THE DEE JAYS

In September 1956 Johnny O'Keefe and sax player Dave Owens formed the Dee Jays (Dee was for Dave, and Jay for Johnny). They were joined by Johnny Greenan on sax, Lou Casch on guitar, Keith Williams on bass and Johnny 'Catfish' Purser on drums. The band began performing at Stones Cabaret, Coogee. By early 1957 they were playing at four dances a week (at Chatswood, Coogee, Balmain and Petersham) and also appearing on Saturdays in the interval between feature films at the Embassy Theatre, Manly. Together they became Australia's first truly professional rock band. The Dee Jays recorded many records with O'Keefe that were hugely successful. The band in their own right also released a number of singles including one album on the Festival label. The band also backed overseas acts including Chuck Berry, The Everly Brothers, Fabian, Tab Hunter, Jimmie Rodgers and Ricky Nelson. Johnny O'Keefe finally parted ways with the Dee Jays in 1963, as he devoted more and more time to TV. John Purser died in 2017.

Members

Dave Owens (sax), Keith Williams (bass), Johnny "Catfish" Purser (drums), Lou Casch (guitar), Johnny Greenan (sax), Kevin Norton (guitar), John Balkin (sax),

SINGLES

''Am I Blue / Love Letters In The Sand'' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1957 Festival
''Lawdy, Miss Clawdy / Over The Mountain'' (#24) [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1958 Festival
''So Tough (#16) / That'll Be Allright'' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1958 Festival
''I Ain't A Gonna Do It (#44) / Could This Be Magic'' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1958 Festival
''Peek-A-Boo (#66) / What Da Ya Know!''(#28) [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1959 Festival
''You Excite Me (#36) / Why Do They Doubt Our Love'' (#8) [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1959 Festival
''Swan-ee River (#12) / Steady Game'' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1959 Leedon
''Shout Part I / Shout Part II (#2) / What'd I Say'' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1959 Leedon

''Ain't It So / Shame On You, Miss Johnson'' [with Lonnie Lee] 1959 Leedon
''Save The Last Dance For Me'' (#10) [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1960 Lee Gordon

''When The Saints Go Marching In / Straight Flush'' 1960 Lee Gordon

''Steppin' Out / Straighten Up'' 1960 Lee Gordon

''Off Shore / Toy Balloons'' (#64) 1962 Festival

''Twistin' Drums / Shake'' 1962 Leedon

''Big Daddy / Lost Love'' 1963 Leedon
''Hoots, Mon / Auf Wiederseh'n, My Dear'' 1963 Leedon

''Sunday Patrol / Barbeque'' 1964 Leedon

''It Must Be Love / Tell Me, How Do You Feel (I Wanna Know)'' 1964 Leedon

EPs
'Whole Lotta Shakin' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1957 Festival
'Shakin' At The Stadium' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1958 Festival
'Yours Johnny' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1958 Festival
'Six O'Clock Rock Vol. 1' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1959 Leedon
'Six O'Clock Rock Volume 2' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1960 Leedon
'Six O'Clock Rock Vol: III' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1960 Lee Gordon

'Steppin' Out With Dee Jays' 1961 Leedon

'Off Shore And Toy Balloons' 1962 Leedon
'You Excite Me' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1963 Leedon
J.OK Live! [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1963 Leedon

ALBUMS

'Johnny's Golden Album' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1958 Festival
'Shout!' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1960 Leedon
'I'm Still Alive' [with Johnny O'Keefe] 1961 Leedon

'Twistin' Drums' 1962 Leedon

References

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/