Rick Danko

Richard Clare "Rick" Danko (December 29, 1942-December 10, 1999) was a Canadian musician and singer, probably best known as a member of The Band.

One of The Boys in The Band (1968-1977)

It was Danko who had found the pink house on Parnassus Lane, just off of Stoll Road. He, Hudson and Manuel quickly moved in, with Robertson ensconsing himself nearby. The music that the group had been performing with Dylan at his house was moved to the basement of the hangout quickly dubbed "Big Pink". The sessions, which began about May 1967 ended about October 1967. At that point, Dylan and his backing group parted ways, with Dylan going off to Nashville to record John Wesley Harding and The Hawks started to record demo recordings for their first album. Songs like "Yazoo Street Scandal", "You Don't Come Through", "Ferdinand The Impostor", "Beautiful Thing" and "Words And Numbers" were completed by January 1968 (with Helm returning to the fold sometime between August and November), and at that time their manager, Albert Grossman, secured them a recording deal with Capitol Records.

Related Topics:
John Wesley Harding - Capitol Records

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Working over the next few months, the five-piece churned out what would be their debut. Released with a childlike painting by their former boss, it single-handledly contributed to help rockers damaged by the excess of the Summer of Love to find the roots of popular music. Touring behind the album, however, was not to be, as Danko injured himself in a car accident, putting himself in traction for months. It would be April 1969 when the group finally debuted in concert as The Band, at Bill Graham's Winterland in San Francisco.

Related Topics:
Debut - Their former boss - Bill Graham - Winterland - San Francisco

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By this time, they were already hard at work on their eponymous second album, considered by many to be their magnum opus. Danko, who had sung lead on all or parts of five of the eleven tracks on the first album only sang lead on two of the tracks for the second album. This would tend to be the standard on the albums, with Manuel or Helm handling the great majority of lead vocals on all but one of the Band's remaining studio albums recorded before 1978.

Related Topics:
Eponymous second album - One

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Band's albums were defined by each member- Robertson's lyrics and guitar work, Helm's "bayou folk" drumming and Southern voice, Manuel's Ray Charlesesque vocals and rhythmic piano and Hudson's arranging and his genius behind whatever he fancied playing. However, the best selling point it had was Danko's bass style that set the group apart from others. Jazzy, funky, countrified... trading in his Fender Jazz Bass for a Ampeg fretless model (and later a Gibson G-3), his bottom end was like no other.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~