Danny K

For American actor, singer and comedian, see Danny Kaye.

Danny K
Background information
Birth name	Danny Koppel
Born	September 8, 1977 (1977-09-08) (age 34)
Origin	Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Genres	Pop / R&B
Website	DannyK.com

Danny K (full name Daniel Koppel, born 8 September 1977) is a versatile South African singer, songwriter and actor. He holds a B.A. degree from the Wits University. He has produced some chart topping hits and award winning albums.

He was one of the first South African musicians to perform on The Oprah Winfrey Show in Chicago with guests like Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Josh Groban and John Travolta appearing on the same day.

Danny has toured and performed with many renowned international acts including: Usher, Craig David, P Diddy, Ladysmith Black Mombazo, Eric Benet, Bob Geldof, U2, Queen and Beyoncé.

He is also one of only five South African acts chosen to perform at Nelson Mandela's 46664 concert at the Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa which was broadcast to three billion people worldwide.

Danny has also performed for the opening of the ICC World Cup as well as for Nelson Mandela and Oprah Winfrey and Madiba's annual birthday party in Qunu in Transkei, South Africa.^[1]

On 7 July 2007 Danny K performed at the South African leg of Live Earth.

Awards and nominations

He was nominated multiple times for the SAMA and has won 4 times. He has two consecutive Kids Choice Awards, two consecutive Crystal Awards (People's Choice Awards), You magazine Award for Bes SA Musician; and The South African STYLE Award.

Award	Granting Body	Place	Year
Best Pop Album for Same Difference	S.A.M.A.	Johannesburg	2007
Best Pop Album for This Is My Time	S.A.M.A.	Johannesburg	2007
Best Collaboration (with Mandoza)	Channel O[2]		2006
Best S.A. Musician	You magazine	Johannesburg
Best Dressed Male	S.A. Style	Johannesburg
Best South African Artist	Kids' Choice Awards	Johannesburg

• Danny was also voted at number 34 in the Heat Magazine's Hot 100 for 2007.
• Voted by First National Bank national survey as S.A.'s few role models
• Voted S.A.'s most trustworthy 100 public personalities by Readers Digest.

Albums and Work

Current work

Danny K's yet untitled 2009 studio album has been a matter of great interest. On September 13, 2008 Danny K mentioned on his official MySpace page that he was working with Grammy Award Winning producer Danja, Award Winning song writing team The Clutch and well as Soul Diggaz. This album promises to bring together international flavours with local concepts and sees Danny K entering an entirely new level of music for himself.

Contribution to In-Cha: 2008

Danny K lent his voice on Violin Superstar, the debut album of In-Cha. The track was entitled Crazy Party and has amazing backtrack with Danny K's pop contribution and HHP hip hip vibe.

This track has had phenomenal success and has allowed In-Cha to appeal to a wider market and has further made the Violin Superstar a success.

All Africa Poker Win: 2006

Danny K took part in the first-ever All Africa Poker Celebrity Charity Challenge which was sponsored by Piggs Peak Casino, Swaziland.

He managed to beat out many of the celebrities including: Leanne Manas, Sandy Ngema, Neil Andrews, Mark Fish, Kass Naidoo, Joost van der Westhuizen and Phumlani Msibi to face Alex Jay in a nail-biting showdown.

Danny K won which saw the pot of R100 000 donated to Compassionate Friends, a grief-counseling service in memoriam of his late brother.^[3]

Fourth Studio Album: 2006

After his many successes of his previous album, Danny decided to go with the more pop vibe on this album and therefore the album title of This is My Time which expressed it as a way of life.

Unfrozen was one of the stand out tracks which managed to capture the airwaves of many radio stations.

Guest Star in Bunny Chow: 2006

Danny guest-starred in this film about three comedians who embark on a raucous weekend journey to Oppikoppi. They end up getting more than they bargained for.

Collaboration Album with Mandoza: 2005

Titled Same Difference, this was chance for Danny to explore some more of the Kwaito experience and therefore decided to join with Mandoza.

Hits like Friday and Summertime came from this album. Pop tracks with a blend of kwaito beats enabled this album to go Gold within two weeks selling 25 000 units.

Guest Star in Crazy Monkey Film: 2005

This saw Danny K make a big screen entrance as Guest star on Crazy Monkey Presents Straight Outta Benoni. He starred as Danny in this film which follows the lives of Brendan and Gavin and their journey towards a 10 year reunion.

Second Album: 2003

Since his first album, Danny K has really learned a lot from his experiences. This album is in memoriam of his late brother Jarren who died when he was 23 years old in a helicopter crash along with several others in Mpumalanga. This is the reason the album was title J23.

He worked again with Alexis Faku and Pete Martin who helped with his debut album. J23 was released trans-continentally. In this album he explores some R&B in addition to his rhythm and pop sound.

He had many interesting collaborations on the album including Johnny Clegg, Sid Money and Kabelo. This gave his album the versatility and explored a whole new side of Danny K.

Who's That Girl, when released created the sense of a genuine Urban South African track. Johnny Clegg's unmistakable voice with that of Danny K managed to explore African melodies. This was the happenstance of meeting the amazing singer/composer in the studios who heard something that Danny K had written and liked it. That became Who's That Girl.

I Can't Imagine, a ballad penned weeks after Jarren, Danny's brother, died and is wrought with emotion. The song is prefaced with J23 Interlude where Danny pays poetic tribute to his brother who was more like a twin to Danny and was manager to Danny before he passed on.

Debut Album: 2000

Danny K released his SAMA nominated self titled debut album in 2000. He managed to release many hot singles off the album:

• Hurts So Bad
• You Don't Know My Name
• So Many Ways
• Getting

Discography

Albums

Album Information
Danny K - 2000 Track List:- 1. You Don't Know My Name 2. Getting Down 3. Hurts So Bad 4. Bull$*@! 5. Cheatin 6. My Destiny 7. Too Young (To Hurt So Bad) 8. Senorita 9. So Many Ways (feat. TK) 10. Boom Boom 11. On My Own 12. Where The Wind Goes 13. I'm Yours Tonight 14. Getting (feat. Speedy & Loyiso)
J23 - 2003 Track List:- 1. I Could Love U 2. One Of A kind 3. Beautiful 4. Who's That Girl? (feat Johnny Clegg) 5. Unstoppable 6. I Just Don't Wanna (feat Sid Money) (Written by Danny K, Alexis Faku with Sid Money) 7. Murder 8. Boogie All Night Long (feat Kabelo & Sid Money) 9. Love In The Club 10. Soopadoopa 11. How Can I Be? 12. J23 Interlude 13. I Can't Imagine 14. Strength Of A Woman (Written by Danny with Stuart Roslyn and Drew Milligan) 15. Serendipity 16. Sunshine 17. Back In Your Life 18. Stay With Me (Live)
Same Difference (with Mandoza) - 2005 Track List:- 1. Mission 2. Friday 3. Music 4. Rollercoaster 5. The Last One's 6. Ooh Child (Ungabaleki) (feat Stagga) 7. 4 Koll 8. You Wish 9. Mzanzi Party 10. Free 11. Summertime 12. Faki Nchayelo 13. How We Roll 14. Ooh Child (Ungabaleki) Remix 15. Music Remix
This Is My Time - 2006 Track List:- 1. This Is My Time 2. Shorty 3. Separate Lies 4. Clothes Off 5. Real Man 6. Outdacontrol 7. Knock Me Off 8. 1000 Sorrys 9. I Like Yo Style 10. Everything About It 11. One Night 12. Unfrozen 13. I Love You 14. All About You 15. It Doesn't Matter

Movies

• Crazy Monkey Presents Straight Outta Benoni 2005
• Bunny Chow 2006

References

1. ^ Who's Who in SA
2. ^ BBC: Channel O Spirit Of Africa Music Video Awards 2006
3. ^ news24

External links

• Danny K on MySpace
• Danny K at Internet Movie Database
• Danny K at tvsa.co.za

Persondata
Name	K, Danny
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1977-09-08
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death