"Danny and I worked together for 40 years -- he was the most wonderfully fluid keyboard player and a pure natural musician. I loved him very much...we grew up together."
--Bruce Springsteen
Danny Federici, who spent 40 years as the organist and keyboard player for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, died Thursday afternoon at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City after a three-year battle with melanoma.
Federici left the band's current tour after a show Nov. 19 in Boston. Charlie Giordano, who played with Springsteen during the "Seeger Sessions" tour, replaced him and has been with the group since. Federici rejoined the band for a show March 20 in Indianapolis, his last public appearance.
Federici's family and representatives for the E Street Band request that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund. A web site for the Fund is being established.
The E Street Band postponed concerts scheduled for Friday in Ft. Lauderdale and Saturday in Orlando. Replacement dates will be announced soon.
The band is to play at Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration Aug. 30 at the Lakefront.
Read OnMilwaukee.com's 2005 interview with Federici.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
