Died On This Date (December 28, 2011) Danny DeGennaro aka Dan Rio / Kingfish
themusicsover Daniel DeGennaro
DOB Unknown – December 28, 2011
Danny DeGennaro, who also performed as Dan Rio, was Philadelphia-area singer, songwriter, and guitarist who is perhaps best remembered as a former member of Kingfish, a band which also counted Bob Weir and New Riders of the Purple Sage bassist, Dave Torbert, as members. Joining the outfit post-Weir in 1979, Rio played guitar and shared vocals until they disbanded following the death of Torbert in 1982. Rio also performed or recorded with Billy Squier, Bo Diddley and Jorma Kaukonen, Clarence Clemons throughout his career. In recent years, DeGennaro fronted his own 5-piece blues band, the Danny DeGennaro Band. On December 28, 2011, Danny DeGennaro, age 56, was shot and killed in his yard in what appeared to have been a robbery. Police had no suspects in the early weeks following the murder but indicated it likely was not a random attack.
Sam Rivers is best remembered as the influential jazz saxophonist and composer who helped define the Free Jazz movement of the mid to late ’60s. Born into a musical family, Rivers began playing at an early age. After studying at the Boston Conservatory, Rivers went on to be an in-demand sideman, playing with the likes of 
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