David Olney
Encyclopedia
David Charles Olney is an American folk
singer/songwriter. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
but did not graduate, instead joining Bland Simpson
's band Simpson (band) in the early 1970s. He moved to Nashville
in 1973 and formed the band The X-Rays
, which gained a reputation during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Since then, he has performed as a solo singer/songwriter. His songs have been covered
by Emmylou Harris
, Steve Earle
, Johnny Cash
, Linda Ronstadt
, and Laurie Lewis
, among others. One of his most popular songs is called "Wait Here For the Cops," in which his partner, Sergio Webb, convincingly imitates a police siren on the guitar.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer/songwriter. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
but did not graduate, instead joining Bland Simpson
Bland Simpson
Bland Simpson is an American author and pianist from North Carolina. He grew up in Elizabeth City. He has written six books, two of which also feature photography by his wife, conservationist Ann Cary Simpson . Simpson has become an authority on Eastern North Carolina's mysteries, geography and...
's band Simpson (band) in the early 1970s. He moved to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in 1973 and formed the band The X-Rays
The X-Rays
The X-Rays is a 1897 British short silent comedy film, directed by George Albert Smith, featuring a courting couple filmed in X-ray. The trick film, according to Michael Brooke of BFI Screenonline, "contains one of the first British examples of special effects created by means of jump-cuts"...
, which gained a reputation during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Since then, he has performed as a solo singer/songwriter. His songs have been covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
, Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
, and Laurie Lewis
Laurie Lewis
Laurie Lewis , is an American bluegrass musician.- History :Lewis fell in love with American folk music as a teenager, at the sunset of the 1960s folk revival. She says of the Berkeley Folk Festivals where she first caught the folk bug:"Oh, it was so exciting...
, among others. One of his most popular songs is called "Wait Here For the Cops," in which his partner, Sergio Webb, convincingly imitates a police siren on the guitar.
Discography
- Contender (1981)
- Nashville Jug Band (1982)
- Customized (1984)
- Eye of the Storm (1986)
- Deeper Well (1989)
- Roses (1991)
- Top to Bottom (1991)
- Border Crossing (1992)
- Ache of Longing (1994)
- Live in Holland (1994)
- High, Wide and Lonesome (1995)
- Real Lies (1997)
- Through a Glass Darkly (1999)
- Ghosts in the Wind: Live in Michigan (1999)
- Omar's Blues (2000)
- Women Across the River: Live in Holland (2002)
- The Wheel (2003)
- Illegal Cargo: Live in Holland (2004)
- Migration (2005)
- Lenora: Live in Holland (2006)
- One Tough Town (2007)
- Film Noir (2011)