Alan O'Day
A masterful pop songwriter who crafted a personal No. 1 hit before bringing his melodic genius to children's television for a new generation.
1940–2013 (age 73)·American singer-songwriter·Birthday: October 3·The Silent Generation
Biography
Alan O'Day operated from the engine room of 1970s pop, a songwriter whose melodies became the soundtrack for millions. He broke through by writing Helen Reddy's chart-topping 'Angie Baby,' a haunting story-song that showcased his narrative skill. O'Day then stepped into the spotlight himself with the smooth, dreamy 'Undercover Angel,' which soared to No. 1 in 1977. As musical tastes shifted, he brilliantly pivoted, co-writing nearly a hundred songs for the animated 'Muppet Babies,' imbuing the show with a surprising musical sophistication. His later work for nature documentaries proved his versatility was boundless. O'Day's career is a testament to the power of a great tune, whether it was topping the charts or teaching toddlers about imagination.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Alan was born in 1940, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1940
#1 Movie
Fantasia
Best Picture
Rebecca
Alan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1940Born
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1945Started school
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1953Became a teenager
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Could drive
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1958Could vote
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1961Turned 21
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1970Turned 30
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 40
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 50
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 60
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 70
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Died at 73
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Wrote and performed the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 single 'Undercover Angel' in 1977.
- Authored Helen Reddy's 1974 No. 1 hit 'Angie Baby'.
- Co-wrote the Righteous Brothers' 1974 top-five hit 'Rock and Roll Heaven'.
- Composed scores of songs for the Emmy-winning 'Muppet Babies' animated series in the 1980s.
Did You Know?
He wrote 'Undercover Angel' in about 45 minutes on a borrowed guitar.
The 'angelic' backing vocals on 'Undercover Angel' were performed by his friend, actress and singer Jessica Harper.
He performed the theme song and music for the National Geographic TV series 'Really Wild Animals'.
He was a frequent guest on the late-night comedy show 'Fridays' in the early 1980s.
“A good song is a good song, whether it's for a rock star or a cartoon baby.”
