Thursday, October 6, 2022
I, too, graduated from Foreman HS in 1957, and had been in the choir (bass section) with Danny, under Teacher Bill Moseid, and we loved Danny's music, as he turned professional. Anyway, in 1961, my wife, Toni, and I, were driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike after I had lost my job in New Jersey, when a White Plymouth Valiant pulled alongside and honked vigorously. It was late, dark, and we were shook. We looked, and the Valiant was jammed with people, and there was a bass fiddle strapped to the back, and we didn't recognize anyone, so we sped up. They followed, and honked again! We looked again, didn't see familiarity, so we slowed, and took the next exit and went to have a snack and calm down at a Holiday Inn or Howard Johnson's, and the Valiant was parked there. We debated, but then went in carefully, and there was Danny with his music group, greeting us with smiles all around, and asked why we hadn't acknowledged their honk! We all had a good laugh over our anxieties! We saw Danny perform at several locations through the years, at his Piano, singing his songs as only he could. The Blue Note in Chicago (I think), the Mountain Shadows in Paradise Valley, the Registry in Scottsdale. We were saddened to learn of his MS, but he soldiered on. He was very proud of his family and his Catholic heritage. And, a class act all the way!
