[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 13, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN REMEMBRANCE OF DANNY FEDERICI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 13, 2008

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life long 
achievements of musician Danny Federici, long-time organ and accordion 
player for the E Street Band, a band that has become a staple of modern 
day American culture. Over his four-decade long career, Mr. Federici's 
signature style of playing has affected and inspired the lives of 
innumerable musicians and fans around the world.
  Born in Flemington, New Jersey, Danny Federici began teaching himself 
how to play the accordion at the age of seven. His talents quickly 
earned him many local radio gigs, where he performed classical and 
polka music. A truly natural musician, it was he and original E Street 
Band drummer Vini Lopez, who invited Bruce Springsteen to join their 
band as they began conquering the music scene on the colorful boardwalk 
of Asbury Park, New Jersey. Often introduced by Springsteen as 
``Phantom Dan'', he spent forty years lending his spontaneous and 
soulful playing to the countless performances of the E Street Band. Mr. 
Federici was one of the pillars of their signature sound and his 
playing evoked the boardwalk at Asbury Park, where he and his fellow 
band mates spent their childhood together. His accordion playing is 
most memorable in E Street Band hits such as ``Fourth of July'' and 
``Asbury Park''.
  During the time he spent away from the E Street Band, he recorded two 
solo albums, both jazz instrumentals. He had an unbreakable dedication 
to his music and his band mates but even more so to his wife Maya, and 
his three children, Jason, Harley and Madison. During his battle with 
Melanoma, he set up the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund, in the hopes that 
he could help others who were facing the same challenges that he was. 
His talents will forever be remembered by his family, friends, fans and 
band mates. In the words of Bruce Springsteen, ``Those you are with, in 
the presence of miracles, you never forget. Life does not does separate 
you. Death does not separate you. Those you are with who create 
miracles for you, like Danny did for me every night.''
  Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the life of 
Danny Federici, whose inspiration and musical genius will continue to 
touch the lives of generations to come.

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