Dino Danelli, the founding drummer for New Jersey rock and rollers the Rascals, in addition to a member of Steven Van Zandt’s backing band the Disciples of Soul, has died on the age of 78.
Danelli’s dying was confirmed on his Fb web page in a submit from pal and Rascals archivist, Joe Russo. An actual reason for dying wasn’t given, although Russo stated Danelli’s “major challenges” had been coronary artery illness and congestive coronary heart failure. Russo stated the drummer’s well being started to falter round 2018, and earlier this 12 months he entered a rehab facility the place he remained till his dying.
On Fb, Rascals guitarist Gene Cornish wrote of Danelli, “He was my brother and the best drummer I’ve ever seen. I’m devastated at this second.” He added in a separate submit, Dino by no means cared about being a ‘rock star’ it was at all times in regards to the music and artwork for him. Every part else was window dressing to him.”
Van Zandt additionally shared a tribute on social media, writing, “RIP Dino Danelli. One of many biggest drummers of all time. Rascals 1965-1971. Disciples Of Soul 1982-1984. On Broadway on the Richard Rodgers Theater in As soon as Upon A Dream 2013.”
Danelli was born and raised in Jersey Metropolis, New Jersey. He started his profession as a jazz and R&B drummer, however began stepping into rock and roll after linking up with a bunch known as Ronnie Speeks and the Elrods. He gigged round New York Metropolis, Las Vegas, and New Orleans, ultimately teaming with Cornish, singer/keyboardist Felix Cavaliere, and vocalist Eddie Brigati to kind the Younger Rascals in 1965.
The Younger Rascals scored their first Quantity One the next 12 months with their rendition of Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick’s “Good Lovin’.” Their debut album — with a canopy photograph that includes the band of their signature Little Lord Fauntleroy-style shirts — arrived that very same 12 months and was licensed Gold by the RIAA. In 1967, the Younger Rascals notched a second Quantity One with “Groovin’,” a signature observe penned by Cavaliere and Brigati.
In 1968, the Rascals dropped the “Younger” from their identify, however their success continued apace with singles like “A Lovely Morning” and “Folks Bought to Be Free,” each of which appeared on their album, As soon as Upon a Dream. After that, the Rascals continued to launch Prime 40 tracks with first rate regularity, however didn’t match their greatest success. In 1971, the Rascals cut up.
After that, Danelli basically went again to gigging round. He and Cornish fashioned the band Bulldog, which launched two albums earlier than splitting in 1975; he additionally performed within the group Fotomaker, alongside former Raspberries lead guitarist Wally Bryson. In 1982,Van Zandt tapped him to hitch the Disciples of Soul, and he performed on the group’s first two albums, 1982’s Males With out Ladies and 1984’s Voice of America. Whereas he was not the Disciples of Soul’s drummer for 1987’s Freedom — No Compromise, Danelli — who’d at all times had a penchant for graphic design — did assist with that file’s cowl design and artwork route.
The Rascals reunited for a quick tour in 1988 with the entire unique lineup, besides Brigati. The core 4, nonetheless, had been all on-hand when the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 1997. In 2012, largely due to Van Zandt’s insistence, the Rascals launched a full-fledged reunion with The Rascals: As soon as Upon a Dream, a live performance/Broadway-style manufacturing that discovered the group recounting and recreating their story.
After a pair years performing and touring As soon as Upon a Dream, nonetheless, the Rascals cut up once more. In line with Russo — Danelli’s pal and Rascals archivist — the drummer was “acutely upset in regards to the abrupt conclusion” of the reunion. “He didn’t need it to finish and he was virtually obsessive about conjuring concepts to maintain the ball rolling,” Russo added.
Nonetheless, in line with Russo, Danelli stayed busy creatively in his closing years with the 2 of them engaged on numerous video, artwork, images, and writing tasks. Danelli additionally continued to make music, with Russo saying the 2 of them “wrote, recorded and produced whole albums price of songs collectively.”
“He was the epitome of ‘cool’ and by no means ceased to impress me along with his seemingly countless reservoir of concepts and approaches,” Russo stated. “The phrase ‘artist’ is so generally used to explain even the slightest stage of self expression, however let me guarantee you Dino Danelli possessed a mindset, a inventive philosophy and a set of abilities as profound as any of the nice artists you’ve ever examine.”