Music Notes

For the more than 30 years that I have listened to his spellbinding music, Bruce Springsteen has never ceased to move me, emotionally. And now, sadly, a major reason for that emotion has left his music.

‘Phantom” Danny Federici, whose majestic keyboard playing graced Springsteen’s magnificent E Street Band for over 30 years of marathon concerts and classic records, passed away as the result of melanoma last month, at the far too young age of 58.

Such was Federici’s gift to Springsteen’s music that his considerable contributions affected my emotions far before I even knew who he was, or even what he was playing on those keyboards.

I remember it was back in late ’73, during my freshman year in college. Someone came up with a copy of Springsteen’s second album, “The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle.” And, while everyone went musically ga-ga, and rightly so, over the epic “Rosalita,” I was drawn to the song-stories of “4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy)” and ‘Kitty’s Back,” both of which featured the haunting accordion and keyboard work of Federici that I found equal parts mystifying and mesmerizing. His work literally cinched the atmosphere and emotion of Springsteen’s tales of the Jersey shore life.

After the righteous hype following the release of the titanic “Born to Run” album I noticed Federici’s contributions even more, although at the time, I still didn’t know it was him, and how or what he was doing to add such flourishes to Springsteen’s music. The beauty and the grace of his work were simply there, for the listening and the feeling, which, to me, is the essence of musical genius.

Even now, all these years and listenings later, I still may not describe it properly. As it has been reported since his passing, Federici played something called an “electronic glockenspiel,” which I take to mean getting a glockenspiel sound from his myriad keyboards. Whatever it was, and however it was played, Federici managed to produce such a moving sound that it was a crucial staple of Springsteen’s music, propelling it to the next level. Add that to his organ and accordion playing, and he created such a special and unique musical presentation.

That’s what struck me most about Federici’s contributions to Springsteen and the E Street’s sound, predominantly on classic albums like “The River,” and “Born In The USA,” and what, as a fan, hurts me the most over his passing.

Put all together over the years, and it sounded equal parts like the Asbury boardwalk of Federici and Springsteen’s youth, coupled with Phil Spector’s “wall of sound,” all tossed into the best of bar band rhythm and blues.

Simply, “Phantom Dan” made E Street the ultimate destination for finding a very special kind of music.

Federici was born in Flemington, N.J., and first met Springsteen at Jersey shore bars and clubs in the late 1960s. The pair often jammed at the Upstage Club in Asbury Park, N.J., a now-defunct, after-hours club that hosted the best musicians in the state. It was Federici, along with original E Street Band drummer Vini Lopez, who first invited Springsteen to join their band after seeing him perform at the Upstage.

By 1969, Federici, who was often introduced in concert by Springsteen as “Phantom Dan” after the keyboardist allegedly evaded a police crackdown after an on stage incident, was playing with Springsteen in a band called Child. Over the years, Federici joined his friend in acclaimed shore bands Steel Mill, Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom and the Bruce Springsteen Band, before becoming one of the original members of the incredible E Street Band.

Yet, in a powerhouse band full of bigger than life musicians and characters like Springsteen, saxophonist Clarence “Big Man” Clemons and guitarists ‘Little Steven” Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren, Federici’s musical contributions, at least to me, were the most significant of all.

I was fortunate enough to see Federici on his last leg with the band at the XL Center in Hartford last fall. As luck would have it, I had a seat just above and to the right of his keyboards. From there, I was able to watch him work his illustrious magic (no pun intended, Bruce fans).

When Springsteen returned to Hartford last February, Federici was on leave from the band and Charlie Giordano was behind the keys. Don’t get me wrong. Giordano is a fine player, but it is impossible to replace “Phantom Dan.”

Springsteen and E Street Band fans will miss him, forever.

Thank you, Danny. Take your bows. The aurora’s risin’ behind you.

Contributions to the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund may be made via www.thedannyfedericimelanomafund.com