David Charles Olney (born March 23, 1948 in Providence, Rhode Island) is an American folk singer/songwriter. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill but did not graduate, instead joining Bland Simpson's band Simpson (band) in the early 1970s. He moved to Nashville in 1973 and formed the band The X-Rays, which gained a reputation during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Since then, he has performed as a solo singer/songwriter. Olney has released more than 20 albums over four decades, including six live recordings. His songs have been covered by Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt, Steve Young, Del McCoury and Laurie Lewis, among others. Townes Van Zandt, a friend of Olney's, said "Anytime anyone asks me who my favorite music writers are, I say Mozart, Lightnin' Hopkins, Bob Dylan, and Dave Olney. Dave Olney is one of the best songwriters I've ever heard — and that's true. I mean that from my heart."