CARLYLE - Once again, the Carlyle District Lions Club will hold its annual supper and auction, but this year members are pulling out all the stops.
The event will take place on April 12 at the Carlyle Sports Arena, with Danny Hooper as the auctioneer. He was not always an auctioneer; he began his career as a country singer in 1975.
His first appearance as singer was at the CFCW Radio Country Star Search Competition. He won a recording contract and in 1976 he received enough national airtime to get nominated for the Best New Male Vocalist Award, which went to Burton Cummings.
In 1979, Hooper and his father Dan opened an exclusive steakhouse called Danny Hooper’s Stockyard in Edmonton, and soon it became one of the hit places to go. They had major stars come to sing such as Tammy Wynette, Ray Price, Freddy Fender and Merle Haggard to name a few, and Hooper was also one of the country singers.
One time he worked 68 days straight.
“I only lost my voice once during that time,” Hooper said.
Over the years, Hooper has recorded 11 albums and has performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and for seven consecutive years has performed at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
In 1986, the steakhouse closed its doors due to the economy.
He needed something else, and it was suggested he become an auctioneer. He attended the Western School for Auctioneers in Billings, Mont., and in 1987 hit the road with fundraiser auctions.
Hooper is the top Canadian Certified Fundraising Auctioneer, and he is the first to receive the Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS) designation from the U.S. National Auctioneers Association.
Celebrating 50 years of entertainment, he has helped every size of organization from small sports teams and schools, to church groups and the David Foster Foundation.
Over the years he has raised more than $500 million through charity auctions and has over 40,000 hours behind the microphone.
Each year he attends 80-100 events with his talent as a fundraising auctioneer and entertainer. He has also been the MC for 28 consecutive years as the main stage host of Canada’s largest annual outdoor show at the the Big Valley Jamboree.
On March 15 he held a function to celebrate his 50 years in entertainment and within a few minutes it was sold out with 540 tickets sold. He is planning another celebration on Oct. 25 called the Danny Hooper Harvest Ball for those who were unable to obtain a ticket for the first show, but it also sold-out quickly.
Hooper guarantees the Carlyle Lions Supper and Auction will be a fun night and worthwhile attending.
He plans to entertain the crowd with some of his songs, crack some jokes and keep the crowd bidding to raise money for a worthy cause.
“There is never a day that I do not enjoy what I do,” said Hooper. “I love everything about it.”
