Country and oldies vocalist and guitarist. Danny’s performance career began in 1962 as a teenager singing with his aunt Bonnie McKann, a honky-tonk pianist and singer at the Cozy Club in Baltimore. When Bonnie passed away Danny learned to play the guitar so that he could continue performing at the Cozy. He later teamed up with drummer Jimmy Ernest and they played as a duo until Danny’s first band Speakeasy was formed in 1968. His next band was Nugget, which went through a couple of incarnations. In-between, Danny went to Nashville at the invitation of Caprice Records to do some recording. Dissatisfied with the arrangements, Danny’s fan club President Georgia Sporouse was Aunt to Conway Twitty’s Secretary Dee Henry (who later married Conway), and ultimately they were able to make arrangements for Danny to record his original songs at Woodland Studios in Nashville.
The first single “My Daddy Was A Truck Drivin’ Man” b/w “Decisions” was released in 1972 on Ricki Records, a label named in honor of his son who passed away at age 10. “Decisions” was a song Danny wrote that dealt with his desire to become a full-time musician and his ultimate decision to give up his 17-year career as a Baltimore City firefighter in order to follow his dream. A second single “Ain’t Love Grand” from the Nashville sessions was released a year later on John Councilman’s Eastern Records label. The flip side of the single “The Letter” was narrated by Bill Tolson. The song is a recitation of a letter supposedly written by Elvis in Heaven and features a background of The Jordanaires doing “How Great Thou Art.”
Danny Sadler & Nugget went through a second incarnation from 1970-72 expanding the repertoire to include country, oldies and rock music.
Danny was also a member of The Rockabilly Rebels (1972-78). He took Danny Chavis’ place as a member of The Chavis Brothers (1978-81) touring the east coast and playing local venues such as Zebelean’s, Turf Club, Club Vista, Park Lounge… He was also a member of Just Us (1982-85).
At one time Danny also had a band that included Doug Puls (guitar), Rick Segraves (guitar), Pat Holmes, Steve Hunt (bass), and Larry Hale (drums). They played The Red Rooster in Jessup, and Deno’s in Fredrick.
Danny always did solo work as well, from his beginnings at the Cozy Club, in-between bands, and on nights when his bands weren’t scheduled to play. He loved to perform and it showed with the write-ups by Jimmy Colimore in the News American, and the print ads that were taken out by the venues that employed him. Venues were many and include (in no particular order) The Cozy, Shook’s Lounge, Turf Club (Laurel), Klamp’s (Elkridge), The Nite Owl, Red Rooster (Laurel), Wade Poole’s Inn, Fred & Margie’s, Club 175, Jim’s Hide-A-Way, Kibby’s, Fireside Inn (Oakland), Fells Point Festivals, and many others. Danny had a tour bus (camper) and traveled from state to state playing many gigs. He continues to perform private parties.
Danny Sadler discography:
1972 Ricki 9218 My Daddy Was a Truck Drivin’ Man / Decisions
1973 Eastern 02 Ain’t Love Grand
