In 1966, Danny was struggling to make a living, and began doing bit parts and scenes in movies being filmed in Ireland. He was once cast in a period piece entitled "Rocket to the Moon" being shot in a mansion in County Dublin. Since there were hours and hours of waiting between scenes, Danny brought his guitar and would sit off in a quiet room, practicing. He recalls:
"As I finished a song one day, somebody applauded. I looked up to see the star of the film, Burl Ives. He said he had never heard the song before, and asked me did I know any more. I told him I knew hundreds. He invited me to dinner at a Dublin steak house, and we drank brandy and traded songs into the wee small hours. As a fledgling ballad singer, very nervous about my talent, this was a great confidence booster; if Burl Ives could listen to me for three hours in a row, well then, I might not be as inept as I imagined. Maybe I could even make a living out of my passion.
Apart from helping to build my self-confidence, the kindly Mr. Ives paid for the food, wine and brandy. He also taught me to eat my steak rare, not well done, as I had been accustomed to until then.
Burl Ives
1966