Rick Danko

Richard Clare "Rick" Danko (December 29, 1943 – December 10, 1999) was a Canadian musician, bassist, songwriter and singer, best known as a member of the Band.

Biography

Early years (1943–1960)

Richard Clare Danko was born on December 29, 1943. in Blayney, Ontario, a farming community outside of the town of Simcoe, to a musical family of Ukrainian descent. He was the third of four sons. He grew up listening to live music at family get-togethers, and to country, blues and, later, R&B on the radio. He was especially fascinated with country music, and often his mother would let him stay up late to listen to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio. His musical influences included Hank Williams, the Carter Family and, later, Sam Cooke. He also drew inspiration from the music of his eldest brother, Junior. Danko's second-eldest brother, Dennis, was an accomplished songwriter, and his younger brother, Terry, also became a musician.

Rick made his musical debut in front of his first-grade classmates on a four-string tenor banjo

Rick Danko (album)

Rick Danko is the 1977 eponymous debut by the bassist and singer for the Band. Featuring ten tracks written by Danko, usually in conjunction with lyricists Bobby Charles and Emmett Grogan, it was the first solo album by any member of the group.

Rick Danko is the only solo album by a member of the Band to feature each member of the group, with Garth Hudson playing accordion on "New Mexico", Robbie Robertson playing lead guitar on "Java Blues", Richard Manuel playing electric piano on "Shake It" and Levon Helm singing harmony vocal on the closing track, "Once Upon a Time". Danko handled bass, rhythm and lead guitars and vocals. Other guests included Eric Clapton (guitar on "New Mexico"), Ronnie Wood (guitar on "What a Town"), Beach Boy and later Band member Blondie Chaplin (guitar and bass on various tracks) and Doug Sahm (guitar on various tracks).

Track listing