# Danny Overbea
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{{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](/source/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](/source/Rhythm_and_blues), pop
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter
| years_active = 1946–1970s
| label = [Checker](/source/Checker_Records), [Argo](/source/Argo_Records), [Federal](/source/Federal_Records)
| associated_acts = [King Kolax](/source/King_Kolax)
| website =
}}
'''Daniel Dorsey "Danny" Overbea''' (January 3, 1926 – May 11, 1994)[{{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}}] was an American [rhythm and blues](/source/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](/source/Philadelphia), but grew up on the [South Side of Chicago](/source/South_Side_of_Chicago) where he learned guitar while at [DuSable High School](/source/DuSable_High_School).[[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] After serving with the military, he started a professional career as a musician in 1946, initially with the Three Earls in [Cleveland](/source/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](/source/Eddie_Chamblee)'s "Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleep". He signed as a solo artist to [Premium Records](/source/Premium_Records), and released his first single, "Contrary Mary", in early 1951.[[http://hallelujahrnr.hostweb4u.info/index_archivos/DannyOverbeaDiscografia.htm?i=1 Discography, ''Hallelujah Rock'n'Roll'']. Retrieved January 4, 2017] He became a popular club performer, noted for his guitar skills while performing [splits](/source/splits), playing behind his back, and with his teeth, many such moves emulating [T-Bone Walker](/source/T-Bone_Walker) (and later adopted by [Jimi Hendrix](/source/Jimi_Hendrix)).[[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]
In 1952, he was spotted by radio DJ [Al Benson](/source/Al_Benson), who arranged for him to be signed by [Chess Records](/source/Chess_Records). His first and most successful record for the company, "Train, Train, Train", his own composition, was issued on the [Checker](/source/Checker_Records) subsidiary label in early 1953 and reached number 7 on the ''[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'' [R&B chart](/source/R%26B_chart).[{{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}}] The song was [covered](/source/cover_version) by [Buddy Morrow](/source/Buddy_Morrow), whose version on [RCA Victor](/source/RCA_Victor) reached number 28 on the [pop chart](/source/Hot_100).[{{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}}]
Overbea became a favorite of leading DJ [Alan Freed](/source/Alan_Freed) and appeared on some of Freed's shows as well as maintaining a performing schedule in Chicago clubs.[ On his second Checker single, "Forty Cups of Coffee", he was backed by the [King Kolax](/source/King_Kolax) Orchestra.][ A cover version by [Ella Mae Morse](/source/Ella_Mae_Morse) reached number 26 on the pop chart,][ According to [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic), Overbea's first two Checker records were "essentially rock ‘n’ roll songs before the concept of ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ had even emerged."][[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/danny-overbea-mn0000956527 Biography, ''Allmusic.com'']. Retrieved January 4, 2017]
His later records for Checker were less successful, and he interspersed his rockier recordings with ballads in the style of [Billy Eckstine](/source/Billy_Eckstine), such as "Sorrento", which he sang in Italian,[ "You're Mine" (also recorded by [The Flamingos](/source/The_Flamingos)), and "A Toast to Lovers". He continued to tour, with [Dinah Washington](/source/Dinah_Washington) and others, and performed on Alan Freed's shows including the week-long [Easter Jubilee of Stars](/source/Easter_Jubilee_of_Stars) in [Brooklyn](/source/Brooklyn) in April 1955.][ After several singles on Checker, Overbea moved in 1956 to the [Argo](/source/Argo_Records) 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](/source/Federal_Records) in [Cincinnati](/source/Cincinnati), until 1959, but again with little success. His last known recordings were for the Apex label in Chicago.][
Overbea continued to perform occasionally in Chicago clubs until the 1970s.][ He died in Chicago in 1994, aged 68.]