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WEBSITE UPDATE: Hi everyone, I just returned from New Jersey last night. I'm jet-lagged at the moment, but I'll do my best to get all of the pictures my wife and I took at my uncle Danny's tribute at the Red Fusion on the site today. Bob Jahn has also sent in pictures that I will add as well. I will be redesigning the photo section on this site today, so that you will be able to stop, pause, skip ahead, etc.. I plan on spending a lot of time on this site now that I'm back, so please check everyday for new updates. I just received an e-mail from Stringbean that I will be posting shortly. He also sent some great pictures. Thank you very much Stringbean. We love you man! Monica Baldwin sent me some amazing pictures of Big Danny & The Lost Leader Band. I will be getting them on here today as well. Thank you Monica. I have been having a little problem with my storage quota for the e-mail address I gave out and I have not received every e-mail that has been sent to me while I was in New Jersey. I called my cable company this morning and I'm in the process of trying to retrieve any e-mails I did not receive in my Outlook while I was away. If you do not see your letter or picture on this site in the next day or two, please resend it to me at rodgallagher@hawaii.rr.com My Uncle Danny's tribute was magical. I will remember that day for the rest of my life. I would like to personally thank Eileen Chapman, Vini Lopez, Lee Hefter, Guido Scano, the owners and staff of the Red Fusion in Asbury Park, all of the brilliant musicians that played their hearts out for Danny, and to everyone else that was part of putting together the best tribute anyone could've possibly imagined for BIG DANNY GALLAGHER. My uncle's irish eyes were smilin' that day and he was there with us all. We love you Danny!!!!!!!! Love to All Rod Gallagher
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I loved Big Danny and I am so sad to see him go. I have faith that we'll meet again, but that doesn't change the way I feel, truly broken hearted. I can't stop thinking about him. All of my thoughts and experiences are being filtered through his memory. I wish I could have said good bye. Big Danny was an Old Bluesman. That is the highest compliment that I can pay. It implies a secret knowledge and a hard-won wisdom, the honing and polishing of a God-given talent, a generous spirit, and a magical ability to connect with people on a deep level. Danny had all of that. Big Danny traveled the earth. His comings and goings were shrouded in mystery. He could express both sorrow and joy in a single note. He was an Old Bluesman. He chose a path with heart and followed it to the end. I'm glad that I was able to walk a few steps with him.
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Big Danny Gallagher was not just a great friend, great musician, great person but he was MY FATHER...... A very long (Dont ask me how long) time ago he and I were driving down Ocean Avenue in Deal on our way to Asbury Park and we ran out of gas......needless to say it was COLD (freeze your butt off cold) and I was far from Happy which was aggravating the crap out of my dad. So finally he turned around and quite loudly told me to Shut Up and sit down, light a cigarette and relax...and you know what happened of course.... someone drove along and saw his "Stop Traffic" profile and did just that.. we were in asbury in 5 minutes...JUST LIKE THAT!!!!!!!! One of the many lessons that I actually listened to over the years that I can honestly say has become a chief part of my character... When I first got the call about my dad I was far from Happy.... I have since sat down had a smoke and relaxed and I know that Big Danny Gallagher is in a great place with great company and if there is any justice in this world or the next one we will all meet again one day... BUT until that day comes......... I MISS MY DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kimmi Gallagher February 14th 2007 |
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A few things about Danny Gallagher that should be remembered. Danny never had the greatest of luck in the world. Yet, he could put things in perspective and laugh at his problems as well as find a positive spin on why they occurred. The best was yet to come according to Danny, no matter how disappointed he was about the present state of affairs. Danny was well read and had a wisdom which he could relate in a story or an anecdote over a cup of tea - he had a way to make one feel comfortable in the darkest of moments, he was an optimist without losing his perspective on the bleak reality that was facing him. Life wasn't easy for him and the blues were real when he sang them. He was fond of reading Ralph Waldo Emerson and Mark Twain. Danny Gallagher was a light on this mixed up planet that will be missed. Very few really knew the depth of his Soul and the comfort he brought to those that took the time to listen. He was both big in size and spirit and the best is yet to come as he travels to the next stage, smiling as he goes... Bill Arneth, Poet & Musician |
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BIG DANNY RECEIVES GOLDEN STAR
Never needing an introduction or an engraved monument his angelic spirit and songs said it all! Big Danny Gallagher received the ultimate award on 1-25-07. A gold star and a place in Rock n’ Roll Heaven. Danny passed on while dreaming in Boulder, Colo. Throughout his mission on earth he touched the lives of many here in the US and in Ireland. Always singing about HIS HOME TOWN, Asbury Park, and about dreaming. This legend can not be replaced nor duplicated. I take this moment to say Thanks to the Big Guy, my friend, my buddy and the biggest PIA I ever knew. No report card needed RIP Sandi Baker - Herig |
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Big Danny…talk about a gentle giant. He was one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. Not a speck of ego, arrogance or meanness in his very substantial being. I had known Big Danny casually for quite a while, I’m not quite sure when I first met him, but it was probably at the UpStage. But, I really got to know him when we were both elected to the board of directors of the Society of Associated Performers. This was the organization founded by Margaret Potter and others for the purpose of supporting and nurturing the arts at the Jersey Shore. Most of our meetings were held at Romeo’s Landing, Margaret’s beauty parlor in Asbury. And, is was there that one of my favorite memories of Danny occurred on a regular basis. While the rest of us sat on chairs in the back of the beauty parlor, Danny always chose to sit on one of the large, padded hair styling seats. The sight of Danny’s large frame with his long hair and beard, seated in the throne of beauty with its hair dryer folded back was downright surreal…kind of like seeing John Wayne in a tutu…it just didn’t add up. It was a sight that always made me smile. But then, it was hard not to smile when you were around Danny. Gentle as he was, he could, when really pissed, become a bellowing mountain of a man. In all the years I knew Danny I only saw him like that once and it was amazing. I just thank God that I was not the target of his wrath. The recipient of his anger was, right before my eyes, reduced to a quivering, whimpering, shapeless form that barely resembled a human once Danny was done with him. All this without once threatening violence…using just his voice and incredible, physical presence. And, I must say, the subject of Dan’s rage absolutely deserved what he got…Danny did not use his formidable powers in a cavalier manner. As a performer, Danny was as honest as one could be. He knew of what he sang , for he sang of what he knew. And he knew a lot. His stories were unlike any others and his advice, while given freely, was never preachy and always stemmed from his own life experience. His insight and counsel helped me through one of my life’s darkest chapters and I can’t thank him enough for that. I could go on and on relating all manner of experiences shared with Danny and stories learned from him, but I won’t. It would require far too much space and there is so much to say, I wouldn’t know where to begin. Suffice it to say that Danny was a very special soul on this Earth, more highly evolved than most of us, and those of us who were fortunate enough to call him a friend certainly got the better end of the deal. Thanks Danny, you were one of those truly rare individuals who, simply by their presence, made this planet a better place to be. Godspeed my friend. Bill Newman |
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How I will miss him. I first met Danny 37 years ago when we lived together in a commune, the Dorsett Youth Hostel, in Ocean Grove, NJ. The last time I saw him was at the farewell party in Asbury Park at a bar on Main Street before he was leaving for Ireland. I am so sorry ..... for the world .... with Danny gone there is a huge hole Big Danny ~ goodbye ~ until our next trip through ~ Barb January 31st 2007 |
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My name is Anders Martensson, I'm a Swedish author who had the great pleasure of meeting Big Danny Gallagher for an interview at the Berkeley Carteret in Asbury Park on November 2004. We sat with him in the lounge for three hours and he was very open hearted and friendly, telling the greatest stories. Danny was kind enough to do this interview for our book "Local Heroes - Asbury Park, NJ" which was released in Sweden, with Danny on the cover, on September 3rd 2005. Now, this book is up for US release, in an extended version. Relase date is not set, but it will most likely take place in the spring of 2008. I was very sad to hear about Danny's passing, and I feel very strongly about publishing his interview the way it was originally written. This way myself and photographer Jorgen Johansson can contribute to keeping his memory and great spirits alive. The book will also be especially dedicated to Danny. I will keep you updated as work proceeds. Sincerely, Anders Martensson January 31st 2007 |
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We were sadden to hear of Danny's passing. My name is Ralph Irons and my wife is Cathy (McLaughlin) During our years in Asbury High, Danny, Jimmy McCudden, Lizzie Geiselman, Pat McKevitt and us were a group of inseparables..
After high school, Danny entered real life, the rest of us went off to college. Although Cathy and I lost touch with everyone else, Danny kept popping up in our lives over the past 40 years.. I could write volumes about Danny, Mike and Pat....To this day, I recite stories about my times in Asbury with them all.....Some might call their story an American Tragedy, they all faced real tough going, and sadly Mike checked out too soon. In later life, when I would sit with Danny we would talk about being survivors. Survivors of death, drugs, and booze..but survive we did....Danny indeed was the gentle giant. He was an inspiration of spiritual survival. He never lost his love of music and life, or his sense of humor. ...And that laugh.....We would get on a roll, telling stories, and laughing till "the brew ran out our noses!" That booming laugh of his will be sorely missed,....It could stop a horse in its tracks! Way back then, I knew Danny would embrace music...We would sit at his house, his old man Ed, would be slamming back the booze, (which we participated in) Danny had this old tenor guitar, I initially grab a kazoo and graduated on the mouth harp..and Danny with the sweetest voice, we would belt out funny songs....like "I'm in love with a big blue frog"..and "My old man is a fireman, and what do you think about that!"......Another great thing about Danny was his size...as I knew him...it really didn't exist..At numerous dances, he was the first one out there on the floor, floating so rythmatically to the music...his size disappeared..... I have so many stories about his 'street nature" ..I grew up in Avon, a milktoast town of kids that didn't fight....Danny grew up on the streets of Asbury...I learned a lot about standing up for family by knowing Danny....All of the Gallaghers, never stepped down from a street challange. I could run on for hours....As I write this my tears are for sadness of losing Danny, but they are also tears of rememberance of the fun, joy, inspiration, of growing up with Danny...from our young years, two old men....I will miss him. Please pass our condolences on to Ann.....and the rest of his family Sadly, Ralph and Cathy Irons |
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My name is Bobby Chirmside. I was Bruce's Road Manager from 76 to 1980. My encounters with Danny were always ones to be remembered. He was a mountain of a man with a heart of gold. I loved being regaled by his fabulous stories, especially after we had downed a few pints. God bless him. I will be honored to attend his Final Farewell Tour.That in itself should be a great story !! Big Danny will never be forgotten by myself, my wife and the many musicians at the Jersey Shore that had the pleasure of his aquaintance. Bob,Carol and Rory Chirmside |
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I knew Danny from the Upstage Club and the Dr Zoom Band - but I really got to know him when he and I were hired to be the first roadies for Bruce. I was given a room at his and Cindy's apartment and I was treated like a brother. He and I bonded during those 6 months of being together constantly on the road or at home. He even fixed me up with a few ladies. We used to sing some of those funny songs that Ralph Irons mentioned in a previous email. We both shared a love of country music which we kept quiet among our rock-n-roll friends. He used to like to try and do a country version of a motown song and stuff like that. He had a great musical imagination and talent for things like that. He and I both grew up in catholic families so we had a common background. I grew up in Newark, so Asbury didn't seem so rough to me. I thought it was a laid back town ! We used to always hang out at the Empire Bar with Bruce and Vini when we weren't on the road. I spent the summer of 1977 living in his bus out in front of his "house" in Nederland, Colorado. He and Cindy and the kids (with Finn on the way) lived in an abandoned saloon right in the middle of the town. We worked up tunes with his dobro and my mandolin and had a blast doing it. Nowadays, Nederland has been yuppiefied and his old place is now a restaurant. I ate there in 1997 and it was almost too hard to imagine the way it was when Danny lived there. A lot of people don't know that when Bruce was down on his luck and needed a place to stay, Danny took him in. A lot of great songs were written in that apartment. Bruce lived there during the recording sessions for the GREETINGS album. Good memories. ALBEE TELLONE |
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Hi Rod--- I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your website and the well-deserved tribute to Big Danny. I owned "The Asbury Park Rock & Roll Museum" and we honored all the "unsung heroes" from the Shore music scene. Danny was very involved with the Museum, once he even played "unplugged" inside the Museum for a TV crew. Whenever we needed a "local legend" to come for an interview for a newspaper or TV station when they were reporting on the Museum, we could always count on Big Danny and Vini Lopez. Funny guy, lots of great stories, always in a good mood. He always had funny sayings, like "it's a Billy Smith |
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Vini Lopez introduced me to Big Danny sometime in 1968 or 69... We became friends on the spot... I owned a Head Shop called "Creeque Alley" which was located on the porch of the "Inkwell" in West End, Long Branch. The joint was usually open all night long. Sometimes it wouldn't even open until the bars closed down... but most of the local musicians who stopped by for a stick of incense or a pack of Zig-Zag ended up hanging around and jamming in the black light poster room in the back. Big Danny spent many a night partying and playing in that room. He was always known for his big laugh... ever ready with a yarn... some outrageous story... and a song. Over the years we shared the bill on so many gigs... too many to remember them all, but too precious to ever forget. I remember when Danny and his family ran a late night Bar-B-Q stand across from Mrs. Jays. Big pots of homemade bar-b-q that you could smell all the way down the boardwalk. I think that Big Danny was his own best customer... I might have been the second. I don't remember how it started, but it became a private joke between us. Whenever we would run into each other over the following years I would say "Hey Danny, Where's my Bar-B-Q sandwich?" He would laugh his big laugh and say, "Wadda ya want... Beef or Pork?" We would hug, have a laugh, and head for the bar. I raise my glass to Big Danny Gallagher... and I urge all of his friends to do the same. There are damned few of us left. |
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I think I spent more time at my dining room table with Danny than any other person on earth. He’d call and ask if he could come for tea, which usually turned into lunch and often dinner and talk about his kids, his band, his music, religion, the world, his friends, books…..and as much as he enjoyed serious conversation, he also loved to gossip…he’d giggle like a kid. I miss those times and I miss Danny’s sincere and loyal friendship. Before Danny left for Dublin the second (or third) time, he asked his friends to pen some parting words in his journal. It was a new journal and he was anxious to fill it with hometown memories and meaningful sentiments. Well, he hounded me for a week and I kept telling him that I wanted to be the last person to write in his book. The truth is that I am not a writer and I don’t do well with “Good-byes” and I didn’t want to do either. So I kept going back to a Jackson Browne song that reminded me so much of Danny and on the last day at the very last moment before he had to leave I entered the following…. “The great song traveler passed through here Eileen Chapman |
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The saddness of Danny's passing is far outweighed by the joy of having known him. He was the most insperational influence on my music and one of the greatest times ever was danny helping me with my songs -------"try it this way" said Danny and a song was complete that evening he would sit in at an open mic with me and what i had been trying to do for months suddenly happened. love you Danny Jay 420 and the Slydells February 1st 2007 |
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now they sing out his praises on every distant shore
but so few remember what he was fightin' for oh why sing the songs and forget about the aim? he wrote them for a reason why not sing them for the same now he's bound for glory all his own hear the sledges with the bells silver bells Gregory Schwartz |
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My name is Rod Gallagher. I put this website together as a tribute to my Uncle Danny. I can't tell you how much it means to me and the entire Gallagher family to see so many people writing their stories about BIG DANNY and saying goodbye in their own way. That is why I made this website, so that whenever you're really missin' Danny you can just come here and it will be like he's right there next to you. I'm trying to gather everything I can so that there's something from everyone that was close to Danny. I only wish I would've done something like this when he was alive so he could see it, but I truly believe he's up there smiling down on us, knowing how many people loved him and he's feelin' alright. He's finally been reunited with his brother Michael (my Father), his parents, grandparents, and my cousin Michael "Pip". I would like to give a BIG thanks to Kirk Budelman for sending in 3 studio tracks from Big Danny & the Asbury Park Fear Fighters and my favorite Uncle Danny song of all-time "Irish Lullaby". I can't thank you enough Kirk. A musical memorial service is being planned to honor the memory of my Uncle on Feb. 11 at Asbury Park's Red Fusion, formerly Harry's Roadhouse on Cookman Avenue. I will post more information on the News page as soon as I receive it. My brother Michael and I will be flying from Hawaii to attend this event. We hope everyone can make it. My cousin Eddie told me that Vini "MadDog" Lopez will be singing Irish Lullaby and many other artists that were friends of Danny will be performing as well. I couldn't think of a better way to honor my Uncle. Nothing could stop me from being there, not even 6,000 miles and anyone that knows me knows I'm petrified of flying. I miss my Uncle more than words can say. I'm very thankful to have known him and I have nothing but fond memories of him. I really wish I got to spend more time with him later in life, but people go their own way and you always think there will be more time. I feel the same way as a lot of Danny's friends that have written to me...the world will never be the same without Danny in it. I love him and I miss him a lot. Goodbye Uncle Danny...I'll see you on the other side. Rod Gallagher |
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Hi Everyone- And don't forget to visit my pix1, pix2 and Clearwater pages for my own great memories of Danny. Al-Vis |
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I believe Big Danny would encourage all of us who loved him so deeply to celebrate life. To recognize that if death teaches us anything, it should teach us to live more fully in the awareness of the precious nature of each day. To love more and judge less, to treat others and ourselves kinder, lighter. To try to not get caught up so much in the dramas of our lives and take more time to breath in deeply, slowly and mindfully. Ultimately, it seems we are all traveling alone within this lifetime and deep within the silence of our heart is the presence of God's still small voice which whispers to each of us that we are never truly alone. I will so very much miss Big Danny. His loving presence, most of all. His witty comments and humor. I'll miss looking over at him on stage as we melt into the strong grove, world class music, playing to cold empty rooms in the late nights of the Jersey shore, going down that lone highway. Sincerely, David Meyers |
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Here's a setlist that Big Danny would have loved I Hate Every Bone in Her Body But Mine. It's Hard to Kiss the Lips At Night That Chewed My Ass All Day. If the Phone Don't Ring, You'll Know It's Me. I Liked You Better Before I Got to Know You So Well. I Still Miss You Baby, But My Aim's Gettin' Better. I Wouldn't take her to a Dog Fight 'Cause I'm Afraid She'd Win. I'll Marry You Tomorrow, But Let's Honeymoon Tonight. I'm So Miserable without you, It's like You're Still Here. If I Had Shot You When I First wanted To, I'd Be Out Of Prison By now. My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend and I Sure Do Miss Him. She Got the Ring and I Got the Finger. I Ain't Never Gone to Bed with Ugly Women, But I've Sure Woke Up With a Albee Tellone |
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Hi Rod--
I would like to share a personal memory of Dan. In 1984, a friend and I were following Bruce's "Born in the U.S.A." tour around the country. We had plans to meet up with another traveling companion in Asbury Park on a Sunday in late October in preparation for a long cross country drive to Vancouver B.C. As it happened, this guy Scott with whom we were rendezvousing was a friend of Dan's. We met up with Scott and hung out for a bit with him and another friend of his--Steve Schraeger--at J.P Maloney's on Main Street and then headed over to the Stone Pony, where we saw Bruce jam with Cats on a Smooth Surface. As it turned out, Scott was also friends with Dan, and had arranged for the three of us to spend Sunday night at his house in Asbury, and so around 2 a.m. that night we arrived at Dan's house. Dan didn't know me and my friend from a hole in the wall, but because we were friends of his friend Scott he graciously made space for us at his place. We sat up and talked for a bit that night, and he told us a little about himself. I particularly remember that he told us the story about how Bruce had written "Rosalita" one night and had played it for him the following morning. As I recall, I slept on his couch, and I remember being awestruck that I was in the same house where Bruce had stayed all those years ago. After seeing some more shows on the tour, I returned home to Washington DC, but returned to the Shore often, and I saw Danny play with his band several times, most often at Mrs. Jay's. Me and my friends spent many a (hung over) afternoon at Jay's drinking beer and listening to Danny, Steve and the guys play the blues. I was sad when he left the area because I knew I wouldn't be bumping into him at a show or just out walking. I live in Ocean Grove now, and there are still times when I halfway expect to turn the corner and see him. Dan was a sweet, generous man. I barely knew him and he barely knew me, but he opened his home to me and my friend once when we needed a place to stay, and I will never forget him. Lisa Iannucci |
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"Big Danny" was a good friend with a big heart and we'll miss him. Here's two classic shots I snapped back in the days of "Big Danny and the Boppers" and "Renegade Blues Band".... with sympathy from Robert Jahn, Mantoloking, NJ |
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The big guys hit us with a one two punch last week that I'm not sure how to recover from... I got a call telling me that Scott Bigelow, a friend since we were 10 or 11, had died. A couple days later-in the midst of commiserating with some of Scott's other musician friends and getting ready to play in tribute at his funeral-I was told of Danny's passing. There are some people who seem bigger than life, even when they are sitting alone in a room with you. There are others on whom you count to make everything seem right with the world, pillars of your memory. Danny & Scott, for me, were in both those categories and I'm less sure of the world now that they're gone. Danny was funny and insightful, caring and thoughtful and often looking for a good place to nap. I never played in a band with him, but he sat in with every band I was ever in, starting at Mrs Jays in the '70s. A voice that sounded of experience-sweet and painful but full of joy. He usually didn't mention a name for the song--just "shuffle in d" or something--and then he began telling a tuneful story, like having a conversation. He made it look easy, but he always seemed to have a reason for singing that particular story. He sometimes let us in on it, but most times he'd just walk away with a smile on face. A smile I'll remember for the rest of my life, and I’m sure the same is also true for you.
John Cavallo |
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After listing to Danny's stories and music for years at Mrs Jays. I was delighted to see and here him again in the Stone Pony at a benefit to save the caracel.. It really brought back memories. Well in 2000 I was in Dublin walking around not having a clue where I was .I walked into a bar off Grafton Street and sat down to have a pint. Music started down stairs and I said to the bartender" that's sounds like a guy I know from the states, big Danny. He told me he's big alright. The name of the bar was BruXelles and I missed the last bus back to my friends farm that night..... I didn't know him but I shook his hand that night and said Greetings from Asbury Park. We talked for awhile. He was great! Jerry Fields |
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From Upstage Forums 01/28/07 The first time that I came in contact with Danny was when I went to Holy Spirit Catholic School in AP. My bus stop was on the corner of Grand and 3rd aves. as I was walking to my stop I noticed a croud of people gathered around in front of Kathy Gilvaries house. What had happened was that three dudes from Newark wanted to beat up Big Danny. He had Quite a rep. Well, needless to say, Danny twirled them around like they were battons, then he left them all in a pile. You didn't mess with him in those days. They didn't call him Big Danny for nothin'. His last vocal recording is on my CD "The Dead Sea Chronicles" He was gracious enough to sing backgrounds on those recordings. Danny will always be in my band. (www.steelmillretro.com) I was one of the first to find out about his passing. I got the call from Little Vinnie the afternoon he died. Vini |
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Margaret Potter of the Upstage got me the gig playing solo acoustic
sets in the second-floor coffeehouse, and I vaguely remember this bruiser that her husband Tom had hired to work the door. That was 1970, but It wasn't until 1982, when my lady love Barbara and I moved back to the Shore from Tucson, that we really got to know Big Danny. Being political animals at heart, we had hooked up with some Citizens Barbara and I also became active with the local Coalition for the Danny traveled a lot during the ensuing years, and we kept in touch as Then one day a few years ago, our friends Jeff and Pat asked if I'd We'll hold dear the memories of the time we spent with him, and we'll Robert Lee Hefter and Barbara L. Hoelle -whose kids and grandkids remember Danny and Mario and Bird from M&Ms |
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Dear Rod, Thank you for such a wonderful tribute to Big Danny. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and his family and he will be so sadly missed by all who knew him. In September of last year I had the chance to travel to Dublin and the first pub I went to I inquired to a gent by the name of Ronan if he had ever heard of Big Danny from the states. "Aye, a big man, 72 stones and carries a stick. He's been living with a friend of mine!" Ronan then called his friend and put me on the phone with him. I can't remember the friend's name, but he told me Danny had just moved back to the States three weeks ago. I was crushed. There was nothing more I dreamed of than to have Danny show me around the country he so loved and I had just missed him. Back in the states I had no way of finding him, just hoped I would run into him in Asbury Park. The news of his passing hit me like a truck and there will always be a void in my heart knowing I never got to say goodbye to my King. Queenie from Pennsylvania |
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Hi Rod,
My story is a little different than most of those posted. I grew up around the corner from the Gallaghers and have known Danny since he was 12 and I was ten. We went through the early times together. I remember him as the "bad boy" of grammer and high school but for whatever reason, we were always very close and he was truly one of the most sincere and and dedicated friends one could ask for. From singing Do Wop in the boy's room at Asbury High to playing tackle football on Sundays, Danny was always a pleasure to be around. I even remember babysitting for his first child with my ex-wife.I used to drive him to the Upstage in my Austin Healy Sprite, the smallest car known to man. Had to put the top down ( even in the dead of winter ) to get him in. We went through the music scene and some other unsavory scenes together over the years but there was always a bond between the true " Asbury Parkers" and the ones who came later. He will truly be missed. Bud De Santis |
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It was a memorable trip. My sisters Patty and Janie, and my sister-in-law
Tiger took me to Ireland in 1996 to celebrate my 60th birthday. I had told them of my larger than life friend Danny and we made arrangements to meet him at a bar in Dublin. When he wasn't there we took a chance and walked the Temple Bar area. Suddenly Tiger called out, "there he is". She had never seen his picture, but from my description she knew that red haired giant walking towards us could be none other than Big Danny. What a delightful time we had with him and his friends, downing a few Eight years later, Danny, Lee and I traveled together for 17 days. In Dublin, the new "No Smoking" law had just gone into effect, which It was a wonderful and memorable trip, and this is for you, Danny Barbara Hoelle |
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Although I only met him once in Dec. 2003 right across the street from the Upstage Club in Asbury Park, it was enough to last a lifetime. I didn't know it then, but I was chatting it up with one of the biggest characters in this saga! Later on as I learned more of the story of Upstage and Asbury music, my appreciation grew for that solitary meeting! How I wished it were recorded for posterity, for no amount of words can capture his true ambiance and presence! I really appreciate this website and others like it that point to what was done by Big Danny and friends, it is very comforting to have memories recorded. I am a religious person and I know that Danny will be missed and is in God's memory. I cling to several scriptures I'd like to share that might bring others comfort right now, they are pretty self explanatory but it has to do with the resurrection hope laid out for us and for Danny. ACTS 24:15; I look forward to the time I will see him again along with my grandparents here on earth as brought out at ISAIAH 45:18 I believe in the scripture at 2 PETER 3:13 and I hope that it helps everyone in this time of loss. I hope that in the future we can all get together on a happier note to remember the glory days just for the fun of it, and make some more memories! Until then… Love, |
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" Legends of Uncle Danny" It's August 1972 and my father Michael Gallagher had just suddenly passed away. I was seven, my brother Scott was 5 and my brother Rod was 2. We were staying in Granddad Cook's house in Interlaken, N.J. just outside of Asbury Park. Uncle Danny came up and towered over me and said to me (like uncle Argyle in Brave heart) Don't be scared, I will always be there to keep an eye on you and your brothers cause that's what my brother would have wanted". 35 years later I can honestly say he is, always has been and will always be, the leader of our family. Where ever he roamed, and roamed he did, he always touched base with me,asked about my Mom and my brothers and kept in touch. Never did he disappear from us. He always checked in made it a point to call whenever he traveled. In times of crisis he came a running as fast as he could no matter where in the world he was. My brother Scott almost died in Philly 5 years ago and Danny was there in 24 hours His knees and back were shot but he kept on walkin. Laughing at the pain as we slowly made our way to the closest Irish pub to the hospital. Many times we sat together at bars in Jersey and pubs in Ireland and I listened mesmerized like everyone else but also proud that it was my Uncle who was the Giant pied piper who led us all down a path of merriment away from our own demons. How many people literally pissed their pants laughing when Danny got on a roll? Danny always said "Laughing makes the pain go away, and if not, at least no one will know your crying" He told me many times, "My mother taught me the most important thing in life is to live by the golden rule and now I'm tellin you, there is no other way to live" and he always did live by the golden rule and I have tried my best to do the same ever since that day. I spoke with my uncle a few weeks before he left us and he was still dreaming of coming to Maui to see his nephews and swim in the Pacific ocean. He said my Grandma always wanted to go and so did he but they never made it. He loved the fact that I surf and swim with my twin daughters and couldn't wait to see us. He always said don't stop the dreamin" and I listened, I always listened, real good, still dreamin to this day Michael Michael Gallagher Jr. |
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Tears, sometimes mine Danny Like, taking your Uncle Bordie and 'little beauty' to Port Authority to look at all the ladies A half day on Vini's fishing boat too sick to fish from our night of fun Eating seafood platters nephew Michael would serve us out the back door of his restaurant in Sea Girt Talking from dark to light at the foot of the archangel on Ocean Ave Prowling New York City with Steve in your Cadillac all night long, invisible to the world Late night talks at the outdoor tables at Jays with all the people laughing and singing Your soulful voice singing 'Blues stay away from me..." You, me and he in a dark thunderstorm by the beach while being crowned a 'strange individual' My last look in the cornfields of Iowa of your face in the window as you pulled away on the Amtrak And, our deep deep laughter when we realized that we are the "Grizzlies from Hell" I'll watch over Eddie, Kim, Amanda and Finn - Danny, I know you would like that Pal, you've made me cry, that's not like you--when last we spoke you took one of my lifelong phrases and said it to me,I can't believe that the last words I ever heard you say was "Life Ain't Over Yet" Scott Scott Parry |
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Rod, May I extend my deepest condolences and sympathies to Danny’s family, and close friends. Danny was well known in Galway, and was always a big attraction when he played in the local bars and clubs. I got to know Danny as we collaborated together on “Big Danny ain’t losing the Blues”. He had an infectious way of drawing you in, when reminiscing on his musical escapades. Yet he always demonstrated love and loyalty when it came to discussing family and friends of times gone by. I have enclosed two photos taken from Danny’s last gig in Galway. Kind regards, Joe Gogarty |
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"Hello, I'm Danny's Uncle Bill. I guess this makes me the oldest one to add my two cents' worth. It was 1948, and I was home on leave from the Navy. My mother (Danny's My mother was stricken with cancer in 1951 at the age of 49, and I Danny's father Edward B. Gallagher passed away in 1963. He was like a Of course he made lot of friends through his music, and he introduced The last time I saw him was just before he left for his daughter Take care of each other now. Life is precious. Let that be his last Uncle Bill |
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Danny- My brother, what can I say? When you visited me at rehab on your return from I was feeling pretty sorry for myself that day, being laid up in bed, with Hopefully, someone will put that wonderful photo of you on your web site. It Remember that Christmas season in the '80s when a group of us went to sing You were exceedingly generous to all of us at Clearwater, always giving of Don't know if this is the time or place for this story, but why not, you Thank you for lifting my friend Jacques above the crowd at Mrs. Jays, That was part of the secret of your success. Everyone wanted to be your Thank you very much Dear Danny for allowing me to be your friend. Love, Helyn |
My deepest sympathy to the Gallagher family and Friends. What a loss! Although I was not close friends with Danny we did know each other through his good friends Alison and Ronnie. I saw him play many times with Ronnie playing drums. Always a fan, Trish Cosentino |
Rod, Just wanted to offer my deepest condolences to you and the rest of the Over the years, when people ask me about the Asbury Park music scene, I always hoped that somebody would do a cable television mini-series or The last time we got to play together was for a benefit at the Stone Attending the memorial yesterday provided many heartwarming moments. Peace, |
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My heartfelt condolences to all. I met Danny in the late 60's when I was about 16 or so. He used to "smuggle" me and a guitar playing buddy into the Upstage. Yeah, we snuck out of our homes and to be honest, I don't know how I got there or got back, but I sure do remember the really late nights there. The music was pioneering and hot. Once, Bruce Springsteen was calling out for a keyboard player and Danny practically picked me up and threw me on the stage but I was green and regretfully didn't go up. Hey, I just learned that Monkees organ riff from "I'm A Believer" which was huge for me at the time, so I was not good enough to be up there yet. Over the years, we remained friends and did alot of gigs together most memorably that lost weekend at some bar in PA with Vinnie Lopez, Vinne Roslyn, and a few other cats. He asked if I would play piano on the title track, "Don't Stop The Dreaming" which I did. I never heard the whole CD so I don't know if he re-recorded the song, but Richard Mitchell |
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Hello Rod Gallagher from Michele & Smitty in Murphy, NC -- I knew Big Danny at Holy Sprit School, and then my husband knew him from the Biker Scene. We loved to hear his music and have a drink with him in many places in Asbury Park. We actually had him come to our children's graduation party (one from high school and one was from grammar school), and he played for the party in our yard in Neptune City. The whole neighborhood came when they heard the music - even the Methodist minister who lived on the corner. It was a great time. We will miss him. |
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Driving down from East Brunswick to Asbury Park for Big Danny's musical memorial service yesterday, I had 'Sign of Faith' in the CD player in the car. The sounds and production values on this record continue to astound me. Good songs, good singing, great guitar playing, great harmonica playing. It's an extremely good recording, among the best recordings by a group of local Asbury - area musicians that I've heard since it came out in 1993. I first met Big Danny at the Clearwater Festival at Sandy Hook, it must have been 1983, when he was part of the Renegade Blues Band. I have a vivid memory of sitting on the side of the chapel at Sandy Hook, in the sun, but with the cool bay breeze blowing in, with Danny, Steve Schraeger, Bill Lilley and Billy Hector. Danny told funny stories as we all sat around drinking Budweiser in cans. Some time later, probably the following June, as a young college kid very taken with this band, I went to see them at Mrs. Jay's Beer Garden in Asbury, driving down in the pouring rain one Thursday or Friday night from New Brunswick. Someone was out back of Mrs. Jay's, blowing off M-80's on the patio! I remember wondering, 'what the hell kind of joint have I come to? ' Somewhere here in the archives of radio shows I've been doing since 1981 is a show with Big Danny Gallagher. I'll look around for the tape in coming weeks so we can post it to the website. [ I only tape shows when I have guests on.] Big Danny was a good guest on the radio and he became a good friend through the years, through his performances and help at many Clearwater Festivals. More recently, I really liked what he was doing musically with his folk-blues trio at the Berkeley-Carteret Hotel, and I enjoyed several Friday evenings of music there before that gig fell apart. |
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Hi Everyone- This past Sunday I was honored to perform at the Danny Gallagher Tribute at John Cavallo, Pat Killeen, Bobby D'onofrio, Vini Lopez and yours truly did a Other performers at the event included the remaining Danny's Lost Leader I have been able to find a clip of Danny's performance at the JP Gotrock http://home.comcast.net/~alvis1515/DannyDanbury87.mp3 Here's the disclaimer: I make -0- $ from my web site. I am posting this The recording is relatively legible, considering the age of the source tape. Sadly, this was to be the last regular JP Gotrock performance. We broke up Please feel free to comment on the recording or anything related to Danny if http://www.BigDannyGallagher.com which is loaded with great stories and tributes from all over.
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It was July 1970 during the riots in Asbury Park. I was with Danny and Norman Adams and we were heading to the Highlands to pick something up. It was around midnight and Danny was driving a 442 Olds convertible with the top down. I remember it being a beautiful night - we had the radio on and despite the sadness of the riots we felt pretty good. I had heard on the news that there was trouble on the Long Branch board walk and that it was a good idea to avoid that part of town so instead of heading down Ocean Avenue we took Second Ave. to Broadway and then headed north on Liberty street.
There was a small crowd by the Second Baptist Church and as we passed by something smashed into the side of the car just below the top of the door, just missing Norman’s head. Someone had thrown a brick or a large rock. I remember telling Danny to “Step on it!” which is exactly what he did only he stepped on the breaks and not the gas. Danny yelled “Who threw that?” – you could have cut the stillness with a knife – nobody stepped forward! What was only a couple of seconds seemed like an eternity. This was before Danny’s “Golden Rule” days.
Richard Bamberger |
Big Danny's in Colorado Because you're here, those who couldn't are amongst us. Leave yesterdays newspaper emotionally broken. The gypsy heart goes against casting judgement. Waiting, it's never to late. Gregory Schwartz |
RIP Big Danny Boy
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling And if you come, when all the flowers are dying And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me. |
My name is Ronnie Brandt, Jersey Shore Singer Songwriter, I remember VERY clearly the first time I met Big Danny it was summer of 1980. I was 19 years old and was playing solo acoustic on the stage at Mrs. Jays Beer Garden in Asbury Park, I had no idea WHO Big Danny was at the time, Harry Gick and Mike Bourbon used to manage the place. I was kind of new to the scene at the time and kinda new to playing in clubs actually. I was strummin' guitar and blowin' harmonica and doing a very fast & bluesy number of Hank Williams " Move it on Over" . I saw Danny watching me and watched as he started walking towards the small stage there at Mrs. Jays.He was headin' right for me, then he started yellin in that big voice, yea! yea! just keep on playin! Don't stop!" I was a little shaken, and then he stepped on the stage ( from the left side, as your standing your facing out to the bar, for those of you who recall Mrs. Jays) he just kept sayin, dont stop playin'! so in fear of my life and the unknown, I did what he said. I kept playing . He walked right up to just inches away just looking down at me. This towering man with a beer in his hand, for a minute there I thought I was in real trouble, Danny stood there , then started to tap his foot and grabbed the mic and started singin. It was just great. In the years that follwed I had the great pleasure of knowing Danny through clubs, living room jams and many great memories of the Clearwater festival, every Aug. ot there at Sandy Hook. The last time I saw Danny he was playing "Pancho and Lefty" by Townes Van Zandt at The Wonder Bar and he was leaving the next day for Ireland. We laughed about the first time we had met and even now I can hear his voice as clear as day shoutin at me, "Don't Stop, keep playin !" Well .... I intend to keep doing what Big Danny told me to do. "Song" they say, is the highest form of prayer, Danny, you and your family will always be in mine. |
Dear Rod,
Late last week my buddy Ronnie Brandt, up in Jersey, emailed me the sad news of Big Danny's passing. Since I moved to NYC in '98 and then here to Houston in 2001, I haven't been in as close a touch with the Jersey Shore music scene as I use to to be, but I usually make it "Home" once or twice a year, and always make it a point to get down to The Pony, Wonder Bar, Walt Street Pub, et al and check out if any of my old friends might be playin' that weekend. Big Danny was a great one of those old friends. Though we didn't really hang out a whole lot,"back in the day", every time I'd run into him he always made me feel like we were the very best of old friends. And that's how I always thought of him as well! He just had that way about him. He loved and respected life and everything and everyone in it, and music was one way of sharing that feeling with the world. As a performer, he was a wonder to watch, belting out rock & roll and blues with reckles |