Posted by David MacBeth on August 27, 2015, 1:15 pm
It has been announced that Daniel will be taking part in the BBC's 'Strictly Come Dancing'!
Re: Daniel o'Donnall
Posted by Larry Jordan on August 27, 2015, 7:08 pm, in reply to "Daniel o'Donnall"
I doubt that most people in America know what "Strictly Come Dancing" is. Perhaps you could explain the show, David.
Daniel O'Donnell (you spelled his last name wrong), is a genuinely nice guy and a huge Jim Reeves fan who, as I mentioned before, did a 90-minute tribute show to him live from Branson that was aired on public broadcasting TV stations nationwide back in 2004, and viewed by 60 million people. He had a big orchestra accompanying him as he sang Jim's songs, and as I told Daniel when I took my daughter, Sara, with me to meet him in July of last year, hearing him do Reeves' material with that fabulous backing is what inspired me to do overdubs on Jim!
Here's a pic of us; he's reading the handwritten dedication to him I wrote in the front of my book, "Jim Reeves: His Untold Story," which he is holding.
Daniel has initiated contact with me since and solicited my opinion on some of his material, which was very flattering. He also wrote a big piece for the Irish Sunday Times newspaper on my work, including overdubs and book.
Immediately upon meeting me, Daniel treated me like we were old friends. He offered to help me promote "The Great Jim Reeves" 8 CD set in any way he could, and was even going to take time from his busy schedule to immediately cut some radio spots promoting its release. But I preferred waiting until we could get him and his singing partner, Mary Duff, together to tape a TV commercial, which occurred in October of last year backstage prior to him hosting a 2-1/2 live TV show broadcast nationwide in Ireland, in which he paid tribute to favorite Irish female vocalists, who guested.
The TV spot regarding Reeves has been running worldwide because Daniel and Mary are known around the globe. He's sold out shows in Australia, Sri Lanka, Carnegie Hall in the U.S., all over Europe. There's no important venue where Daniel (who hails from Ireland) hasn't played, I don't think.
He laughed in agreement when I told him I knew what the secret was to his success: just like Jim Reeves, Daniel does songs that average people can sing along with. "That's right!" he brightened, and then elaborated how he chooses material with strong, simple melodies that are memorable -- unlike a lot of stars today who do complicated stuff that nobody can sing in the shower.
A VERY nice guy, to be sure.
Click the link below to see Daniel and Mary talk about "The Great Jim Reeves" CD set I produced.
Posted by David MacBeth on August 30, 2015, 3:01 am, in reply to "Re: Daniel o'Donnall"
Personally I have absolutely nothing against Daniel,I'm sure he is a genuinely nice person,and I hope he continues to entertain for many years to come,but for me his singing voice lacks timbre,he sings well,and doesn't attempt to sing in a 'Mid-Atlantic' accent,which always sounds false,and I admire him for that. Daniel hasn't been on national TV here in the UK for years,unless it is on Satellite TV. Apologies to Daniel for making the error in the spelling of his surname,but I was typing without looking at the screen and didn't realise the mistake until after I had posted it.
Re: Daniel o'Donnall
Posted by Larry Jordan on August 30, 2015, 3:18 am, in reply to "Re: Daniel o'Donnall"
Odd you should say that. Daniel was scheduled to be on television in the UK this week but cancelled due to the sudden death of his father-in-law.
Re: Daniel o'Donnall
Posted by David MacBeth on October 23, 2015, 12:36 am, in reply to "Re: Daniel o'Donnall"
Daniel was eliminated from 'Strictly Come Dancing',he was dancing to 'Summer Nights' from 'Grease',his dance partner ranted back-stage,and was said to have said that he knew she would be out soon.because she had been landed with an 'old man',not nice,but he did stomp more than dance,not that I could have done any better!
Re: Daniel o'Donnall
Posted by Larry Jordan on October 25, 2015, 9:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Daniel o'Donnall"
You should see Daniel O'Donnell and Mary Duff dance quickly across the stage, as I have done in person, in the midst of singing. Most people could never do that and would be out of breath. He also SINGS and dances jigs, etc. I told him I don't see how he does that but he scoffed when I said that.
Most singers you see dance on TV while supposedly singing are just lip-syncing but he doesn't do that obviously when performing on stage in person. Yet after dancing he will go into a ballad or something and still have breath left to hit the notes. An amazingly agile man.
It sounds like his female dance partner was petty. Daniel posted a big thank you video to everyone on his website for allowing him to participate in the TV dance show. He is a class act.
Re: Daniel o'Donnall
Posted by David MacBeth on October 25, 2015, 11:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Daniel o'Donnall"
He wasn't singing at all,and all 12 couples (all celebrities - maybe not to everyone everywhere!),had do do a different dance every week,and they are judged by professionals,who look for every minute error,I beleive that one of the judges in also on a US version of the show,Bruno!