New Songwriting Award                       January 2012

Danny has managed to back-to-back win the TSA (Tamworth Songwriters Assoc.) Award for 'Best Contemporary Song' with his song You don't need wings to fly.

The song was penned for his friend Sam Bailey (see the media release below)

Danny is looking forward to singing the song live just prior to Sam making his debut flight into his home town of Croppa Creek. "It'll be an amazing and emotional time for all involved and I can just see the huge grin on Sam's face when he hops out of the helicopter and into his wheelchair."


Coopers Country

MEDIA RELEASE 13September 2011
Coopers Country:  Danny wins the double

South Australian singer songwriter, Danny Hooper, has won Coopers Country: The Australian Song Competition.
In a clean sweep, Coopers Animal Health is pleased to announce that Danny has won both the major prize of $15,000 for his song You’re in good hands, and the People’s Choice award of $5000 for Dreamland.
Danny will now record his winning entry in Sony Music’s Sydney studio, using the same soundboard used to produce Michael Jackson’s ground-breaking album, Thriller.
The song will feature in the Coopers Animal Health television commercial in 2012.
Hailing from the famous vineyard town of Clare in Mid North South Australia, Danny says that he is humbled by the overwhelming support he received during the competition.
“Just walking down the street in Clare, I was blown away at how many people knew I had entered and that the word had spread throughout the entire community,” Danny said.
“My wife, Lea and three children Jace, Courteney and Tom were a huge support as always and my biggest fans.
“I am usually a pretty fuss-free kind of guy, so all of the support for my music was very humbling.”
He was also quick to recognise the enormity of receiving exposure at the top level through the Coopers Animal Health television commercial and Sony Music.
“It is not often you have the opportunity to showcase your music in front of industry executives, so that is something I’ll grab with both hands,” Danny said.
“Coopers Country is such a unique competition as it was available to everyone, and we could really make our own luck by getting all our friends and networks behind it.”
Danny grew up singing songs around the kitchen table with his parents and three sisters - music meant entertainment for the Hooper family who lived on a remote station in South Australia’s Mid North.
In 1987 aged 18, pen first went to paper and Danny began song writing, penning a tune to then girlfriend and now wife, Lea.
Since, Danny has won a swag of awards in a career that has seen his songs achieve time in the Country Music Channel charts and release an album The Legacy, in 2007.
Now, Danny’s music will be heard nationwide as the anthem for Coopers Animal Health.
Coopers are also pleased to announce a second and third prize in the People’s Choice Award category, with $1,000 worth of RM Williams vouchers awarded to Darren Mullan for second place, and $500 worth of RM Williams vouchers to Jeff Crew for third.

Media contact: Angus Rutherford
02 8204 3876; 0408 690 901

Songwriting Award                                                   January 2011

In January, 2011 Danny picked up a TSA (Tamworth Songwriters Assoc.) Award for 'Best Contemporary Song' with his song Dreamland.

At the Prestigious Awards and Concert night held in Tamworth on Wednesday January 19, Danny was awarded with his prize. "It was a shock, to say the least. I was invited to perform a couple of songs, that's all, I thought." 

Dreamland, which is no stranger to winning awards has previously won awards for 'Best Country Song' at the International Song Competition in Houston Texas and 'Spirit of Australia' category at the ASA Awards in Sydney.  It has been picked up by several singing choir groups throughout Australia, and recently chosen for a licencing deal with ABC (more about that one later).

"It was a great welcome back to Tamworth", Danny says as he hasn't been able to attend for the previous two years. "The Tamworth Festival was very positive for me and all of my performances were received very well", he adds. 

A huge coo for Danny was being invited to perform with David and Merelyn Carter from the highly successful duo Carter & Carter at the beautiful Capitol Theatre.  Also on the bill was the very popular Tracy Killeen.

Danny is hoping that Dreamland will someday become a national song for Australia in some shape or form.

Ride The Ali Way

Media Release 3 May 2010
ASA triple nominee Danny Hooper at work in South Australia’s community, writes tribute for ‘Ride The Ali Way’

You Don't Need Wings To Fly

Close to his heart, all three songs have special meaning for the singer songwriter. Two of the finalist tracks appear on the Rod McCormack produced debut CD, The Legacy, which began as a tribute to his dad Kingsley, and became the symbol of the music legacy Hooper says he wants to pass onto his own children. 
Kingsley Hooper was a 26 year old, self taught guitarist and singer when he performed on SA’s Cowboy Swing Show and sang on local radio.  But, it was the rousing ‘You don’t need wings to fly’ written for, and inspired by his good friend Sam Bailey, that shone on the night.

Sam, a C6|C7 quadriplegic who defied the odds to become a farmer, pilot, inspirational speaker and best selling author, has now set a next goal to become the first quadriplegic in the world to fly a helicopter.  Danny and his wife Lea met Sam and his equally amazing wife Jenny while at a function in Melrose, South Australia two years ago, where Danny was singing and Sam and Jenny were speaking.
All four attended the 29th ASA Songwriters Awards Presentation Concert where Danny performed the song, after taking out the Spiritual Category for 2009.  ‘The four of us clicked instantly and have become great friends over time.  
I stayed with Sam and Jenny on their farm in Croppa Creek NSW whilst on my way to Gympie for the Muster last year’ Danny said.  ‘We got talking over a few beers and Sam asked me to write a song for his new project, 'Helifirst'.’  Well... I did, and the song that surfaced was ‘You don't need wings to fly’.  ‘It’s now the theme caption of Sam's website. ‘
An established writer, Hooper has either gained first or finalist positions almost every year since 2004.  Last year, ‘Just thought you'd like to know' won the 'Ballad' category.  This year, in addition to the Spiritual Award, two songs from his debut CD were named Top 25 finalists, ‘Already Gone’ and high on the list at No 3 ‘She’s the One’.  

blurb creative solutions | artist services | rhonda sinclair |m: 0438902413 | e: blurbcs@bigpond.net.au

more info on ASA   www.asai.org.au.

Sam Bailey - An Inspiration

Lea and I had the good fortune of meeting up with Sam and Jenny Bailey a couple of years ago at a function in Melrose. What an amazing couple they are with an amazing story to tell.

Check out their site: sambailey.com.au

Do yourself a favour and buy the book, HEAD OVER HEELS.
(also now available in CD audio form)

SA Achiever Award

Danny has gained yet another award for his musical achievements. On the 29th of November 2008, at the Gawler Starplex Theatre during the audience packed, Annual Country Music SA Showcase, Danny received his award. The award is given to an artist who is gaining national success whilst still residing in South Australia. This is a new award for the Showcase and Awards night and is a credit to S.A.C.C.M  (South Australian Council for  Country Music) realising the challenge faced by young South Australians trying to gain a profile in the Country Music Industry.
Danny says he’s keen to stay based in the beautiful Clare Valley and still believes it is possible to have a successful, high profile music career balanced with a successful family life.

The Legacy on iTunes

You can now purchase MP3 downloads of Danny's songs from iTunes. 

Click HERE to go to iTunes

Video Clips on CMC

Every Reason, Heartache and iPod in my ear are still being shown on the Country Music Channel. Please click  HERE  to request them.

Upcoming Gigs:

Danny has quite a few shows coming up, click here for the list.

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click here to go to Danny’s Myspace