Danny got an early start in the music business
Entertaining started early for Danny when his father, Don, gave him his first guitar at the age of 10. Danny began playing for family and friends at home, then transitioned to performing in small town venues with his first band, the Hayloft Rangers. His music led to an early talent contest win, a Juno nomination, hit singles, nine albums, years of touring, and performances at Disneyland, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas (for seven consecutive years). In 1979 Danny and his father opened the wildly successful Danny Hooper’s Stockyard, Edmonton’s first country music nightclub. Fans welcomed country legends Ray Price, Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard and dozens more to what became known as the first Nashville North. Danny remains active in the music business as an independent recording artist, songwriter, and personal coach to young artists.
Business success leads to motivational speaking
After the Stockyard closed in the major recession of the early 80’s, Danny turned to real estate where he attained quick success; he was inducted into the RE/MAX Hall of Fame (recognizing commission earning of $1,000,000) in just 3½ years, and was named Realtor of the Year in 1991. As a result of these outstanding achievements, he was invited by RE/MAX to conduct motivational speaking engagements and training seminars across North America from 1991 through 1995.
special event Emcee and Celebrity Benefit Auctioneer
Danny’s on-stage sizzle led to an invitation in 1994 to emcee Canada’s largest annual outdoor country music festival, the Big Valley Jamboree. In 2019 Danny celebrated his 26th year as main-stage emcee of BVJ and was immediately contracted for an additional four years. Danny left the real estate business in 1995 in order to focus full-time on his entertainment career, specifically professional emceeing and fundraising auctioneering (though his first benefit auction dates back to 1987). He is an honours graduate of the Western College of Auctioneering in Billings, MT and the first Canadian to receive the Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS) accreditation from the National Auctioneers Association. Today, Danny is regarded as Canada’s top-rated fundraising auctioneer, having raised countless millions for non-profit organizations throughout Canada and the USA. He has been called “the Wayne Gretzky of charity auctioneers,” and proudly serves clients of every scope and size, from the smallest school groups on up to the David Foster Foundation. Danny is the bestselling author of EASY MONEY – How To Generate Record Profits at Your Next Fundraising Auction Event.
Award-winning media personality and columnist
In 2006, a new opportunity presented itself when Danny was invited by Newcap Radio to co-host the hugely popular Morning Show on 790 CFCW, their flagship station. Success came quickly. In 2008 Danny and his on-air partner Sharon Mallon were named the CCMA Major Market Radio Personalities of the Year for Canada. Danny left CFCW in mid-2013 to focus full-time on his fundraising auction activities. He released his best-selling book on the subject, entitled ‘EASY MONEY – How To Generate Record Profits at Your Next Fundraising Auction Event,’ in May, 2014. During this period (five years) Danny also worked as a weekly columnist for The Edmonton Sun, writing “humorous stories, charity and business profiles, gossip, and good old-fashioned BS.”
Pilot, Harley Rider, Country Boy
In addition to his unassailable credentials, Danny is a private pilot and Harley-Davidson owner who LOVES being married and enjoys travel, videography, songwriting, cooking, hiking, skiing, camping, and fishing. He has a son and a daughter who both live in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
Danny and his wife Barb live in Edmonton, AB.
