Danny Federici waves to the crowd as he takes the stage with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band in the 15th and final show at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. In this Aug. 12, 1999 file photo. (Matt Rainey / Associated Press / April 17, 2008)
------------------------------------------------
Here's to one of the most incredible musicians ever. His sound will reverberate throughout every baby boomers memory from here till forever.......
-------------------------------------------------
E Street Band mamber Danny Federici dies at 58
Apr 17, 10:53 PM (ET)
NEW YORK (AP) - Danny Federici, the longtime keyboard player for Bruce
Springsteen whose stylish work helped define the E Street Band's sound
on hits from "Hungry Heart" through "The Rising," died Thursday. He
was 58.
Federici, who had battled melanoma for three years, died at Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. News of his death was
posted late Thursday on Springsteen's official Web site.
According to published reports, Federici last performed with
Springsteen and the band last month, appearing during portions of a
March 20 show in Indianapolis.
Springsteen concerts scheduled for Friday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,
and Saturday in Orlando were postponed after news of Federici's death.
He was born in Flemington, N.J., a long car ride from the Jersey shore
haunts where he first met kindred musical spirit Springsteen in the
late 1960s. The pair often jammed at the Upstage Club in Asbury Park,
N.J., a now-defunct after-hours club that hosted the best musicians in
the state.
It was Federici, along with original E Street Band drummer Vini Lopez,
who first invited Springsteen to join their band.
By 1969, the self-effacing Federici - often introduced in concert by
Springsteen as "Phantom Dan" - was playing with the Boss in a band
called Child. Over the years, Federici joined his friend in acclaimed
shore bands Steel Mill, Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom and the Bruce
Springsteen Band.
Federici became a stalwart in the E Street Band as Springsteen
rocketed from the boardwalk to international stardom. Springsteen
split from the E Streeters in the late '80s, but they reunited for a
hugely successful tour in 1999.
"Bruce has been supportive throughout my life," Federici said in a
recent interview with Backstreets magazine. "I've had my ups and
downs, and I've certainly given him a run for his money, and he's
always been there for me."
Federici played accordion on the wistful "4th Of July, Asbury Park
(Sandy)" from Springsteen's second album, and his organ solo was a
highlight of Springsteen's first top 10 hit, "Hungry Heart." His organ
coda on the 9/11-inspired Springsteen song "You're Missing" provided
one of the more heart-wrenching moments on "The Rising" in 2002.
In a band with larger-than-life characters such as saxophonist
Clarence Clemons and bandana-wrapped guitarist "Little" Steven Van
Zandt, Federici was content to play in his familiar position to the
side of the stage. But his playing was as vital to Springsteen's live
show as any instrument in the band.
Federici released a pair of solo albums that veered from the E Street
sound and into soft jazz. Bandmates Nils Lofgren on guitar and Garry
Tallent on bass joined Federici on his 1997 debut, "Flemington." In
2005, Federici released its follow-up, "Out of a Dream."
Federici had taken a leave of absence during the band's tour in
November 2007 to pursue treatment for melanoma, and was temporarily
replaced by veteran musician Charles Giordano.
At the time, Springsteen described Federici as "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."
Besides his work with Springsteen, Federici played on albums by an
impressive roster of other artists: Van Zandt, Joan Armatrading,
Graham Parker, Gary U.S. Bonds and Garland Jeffreys.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment