Obit: Dave Olney (1948-2020)

Subject: Obit: 2020 Obit: Dave Olney (1948-2020)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jan 20 - 11:38 AM

A note appeared on the Facebook message board about this, and usually it takes a while for obituaries to appear, but I found one this morning so I'll start this thread.

https://bestclassicbands.com/david-olney-dies-singer-songwriter-1-19-20/

David Olney, a musician and songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Linda Ronstadt (“Women Cross the River”), Emmylou Harris (“Jerusalem Tomorrow”), and Del McCoury (“Queen Anne’s Lace”), died Saturday, Jan. 18, according to various reports, following his performance at the annual 30A Songwriters Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. Olney, 71, was part of a weekend lineup that included such acclaimed songwriters as Brian Wilson, John Prine and Don McLean. He performed a nearly half-hour set in the afternoon, and is said to have passed that evening. The cause of death is not yet known.

On the day he died, Olney was asked what he was up to. “Writing, and burning up the highways,” he said.

Olney performed a live broadcast every Tuesday on his website with his “You Never Know” Songwriter Series – featuring the story behind a song and its performance along with other personal observations.

Fellow singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt, who died in 1997, once wrote of Olney, “Any time anyone asks me who my favorite music writers are… I say Mozart, Lightnin Hopkins, Bob Dylan and Dave Olney. Dave Olney is one of the best songwriters I’ve ever heard… and that’s true. I mean that from my heart.”

Olney was born on March 23, 1948 in Providence, Rhode Island. He moved to Nashville in 1973, where he formed a band called the X-Rays. As a solo artist, he recorded more than 20 albums, from 1986’s Eye of the Storm through 2017’s Don’t Try to Fight It.

He had performances scheduled on Jan. 22 and 23 at Folk Alliance International in New Orleans, La.

There are several YouTube links in the obit, I've just pulled the text for posterity and put in the article's link to his website.

Subject: RE: Obit: 2020 Obit: Dave Olney (1948-2020)
From: GUEST,Mary Katherine sans cookie
Date: 19 Jan 20 - 11:58 AM

David had a heart attack onstage during his set at a Folk festival in Florida last night. Died doing what he loved...a sad loss.

Subject: RE: Obit: 2020 Obit: Dave Olney (1948-2020)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jan 20 - 12:14 PM

Si Kahn posted this on his Facebook page:

https://deadline.com/2020/01/david-olney-dies-proflic-musician-composer-cinematographer-was-1202835237/

David Olney Dies: Proflic Musician, Composer, Cinematographer Was 71, Passed On Stage

David Olney, an Americana singer-songwriter whose works were covered or cowritten by Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Linda Rondstadt, Steve Young, Del McCoury and Laurie Lewis, has died. Olney passed on Saturday night while performing onstage at the 30A Songwriter Festival. He was 71.

The singer/Songwriter Townes Van Zandt once said of Olney”Anytime anyone asks me who my favorite music writers are, I say Mozart, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Bob Dylan, and Dave Olney. Dave Olney is one of the best songwriters I’ve ever heard – and that’s true. I mean that from my heart.”

Musician/author Amy Rigby was performing with Olney at the event and posted about it on Facebook.

“David Olney, a beautiful man, a legend, a songwriting poet died last night,” Rigby said. “I was sitting next to him in the round, had been so honored and looking forward to getting to trade songs with him and Scott Miller. Olney was in the middle of his third song when he stopped, apologized, and shut his eyes. He was very still, sitting upright with his guitar on, wearing the coolest hat and a beautiful rust suede jacket we laughed about because it was raining like hell outside the boathouse where we were playing- I just want the picture to be as graceful and dignified as it was, because it at first looked like he was just taking a moment.

“Scott Miller had the presence of mind to say we needed to revive him. Doctors in the audience and 30A folks were all working so hard to get him to come to. It’s hard to post about this because I can’t really believe he’s gone. I am so sorry for his wife and family and friends and all the people who loved him and his music. Even those who never heard of him. We all lost someone important last night.”

Olney attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hilll, but did not graduate. He began working with Bland Simpson’s band in 1971, recording one album before moving to Nashville in 1973. There he formed his band, The -Rays, who recorded two albums for Rounder Records and appeared on Austin City Limits.

He went on from there to release more than 20 albums over four decades. He also worked as a cinematographer and member of the production team on various shorts and documentaries. No details were immediately available on survivors.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dave Olney (1948-2020)
From: GUEST,Dave Illingworth
Date: 19 Jan 20 - 01:43 PM

Thanks for that very sad news.
I am a big Dave Olney fan. He wrote so many good songs and I have many of his albums.
So glad I saw him in London several years ago. A fine performer and a lovely man to talk too.

RIP Dave

Subject: RE: Obit: Dave Olney (1948-2020)
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 Jan 20 - 07:37 PM

That's tough for those he leaves behind,
but what a lovely way to go --
it almost has an aura of the sacred about it.

Subject: RIP Dave Olney
From: meself
Date: 20 Jan 20 - 11:49 AM

I didn't know of this man, but I'm sure many of you did. He went out the way we'd all like to, I suppose: "Olney was in the middle of his third song when he stopped, apologized and shut his eyes".

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/david-olney-dies-71-collapsing-210800917.html

Subject: RE: Obit: Dave Olney (1948-2020)
From: David C. Carter
Date: 20 Jan 20 - 12:16 PM

Truly sad news.
I listened to that very poignant song:1917,several times yesterday.

Couldn't bring myself to comment.

RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Dave Olney (1948-2020)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 20 Jan 20 - 12:47 PM

From ABC News:

https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/singer-songwriter-david-olney-dies-stage-mid-performance/story?id=68398255

Subject: RE: Obit: Dave Olney (1948-2020)
From: michaelr
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 07:32 PM

What a great way to go.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dave Olney (1948-2020)
From: GUEST,lefthanded guitar
Date: 23 Jan 20 - 01:47 PM

I was sorry to hear this and that I never got to hear him in person. A number of years ago, I heard a song on the radio that I wanted to know more about. It was about a smug wealthy guy who, as the story unfolds, gets away with a heinous crime. In fact I believe I asked the question and got the answer of the song title and writer right here on Mudcat. Dave seems to have been one of those singers' songwriter who, even if not well known by the general public, left a meaningful presence on the musical landscape.

Thanks for the postings on him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dave Olney (1948-2020)
From: GUEST,lefthanded guitar
Date: 23 Jan 20 - 02:14 PM

PS - The song was: My Family Owns This Town