Danny Peck Then and Now

Back when I lived in Los Angeles, I frequented a kosher Chinese restaurant called Genghis Cohen in West Hollywood on North Fairfax. They not only had great food, but live music as well.

You can still go to their Web site today as I just did and see who is singing there. Actor Sally Kellerman (remember her as Hot Lips Hoolihan from the original film M*A*S*H?) is a featured artist there.

One regular singer-song writer they had back then and still have is Danny Peck. I first heard him nearly 20 years ago.

On one of our first trips to California with Herman’s daughter I took him to see Danny at Genghis Cohen with friends and we talked with Danny after his set and Herman took our picture together. I enclose that picture with this column. I think it was in 2000.

Danny was friendly as ever and still belting out his songs. In fact, Herman just downloaded his latest MP3 album of songs called “This Way to There” from Amazon.com.

I have his three other albums on CD and I must say I enjoy his earlier music better than his latest offering. It probably has to do with the fact I remember him singing these songs live.

His basic themes have to do with love, relationships and left-wing politics. In fact, one of his albums is titled “Love Politico.” One of the most beautiful songs he does on his self-titled album is the political anti-war song “Eight Bodies.” And while we were at Genghis Cohen, he did an a capella rendition of “Wake-up Call” from his first album, which includes the lyrics:

“From the tears of Mama,

Crying in the night

For her little soldier boy

Dead in the moonlight

He won’t wake up

From this wake up call…

To stand up and be counted

To do something about it.”

It’s a very powerful song both live and on the CD.

He signed a CD to me personally reading “My voice lives in your heart. Love, Danny Peck.”

If you can, go to his Web site and sample some of his songs. You can also plug his name in on Your Tube and see him doing a live performance.