David Olney facts for kids

David Charles Olney (born March 23, 1948 – died January 18, 2020) was an American folk singer and songwriter. He was known for his unique songs and powerful live performances. David Olney recorded more than twenty albums during his long career, which lasted five decades. Many famous artists, like Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, have performed his songs.

David Olney's Music Journey

David Olney was born in Providence, Rhode Island. After a short time at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he joined a band called Simpson in 1971. They recorded one album together. The next year, he moved to Atlanta, and then in 1973, he settled in Nashville. He hoped to share his songs with record companies there.

In the early 1980s, David started his own band called The X-Rays. They released two albums with Rounder Records. The band even appeared on the TV show Austin City Limits. They also opened concerts for big stars like Elvis Costello. The X-Rays broke up in 1985.

After that, David Olney became a solo artist. He released over 20 albums, including several live recordings. He often worked with other musicians like John Hadley and Sergio Webb. Many well-known singers, such as Steve Earle and Del McCoury, recorded his songs. He also wrote songs with some of these artists.

David Olney was a very important part of the music scene in Nashville. He was known for his strong and sometimes mysterious presence in "Music City." Besides music, he also wrote poems called sonnets. He even acted in plays at the Nashville Shakespeare Festival. His concerts were a mix of gentle and powerful moments, like a play with honest feelings.

His Family and Passing

David Olney lived in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Regine. They had a son named Redding and a daughter named Lillian. David was good friends with fellow musician Townes Van Zandt. They admired each other's music.

David Olney passed away on January 18, 2020, at the age of 71. He was performing on stage at a music festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, when it happened. He was in the middle of a song when he stopped, said "I'm sorry," and closed his eyes. This was shared by another musician, Scott Miller, who was playing with him.

Albums and Songs

David Olney created many albums and songs throughout his career. Here are some of his solo albums:

• 1986: Eye of the Storm
• 1989: Deeper Well
• 1991: Roses
• 1995: High, Wide and Lonesome
• 1997: Real Lies
• 2005: Migration
• 2014: When the Deal Goes Down
• 2017: Don't Try to Fight It
• 2018: This Side or the Other

Many artists recorded songs that David Olney wrote. Some of these famous songs include:

• "Jerusalem Tomorrow" (recorded by Emmylou Harris)
• "Deeper Well" (co-written with Daniel Lanois and Emmylou Harris, recorded by Emmylou Harris and The Wailin' Jennys)
• "Women Cross the River" (recorded by Linda Ronstadt)
• "1917" (recorded by Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris)
• "Queen Anne's Lace" (recorded by Del McCoury)