William Thomas Danoff, known as Bill Danoff, was born on May 7, 1946, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is a renowned American songwriter and singer, celebrated for his contributions to the music industry. A graduate of Cathedral High School in Springfield and Georgetown University, Danoff began his songwriting career while still a student.

Danoff is best known for co-writing "Take Me Home, Country Roads," a hit song for John Denver that became an official state song of West Virginia. He also co-wrote "I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado," another popular Denver track. Alongside his then-wife Taffy Nivert, Danoff formed the duo Fat City, which later evolved into Bill & Taffy. They eventually became part of the Starland Vocal Band, which achieved significant success with the 1976 hit "Afternoon Delight." This song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and led to the group receiving their own television series on CBS.

Throughout his career, Danoff collaborated with notable artists such as Emmylou Harris, co-authoring "Boulder to Birmingham." He continued to write and perform music after the Starland Vocal Band disbanded in 1980, releasing solo albums and contributing to various projects.

Danoff's personal life includes a marriage to Taffy Nivert from 1972 until their divorce in 1987, and a subsequent marriage to Joan Grbach in 1988. He has three children, including a son, Owen Danoff, who participated in The Voice. Danoff's influence in the music industry is marked by his Grammy Awards, award nominations, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.