SENATE RESOLUTION

8653

BySenators Kuderer, Kauffman, Hasegawa, Nobles, Lovelett, and Wellman

WHEREAS, The Washington State Senate recognize Spokane-born Danny O'Keefe, for all his musical accomplishments, along with his environmental and cultural activism; and

WHEREAS, Danny O'Keefe has had a long-lasting career of over 50 years in both music and advocacy; and

WHEREAS, Danny O'Keefe has collaborated with numerous other musicians, such as writing "Well, Well, Well" with Bob Dylan; and

WHEREAS, His song "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" reached the top 10 songs on multiple US charts in 1972 and has sold over a million copies; and

WHEREAS, Danny O'Keefe has inspired other musicians to record and share versions of his songs, such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Judy Collins, Willie Nelson, and Andy Williams; and

WHEREAS, Danny O'Keefe uses his platform to raise awareness on issues outside of music, having founded the Songbird Foundation, an organization that advocated for songbird species and their habitat loss; and

WHEREAS, Danny O'Keefe continues to perform at numerous benefit concerts for communities in Washington State; and

WHEREAS, Danny O'Keefe named his album Looking Glass& The Dreamers after the renowned strategist and Nez Perce leader Chief Looking Glass; and

WHEREAS, Danny O'Keefe has researched, read about, learned from, and met with the Nez Perce Tribe to gain invaluable knowledge of their culture and history; and

WHEREAS, Danny O'Keefe learned of the Nez Perce Tribe's plight in the early colonial United States and the significance colonialism had on their lands and their freedoms; and

WHEREAS, Danny O'Keefe has used his music to educate others on the history of the Nez Perce Tribe as one of the original stewards of the Northwest; and

WHEREAS, Danny O'Keefe's music and collaboration with Indigenous artists has led to renewed calls for solidarity; and

WHEREAS, Danny O'Keefe celebrated his 80th birthday last May;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor Danny O'Keefe for his numerous accomplishments and contributions to Washington State as a changemaker.

I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8653,

adopted by the Senate

January 18, 2024

SARAH BANNISTER

Secretary of the Senate