{{Short description|American R&B singer, guitarist and songwriter (1926–1994)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Danny Overbea | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Daniel Dorsey Overbea | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date|mf=y|1926|1|3}} | birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | death_date = {{death date and age|mf=y|1994|5|11|1926|1|3}} | death_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | origin = | instrument = Guitar, vocals | genre = Rhythm and blues, pop | occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter | years_active = 1946–1970s | label = Checker, Argo, Federal | associated_acts = King Kolax | website = }} '''Daniel Dorsey "Danny" Overbea''' (January 3, 1926 – May 11, 1994)<ref name="bare">{{cite book| first1= Bob| last1= Eagle| first2= Eric S.| last2= LeBlanc| year= 2013| title= Blues – A Regional Experience| publisher= Praeger Publishers| location= Santa Barbara| pages=335 | isbn= 978-0313344237}}</ref> was an American rhythm and blues singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known for his songs "Train, Train, Train" and "Forty Cups of Coffee", which he wrote and recorded in the early 1950s.
==Life and career== He was born in Philadelphia, but grew up on the South Side of Chicago where he learned guitar while at DuSable High School.<ref name=bear>[https://www.bear-family.com/lexikon/detail/groupid/15/id/8304 Danny Overbea, ''Bear Family Records''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104235117/https://www.bear-family.com/lexikon/detail/groupid/15/id/8304 |date=January 4, 2017 }}. Retrieved January 4, 2017</ref> After serving with the military, he started a professional career as a musician in 1946, initially with the Three Earls in Cleveland, Ohio, before launching a solo career. After returning to Chicago he made his first recording in 1950, as guest vocalist on saxophonist Eddie Chamblee's "Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleep". He signed as a solo artist to Premium Records, and released his first single, "Contrary Mary", in early 1951.<ref name=hallelujah>[http://hallelujahrnr.hostweb4u.info/index_archivos/DannyOverbeaDiscografia.htm?i=1 Discography, ''Hallelujah Rock'n'Roll'']. Retrieved January 4, 2017</ref> He became a popular club performer, noted for his guitar skills while performing splits, playing behind his back, and with his teeth, many such moves emulating T-Bone Walker (and later adopted by Jimi Hendrix).<ref name=marion>[http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/overbea.html J.C.Marion, "Danny Overbea", ''JammUpp'', 1999] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804132055/http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/overbea.html |date=August 4, 2014 }}. Retrieved January 4, 2017</ref> In 1952, he was spotted by radio DJ Al Benson, who arranged for him to be signed by Chess Records. His first and most successful record for the company, "Train, Train, Train", his own composition, was issued on the Checker subsidiary label in early 1953 and reached number 7 on the ''Billboard'' R&B chart.<ref name="whitburnr&b">{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–1995|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=1996 |publisher=Record Research |page=337}}</ref> The song was covered by Buddy Morrow, whose version on RCA Victor reached number 28 on the pop chart.<ref name="whitburn memories">{{cite book| last1 = Whitburn| first1 = Joel| title = Pop Memories 1890–1954: The History of American Popular Music| location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin| publisher = Record Research, Inc.| year = 1986| pages = [https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/324 324–325]| isbn = 0-89820-083-0| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/324}}</ref>
Overbea became a favorite of leading DJ Alan Freed and appeared on some of Freed's shows as well as maintaining a performing schedule in Chicago clubs.<ref name=marion/> On his second Checker single, "Forty Cups of Coffee", he was backed by the King Kolax Orchestra.<ref name=hallelujah/> A cover version by Ella Mae Morse reached number 26 on the pop chart,<ref name="whitburn memories"/> and the song was recorded by Bill Haley in 1956.<ref name=bear/> According to Allmusic, Overbea's first two Checker records were "essentially rock ‘n’ roll songs before the concept of ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ had even emerged."<ref name=allmusic>[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/danny-overbea-mn0000956527 Biography, ''Allmusic.com'']. Retrieved January 4, 2017</ref>
His later records for Checker were less successful, and he interspersed his rockier recordings with ballads in the style of Billy Eckstine, such as "Sorrento", which he sang in Italian,<ref name=bear/> "You're Mine" (also recorded by The Flamingos), and "A Toast to Lovers". He continued to tour, with Dinah Washington and others, and performed on Alan Freed's shows including the week-long Easter Jubilee of Stars in Brooklyn in April 1955.<ref name=marion/> After several singles on Checker, Overbea moved in 1956 to the Argo label, another Chess subsidiary specifically established to market pop music. However, his Argo recordings were not commercially successful, and he left in 1957. He then recorded for Federal Records in Cincinnati, until 1959, but again with little success. His last known recordings were for the Apex label in Chicago.<ref name=marion/>
Overbea continued to perform occasionally in Chicago clubs until the 1970s.<ref name=allmusic/> He died in Chicago in 1994, aged 68.<ref name="bare"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Overbea, Danny}} Category:1926 births Category:1994 deaths Category:Chicago blues musicians Category:American blues guitarists Category:American blues singers Category:Chess Records artists Category:Guitarists from Illinois Category:Guitarists from Philadelphia Category:American male guitarists Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:20th-century American singers Category:20th-century American male singers