JOHNNY O’KEEFE: Rocker. Legend. Wild One. by Jeff Apter
The colourful, warts and all biography of the Australian musical
icon.
Johnny O’Keefe
was
a human dynamo, a rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse whose influence still looms large on the Australia musical landscape. He was brilliantly talented, but possessed a self-destructive streak, and suffered as many breakdowns as he did breakthroughs. Yet he played a huge role in establishing the Australian entertainment industry as we know it today.
O’Keefe may have been short in stature, but he was big on ego. ‘You can boo me and you can make fun of me,’ he once told a hostile audience, ‘but you all paid your money to see me because you love me.’ He was the ultimate performer, and thrived on
being on
stage, giving the music, and the fans,
everything he had. O’Keefe died way too young, from a heart attack, at the age of 43, leaving behind a
legacy of
timeless hits, including ‘She Wears My Ring’, ‘She’s My Baby’ and ‘Shout’. He recorded 33 Top 40 hits during his lifetime.
Written with the active cooperation of the O’Keefe family and the JO’K Trust, Jeff Apter tells the colourful and evocative story of the life and times of one of Australia’s best ever performers.
• The definitive story of Australia’s first king of rock ‘n’ roll, a man simply known as JO’K.
• The writer had the full support of
the JO’K Trust and the O’Keefe family.
• Colourful and nostalgic evocation of the life and times of an icon.
• Perfect for
Father’s Day promotions!
• Did you know there is a
Johnny O’Keefe statue in Coolangatta? Also that
Andrew ‘Deal or No Deal’ O’Keefe is Johnny’s nephew?
Jeff Apter is a freelance journalist and author (and co-author) of a number of books, including A
LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME (with Kasey Chambers) and SHIRL:
THE
LIFE OF GRAEME ‘SHIRLY’ STRACHAN.
For any further information or to arrange an interview/extract please contact Jaki Arthur at Hachette publicity on jaki.arthur@hachette.com.au or
02-8248 0864
Division: ORION
Imprint: Hachette Australia
Pub. Date : 30 July 2013
ISBN: 9780733629341
Price: $35.00
Format: Paperback - C Format
Extent: 352 pages
Tuesday 6 August
6 – 7pm CONFIRMED EVENT: An evening with Jeff Apter
National Biography Week
Host of event: State Library NSW - Tuesdays at the Library program
Venue: State Library NSW
Venue name and address: State Library NSW
Venue capacity: 70
Ticket price: free
Event organiser: Samantha Hagan (9273 1766)
