Springsteen Keyboardist Danny Federici Passes Away
discman -- Fri, 04/18/2008 - 08:55
He supported some great songs.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWBL8bwtky7ejPHSACIDibAWnHwAD90424SO0
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Danny played organ, accordion and other keyboards, not piano. I've known Danny since he was 17, when he got his first Farfisa organ and Leslie cabinet. I played drums in 2 Jersey shore bands with him, The Story Tellers and The Gift, bands Danny was in before he met Bruce Springsteen. Danny had played with Bruce longer than any other member of The E Street Band.
I knew about Danny's battle with melanoma for many years. He beat it once, but it came back last year. I last heard from him in January, in an email saying that he hoped to see me soon in California. Unfortunately, he was not able to rejoin the band on this leg of the tour, except for playing part of a set in Indianapolis. Last week I received an email from his wife saying that he had been admitted to Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Danny's organ playing was the soul of The E Street Band. The Phantom will be missed.
Larry Lerner
Shame it wasnt Springsteen that kicked the bucket. That whining, cry baby, terrorist supporting, leftist socialist, pinko, yellow bellied coward.
But I hear he is coming out with a new album to reflect cowardly nature "Born to Have the Runs" Why Dick Cheney scares me!
Sheepherder
Shenandoah Valley, VA
sheepherder, this is not a thread about politics. I respect your right to voice your political beliefs, but this is not the time and place to discuss them. This thread is about Danny Federici.
From the Backstreets website:
The Federici family and the E Street family have requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund -- The fund's website is now up and running, where it is described as "dedicated to the research and development of new and effective treatments for melanoma through funding for additional clinical trials based upon Danny's melanoma treatments and other methods headed by Dr. Paul Chapman [at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]. Our other objective is to raise awareness for this aggressive disease."
You'll find a statement from Danny there, too:
“What people take for granted on a daily basis, among so many other things, is their skin. I spent my life, like many others, catching some rays, surfing, hanging out in the sun and it never bothered me until now. Who knew that something as simple as a proper sunscreen or keeping yourself covered up on a sunny day could one day save your life? Our culture looks at a nice tan as a sign of luxury. We spend time in tanning booths when we can't go to the beach or lay by the pool. It's time to think again. Especially if you're fair skined, have freckles, or light eyes. Be aware of the dangers, take precaution, and have yourself checked out regularly by a dermatologist from head to toe. It could absolutely make the difference in your life." --Danny Federici
We encourage you to visit, explore, and donate as generously as you're able. One fan wrote me this morning with an idea: "If every Tramp sent a dollar for each and every show they've seen, we could all do something good for the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund! My check will be $33, just let me know where to send it."
You'll find a donation button and contact info at www.thedannyfedericimelanomafund.com.
About Danny Federici, From the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund website:
Danny Federici (born January 23, 1950) is an icon in American music, most known as the longtime organ, glockenspiel, and accordion player for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band for the last 38 years.
Federici started to play accordion when he was seven years old, which he learned from watching The Lawrence Welk Show. When he mastered classical music and polka, his mother and father Jean and Daniel Federici booked him at parties, clubs and on the radio where he won many awards and accolades for his talented musical abilities.
Danny's fluid organ fills are a key component in the E Street sound, and sometimes take on a more prominent role, such as on the hit "Hungry Heart". His use of the electronic glockenspiel is also an easily recognized E Street element. Another notable performance is his accordion solo on "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy).
During the 1990s, Federici recorded a solo album of jazz instrumentals called Flemington, after his hometown of Flemington, New Jersey. Danny followed this up with a smooth jazz album entitled Out of a Dream on V2 Records in 2005.
On November 21, 2007, it was announced that Federici would take a leave of absence from Springsteen and the E Street Band's ongoing Magic Tour to pursue treatment for melanoma. Springsteen stated at the time: "Danny is one of the pillars of our sound and has played beside me as a great friend for more than 40 years. We all eagerly await his healthy and speedy return.”
"Federici made his first return to the stage on March 20, 2008, when he appeared for portions of a very memorable Springsteen and E Street Band performance in Indianapolis to rave reviews. (see news)
What he enjoys the most is spending time with his family. Wife Maya, son Jason and daughters Harley and Madison. He also loves a good drive down the delaware river's beautiful roads.
llad -- thanks for your correction of my original post title and for the details of potential donations.
Any thoughts on best songs with Danny on them?
discman wrote:llad -- thanks for your correction of my original post title and for the details of potential donations.
Any thoughts on best songs with Danny on them?
Kitty's Back, 4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy), Hungry Heat, Living in the Future, Restless Nights, Racing in the Streets, My City in Ruins, Independence Day
There's along list. He deserved his nick-name "The Phantom". You don't always hear him at first listen, but his organ is there, a foundation to The E Street Band's music.
llad wrote:sheepherder, this is not a thread about politics. I respect your right to voice your political beliefs, but this is not the time and place to discuss them. This thread is about Danny Federici.
Too bad. The punk shouldnt deliberately schedule a concert on Veteran's Day in DC and then spout off his leftist liberal, yellow bellied philosophy of letting the terrorist win. Springsteen should be in Gitmo and waterboarded!
Sheepherder
Shenandoah Valley, VA
sheepherder, there is a Springsteen website called Backstreets.com that has a political forum. You can post about Springsteen's politics there to your heart's content. This thread has nothing to do with politics, it's about an old friend of mine who recently died.