Following is a Q&A with O’Donnell:

Q. What prompted you to do a show featuring rock and roll songs of the 1950s and ‘60s?

A. I suppose it’s unusual to see me doing songs from the ‘50s and ‘60s, but a few years ago we did an album called Daniel in Blue Jeans and that featured songs from that era, because I felt comfortable singing many of the songs from that musical time.

Q. What are your favourite rock ‘n roll songs?

A. I love You’re Sixteen, You’re Beautiful and You’re Mine. I think that’s fantastic and Only Sixteen is another one that I just love singing. Words and The 12th of Never are such great songs. There are so many, it’s impossible to pick one above another.

Q. Any thoughts about the king of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley?

A. When we were putting this show together, I wanted to pay tribute to some people I felt were very influential in the time of rock ‘n roll and, of course, Elvis was number one that we had to pay tribute to.
I’ve sung many of his songs over the years and I think it’s true to say that nobody has ever had more impact on the world as Elvis did with his music.

Q. How has coming to the United States affected your already established global popularity?

A. When we started coming to the U.S. and Canada, I suppose I never imagined that things would turn out the way they have and that is thanks to public television and all the people who have pledged, making possible our return shows.

Q. Why do you think you’re so popular with public television audiences?

A. It’s difficult from my point of view to say why people enjoy what I do. I think that the music certainly is the key factor – the type of songs that I’ve chosen to sing. And I chose those songs because I enjoy them. I’ve never chosen a song because I thought it was the right thing to do. I really have to love the song.