff began writing songs. He and Nivert, who later became his wife, performed as the duo Fat City. That act evolved into Bill and Taffy and joined Denver on tour during the early 1970s. In 1974 the pair expanded the lineup by adding vocalist Margot Chapman and teenage pianist and singer Jon Carroll, forming the quartet Starland Vocal Band. The group signed with Windsong, the label Denver had founded, and scored an immediate success with “Afternoon Delight,” the lead single from their self-titled 1976 debut album. The hit earned the band its own CBS television series. After issuing four albums the members parted ways in 1980; the breakup also ended Danoff’s marriage to Nivert.
Danoff resumed work as a solo artist, placing the Top Ten singles “Friends with You” and “Late Night Radio.” His song “Potter’s Wheel” appeared on Denver’s album Something Different. In 1998 he organized the benefit concert John Denver Remembered—By the Old Cellar Door Gang, which reunited several of Denver’s former bandmates. Three years afterward, the World Folk Music Association presented him with the John Denver Award. He also owned and operated the Washington, D.C., restaurant Starland Express, named for his best-known group.
While studying at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Danoff began writing songs. He and Nivert, who later became his wife, performed as the duo Fat City. That act evolved into Bill and Taffy and joined Denver on tour during the early 1970s. In 1974 the pair expanded the lineup by adding vocalist Margot Chapman and teenage pianist and singer Jon Carroll, forming the quartet Starland Vocal Band. The group signed with Windsong, the label Denver had founded, and scored an immediate success with “Afternoon Delight,” the lead single from their self-titled 1976 debut album. The hit earned the band its own CBS television series. After issuing four albums the members parted ways in 1980; the breakup also ended Danoff’s marriage to Nivert.
Danoff resumed work as a solo artist, placing the Top Ten singles “Friends with You” and “Late Night Radio.” His song “Potter’s Wheel” appeared on Denver’s album Something Different. In 1998 he organized the benefit concert John Denver Remembered—By the Old Cellar Door Gang, which reunited several of Denver’s former bandmates. Three years afterward, the World Folk Music Association presented him with the John Denver Award. He also owned and operated the Washington, D.C., restaurant Starland Express, named for his best-known group.
Albums