The Rascals – KHJ Appreciation Night – Hollywood Bowl – 1968 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
More bad news today. I was Just hearing about the passing of Dino Danelli, drummer and co-founder of The Rascals who died earlier today. Often called “one of the greatest unappreciated rock drummers in history”, Danelli was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 with the (Young) Rascals.
In late 1964, Danelli teamed with Cavaliere, Brigati, and a Canadian-born guitarist named Gene Cornish to form the Young Rascals. Cavaliere and Danelli traveled to Las Vegas in January 1963–64 to back up singer Sandu Scott and her Scottys, but returned to NYC in February 1964. That month they debuted with the Young Rascals at the Choo Choo Club in Garfield, New Jersey.
In addition to playing drums (before Cavaliere and Brigati began composing original music), Danelli and Cavaliere often scouted new repertory that the group could perform. In a 1988 interview, he cited their trips to record stores as yielding such songs as “Mustang Sally” and “Good Lovin’.” He was with the Rascals for seven years (1965–72).
Along with Cornish, Danelli formed the group Bulldog in 1972 and they produced two albums before disbanding in 1975. Danelli joined the Leslie West Band for a short time along with bassist Busta Jones. Danelli and Cornish then joined the group Fotomaker in 1978 (initially with ex-Raspberries member Wally Bryson). By 1980, Danelli joined Steven Van Zandt as a member of Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul.
After performing with Cavaliere and Cornish at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert on 14 May 1988, there was a short-lived Rascals reunion tour later that year without Brigati. All four original members came together to perform at their induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and then once again on 24 April 2010, for the Kristen Ann Carr Fund dinner at the Tribeca Grill in Tribeca, New York City.
He reunited with his bandmates. The Rascals appeared at the Capital Theater in Port Chester, New York for six shows in December 2012 and for fifteen dates at the Richard Rogers Theatre on Broadway (15 April – 5 May 2013).
This concert, from the Hollywood Bowl as part of the KHJ Appreciation Night of 1968 featured, as well as The Rascals, The Yellow Payges and Tommy James & The Shondells.
Sound is a little rough in spots, but the energy more than makes up for it and you get an idea what a great drummer Dino Danelli was, even for this short set.
Enjoy and Rest In Peace, Dino Danelli.
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