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Relive the life and music of the Wild One - Australia's king of rock'n'roll, Johnny O'Keefe.

Watch rare television footage, listen to music clips and oral history interviews, and browse two immense scrapbooks that were lovingly compiled by Johnny’s mother Thelma from 1954 to 1965.

This collection complements our Johnny O'Keefe online exhibition.

"Australia's 'Wild One' had them in the aisles!"

Johnny O'Keefe Scrapbook Vol 1, 1954-1961

The first of two scrapbooks compiled by Johnny’s mother, Thelma O’Keefe, covers 1954-1961.
Johnny O'Keefe and first wife Marianne on the balcony of Melbourne Town Hall

Johnny O'Keefe and first wife Marianne - Melbourne Town Hall

Johnny O’Keefe and first wife Marianne standing on balcony of Melbourne Town Hall before performance at 3UZ's Rock and Twist Spectacular, 1962. Photographer: Laurie Richards.

Excerpt from The Johnny O’Keefe Show – Episode 1

At the height of his fame, Johnny O’Keefe left the ABC for ATN 7 to become host and frequent performer on The Johnny O’Keefe Show.
Johnny O'Keefe on the set of Sing Sing Sing, 1964

JO'K and The Bee Gees on Sing Sing Sing

The Liverpool Sound

Johnny O'Keefe performs 'When the Saints Go Marching In' on The Liverpool Sound with visiting overseas stars Dusty Springfield, Gene Pitney, Brian Poole and The Tremeloes, and Gerry & 

Johnny O'Keefe on 'This Is Your Life'

Johnny O'Keefe appears on the television show 'This is Your Life'. In this excerpt his parents and siblings are brought on stage to talk briefly about Johnny.
Johnny O'Keefe on Six O'Clock Rock

Excerpt from Six O’Clock Rock, 1959

Johnny O’Keefe initially saw television as just another gig, but soon realised the power of the medium to reach and build a national audience.
"The Wild One in the big time: from fake tears to success"

Johnny O'Keefe Scrapbook Vol 2, 1962-1965

The second scrapbook compiled by Johnny’s mother, Thelma covers 1962-1965.
Johnny O'Keefe on Bandstand salutes JOK

Johnny O’Keefe sings 'Shout' at Sydney Stadium, 1959

In this clip from Lee Gordon’s Rock 'n’ Roll Spectacular (1959), Johnny sings 'Shout’ with the Dee Jays and the Delltones as part of a 1959 concert showcasing American teen idol, Fabia
Johnny O'Keefe close up, smoking with broom in hand

Johnny O'Keefe on recording 'Shout'

Johnny O'Keefe talks with ABC Radio's Terry Malcolm in 1977 about recording 'Shout' in the 1950s.
Johnny O'Keefe holding a boomerang high

'The Boomerang Boy' - Johnny O'Keefe

‘The Boomerang Boy’: Johnny holding boomerang with arms raised high for publicity shot for America's Liberty Records, 1960.

Boomerang made by Joe Timbery for Johnny O'Keefe

The boomerang made by Joe Timbery that Johnny took with him to America in April 1960 for his whirlwind six-week, 36-state tour.
Sing Sing Sing words on screen in TV show of the same name

Johnny Devlin and Johnny O'Keefe on Sing Sing Sing

Recorded at the start of 1964, this clip from episode 66 of Sing Sing Sing features hit-makers of the day Paul Wayne, Digby Richards, Johnny Devlin and Johnny O’Keefe singing excerpts

'Wild One' by Johnny O'Keefe (clip)

'Wild One’ from the album Johnny’s Golden Album, Festival Records FM6005.
Brian Henderson and Johnny O'Keefe in Bandstand Salutes Johnny O'Keefe

Johnny's car crash, 1960

In this clip, from a 1966 Bandstand special, Johnny talks to Brian Henderson about returning from his disappointing American tour and the lead-up to his horrific car crash in June 1960
'The Wild One' tour promotional poster

'The Wild One' tour program cover

Front cover of concert program: ‘The Hi-Fi Club presents Johnny O’Keefe, the Wild One, backed by the Fabulous Hi-Marks’, c1962.
Johnny O'Keefe appearing on game show Personality Squares

Johnny is a guest on Personality Squares, 1967

In 1967, Johnny made a guest appearance on the Channel 10 game show, Personality Squares.

To Love (Na Agapas)

The most unusual Johnny O'Keefe song in the NFSA collection is a recording of him singing 'To Love’ in Greek ('Na agapas’).
Johnny O'Keefe poster featuring 'The Wild One' stamp design

Johnny O'Keefe poster featuring postage stamp design issued in 1998

Johnny O'Keefe plastic double-sided poster featuring the postage stamp design, issued in 1998.

'You Hit The Wrong Note Billy Goat' by Johnny O'Keefe

In 1955, Johnny heard 'Rock Around the Clock’, performed by Bill Haley and His Comets on the soundtrack to the movie Blackboard Jungle. It changed his life forever.
Self-published press release for Johnny O'Keefe's debut single

Self-published press release for Johnny O'Keefe's debut single, '(You Hit the Wrong Note) Billy Goat'

'Facts about Figures': self-published press release for JOK's debut single, '(You Hit the Wrong Note) Billy Goat', 1957.
Johnny O'Keefe close up, smoking with broom in hand

'Be Careful of Stones that You' Throw by Johnny O'Keefe

First recorded by Hank Williams in 1952, Be Careful of Stones that You Throw is the only country and western song Johnny O'Keefe ever recorded.
Newspaper headline 'The Wild One in the Big-Time'

Johnny talks about the early days of rock'n'roll

In this clip from a 1966 special episode of TV’s Bandstand, Johnny O’Keefe and fellow rock pioneers Col Joye and Digby Richards reminisce about the thrills and perils of performing liv
Johnny O'Keefe on the set of Sing Sing Sing

Johnny on set

Johnny sitting at the base of an ATN 7 camera holding a broom on the set of ‘Sing Sing Sing’.
Johnny O'Keefe kissing a tortoise

Johnny O'Keefe kissing a 'kidnapped' tortoise

Johnny kissing a tortoise that he ‘kidnapped’ from Adelaide University students as part of a publicity stunt, 1961.

Johnny O'Keefe talks about 'Be Careful of Stones that You Throw'

In 1977, Johnny O'Keefe talks about having a nervous breakdown in 1965 and being dropped from his television show on the Seven Network.

Brown suit and lace shirt worn by Johnny O'Keefe

Brown suit with lace shirt worn by Johnny O’Keefe, c1970s. 
Johnny O'Keefe on the cover of a box of Fantales

Fantales promotional chocolate box with image of Johnny O'Keefe

Fantales promotional chocolate box with image of Johnny O'Keefe (back view). 
Johnny O'Keefe badge 'I am a friend of Johnny O'Keefe'

'I am a Friend of Johnny O'Keefe' metal pin badge

'I am a Friend of Johnny O'Keefe' metal pin badge, c1957.
Johnny O'Keefe looking bored rehearsing with dancers on the set of 'Studio A'

Johnny O'Keefe rehearsing with dancers on the set of 'Studio A'

Johnny O’Keefe rehearsing dance moves with a bored look on his face on the set of the TV program 'Studio A'.

Vic Simms on Johnny O'Keefe

When singer-songwriter Vic Simms was a 15 yer old starting out in the music business, Johnny O'Keefe played him some of his new songs and asked for his honest opinion of them.
Johnny O'Keefe with boom mic and camera on set

Preparing for action

Johnny O'Keefe on set in front of boom microphone and camera at Channel 7 studios in Sydney.
Johnny O'Keefe with his mother

Johnny O'Keefe with his parents

Photo of Johnny with father Raymond and mother Thelma O'Keefe, c1970s.
Promotional poster for The Fabulous Johnny O'Keefe Show

Cover of ‘The Fabulous Johnny O'Keefe Show’ concert program from 1964

Cover of ‘The Fabulous Johnny O'Keefe Show’ concert program from 1964 tour of Perth, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Bunbury and Albany, WA.

Excerpt from 'Shout' by Johnny O'Keefe

An excerpt from 'Shout', a cover version of The Isley Brothers' song, and Johnny's first big hit.
Letter sent by Johnny O’Keefe to 3000 ‘Sing Sing Sing’ club members, apologising for the tardiness of his reply

Letter sent by Johnny O’Keefe to 3000 ‘Sing Sing Sing’ club members

One of 3,000 letters sent by Johnny O’Keefe to ‘Sing Sing Sing’ club members, apologising for the tardiness of his reply.
Johnny O'Keefe entertaining the Australian troops in Vietnam

Johnny O'Keefe entertaining Australian troops in Vietnam

Johnny O’Keefe performing for the 1st Australian Task Force at Nui Dat, Vietnam, 1969.
Johnny O'Keefe close up, smoking with broom in hand

Trevor Rippingale on Johnny O'Keefe

Trevor Rippingale, band member of Johnny O'Keefe and the Deejays, talks about Johnny O'Keefe's tremendous showmanship and rapport with his concert audiences.

She's My Baby by Johnny O'Keefe

Johnny O’Keefe first visited America in November 1959, convinced he could make it in the birthplace of rock 'n’ roll.
Newspaper billboards announcing death of Johnny O'Keefe

Newspaper billboards announcing death of Johnny O'Keefe and Pope John Paul I

Photo of newspaper billboards outside a newsagent announcing the death of JOK and Pope John Paul I in October 1978. Photographer: Peter Luck.

Mockingbird by Johnny O'Keefe

Throughout the late 1960s and into the ’70s, Johnny O'Keefe continued to perform and release records.
Johnny O'Keefe close up, smoking with broom in hand

Johnny O'Keefe on social issues

This is a segment of a longer recording made in 1972 for an unidentified radio station where Johnny, in brief grabs, introduces himself and gives his thoughts on various social issues.

Dressed For Success 'Shake Baby Shake'

In 1959, Johnny O'Keefe claimed he had 40 suits all worth over 100 pounds each.
Johnny O'Keefe close up, smoking with broom in hand

Johnny O'Keefe on the set of 'Sing Sing Sing'

Johnny holding a broom and smoking a cigarette on the set of ‘Sing Sing Sing’.
Johnny O'Keefe

More to Explore

TV discoveries

As part of the NFSA's celebrations of 60 years of Australian television, enjoy rare clips of The Bee Gees, Johnny O'Keefe and Frank Thring.

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Johnny O'Keefe close up, smoking with broom in hand

Johnny O'Keefe

Relive the life and music of the Wild One - Australia's king of rock'n'roll, Johnny O'Keefe.

Johnny O'Keefe
1960s

The Sounds of Australia

The NFSA’s annual selection of sound recordings with cultural, historical and aesthetic significance.

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recorded sound