Synopsis
Shout! The Legend of The Wild One is a production based on the life and times of Johnny O’Keefe the undisputed King of Australian Rock and Roll.
The Story
The time is 1957 and there is little or no rock scene in Australia. A local band, the Dee Jays with vocalist Johnny O’Keefe supports Bill Haley when he tours the country. This leads to a contract with Festival Records. He quickly becomes a major figure in establishing rock and roll and pop music in Australia with a series of hit records and performances on Lee Gordon’s “Big Shows” supporting some of the greatest names of the rock era (Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Chuck Berry, The Platters to name a few) which he blasts off the stages of Stadiums with his frantic stage act. An act that earned him the title “The Wild One”.
We follow the highs of those early days of touring, hosting his own national radio programme as well as the first television programme “Six o clock rock” from 1959 – 1962. He tours America with limited success becoming overworked but he’s soon back on television with another show Sing! Sing! Sing! and recording another string of hit records.
This cycle of performing leads to overwork and depression for the next ten years and together with a near fatal car crash in 1960 affects him physically and psychologically suffering from serious highly publicized nervous breakdowns.
He achieves some of his greatest successes during these times but gradually it takes its toll as he struggles to conform to marriage and family life and health problems leading to his untimely death in 1978 at the age of 43, only one year prior to Elvis.
A celebration of the life of Johnny O’Keefe and his legacy to the Australian music industry.
We follow the highs of those early days of touring, hosting his own national radio programme as well as the first television programme “Six o clock rock” from 1959 – 1962. He tours America with limited success becoming overworked but he’s soon back on television with another show Sing! Sing! Sing! and recording another string of hit records.
This cycle of performing leads to overwork and depression for the next ten years and together with a near fatal car crash in 1960 affects him physically and psychologically suffering from serious highly publicized nervous breakdowns.
He achieves some of his greatest successes during these times but gradually it takes its toll as he struggles to conform to marriage and family life and health problems leading to his untimely death in 1978 at the age of 43, only one year prior to Elvis.
A celebration of the life of Johnny O’Keefe and his legacy to the Australian music industry.
Achievements
His achievements in a 26 year career:
1st Australian to win a recording contract and was the first Australian to ever make the Australian Top 40 charts, with “The Wild One”.
1st Australian rock artist to be signed by and record for a major international label
3 Australian Number one hits and a number four hit
His biggest hit I’m Counting On You spent a staggering ten weeks on top of the Sydney top 40 charts in 1961
His last hit Mockingbird topped the Australian charts in 1974 despite initially being rejected by radio stations preferring an inferior US version.
Pioneered rock and roll tours throughout the country and teenage music shows on radio and television.
He was the first Australian rock and roll artist to have is own national radio programme.
He was the first Australian rocker to have his own weekly national television programme “Six O’clock Rock” on the ABC.
Johnny gave Australians the Opportunity to gain invaluable experience on television before heading overseas. Many Australian performers own their start on television to O’Keefe. Artists such as Olivia Newton-John, Helen Reddy and Peter Allen all benefited from his support and went on to international success. They in turn paved the way for today’s Australian artists to be accepted overseas.
Johnny toured America in 1960 performing in 36 major cities and appearing on top rating television shows – all firsts for an Australian entertainer.
A successful tour in 1964 with US entertainment legend Jack Benny
Entertaining troops in Vietnam in 1969.
1st Australian to win a recording contract and was the first Australian to ever make the Australian Top 40 charts, with “The Wild One”.
1st Australian rock artist to be signed by and record for a major international label
3 Australian Number one hits and a number four hit
His biggest hit I’m Counting On You spent a staggering ten weeks on top of the Sydney top 40 charts in 1961
His last hit Mockingbird topped the Australian charts in 1974 despite initially being rejected by radio stations preferring an inferior US version.
Pioneered rock and roll tours throughout the country and teenage music shows on radio and television.
He was the first Australian rock and roll artist to have is own national radio programme.
He was the first Australian rocker to have his own weekly national television programme “Six O’clock Rock” on the ABC.
Johnny gave Australians the Opportunity to gain invaluable experience on television before heading overseas. Many Australian performers own their start on television to O’Keefe. Artists such as Olivia Newton-John, Helen Reddy and Peter Allen all benefited from his support and went on to international success. They in turn paved the way for today’s Australian artists to be accepted overseas.
Johnny toured America in 1960 performing in 36 major cities and appearing on top rating television shows – all firsts for an Australian entertainer.
A successful tour in 1964 with US entertainment legend Jack Benny
Entertaining troops in Vietnam in 1969.