About Me
Danny "Rio" DeGennaro, currently TAMPA/ST. PETE, FLORIDA (a Levittown, PA native) is the WHOLE DEAL in music --WRITER, LYRICIST, LEAD VOCALIST, LEAD GUITAR/BACK UP GUITAR, PRODUCER, SPECIALIZED TEACHER AND MORE! He leads, he teams up -but one thing always when a live music endeavor - he PERFORMS! His genres are many including Blues, R & B, Classic Rock, Ballads, Country, Bluegrass and more! Born into a musical family, he picked up the guitar at age 7 and by his early teens he was playing in bands around the Trenton, NJ area.His career has been impressive --and he's still movin' --onward and upward
His major influences have been James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Dave Torbert, Dave Mason, Hank Williams and many others.
In the late 70s he played in a band with the late DAVE TORBERT (bassist) of NRPS and Kingfish. Dave asked Danny to join BOB WEIR (Grateful Dead) and Matthew Kelly's KINGFISH, just before their 79 summer tour, and he toured with them in the 70s, 80s and 90s. In 1999, he recorded lead vocals on 4 tracks on Kingfish's final album entitled "Sundown on the Forest", including the title track & a soulful rendition of their mid-70's classic "Jump For Joy". He has played and toured with the James Montgomery Band up in New England and also worked with Billy Squire's Band. He has shared the stage with many greats including DAVID NELSON (NRPS and DNB), Paul BUTTERFIELD, Joe PERRY, Richie SAMBORA, Bo DIDDLEY, Albert COLLINS, James COTTON, Merl SAUNDERS, Steve KIMMOCK, and many others. He has recorded for RCA, Sigma Sound, Studio 420, Skywalker Ranch, with CLARENCE CLEMMONS, and many others thus far during his long career --with MORE recordings ahead!
In recent years, Danny's played in the Lower Bucks/Mercer County area both solo (originals and covers) and with the blues band: MIKEY JR. and the STONE COLD BLUES. They played live often with keyboardist Glen McClelland of Ween and bassist Gary "Bubba" Balduzzi, formerly of Jimmy Thackery's band. In 2002, Danny PRODUCED Mikey's debut album at Studio 420 in Tarpon Springs, Fl (released in the spring of 2003). On Mikey's second album, NYC sessions (released in Dec. 2004), Danny played guitar and sang an original song he and Mikey WROTE called "Wrong Number Blues".Danny's released a few albums of his own over the years including Way Too Fast, The Deal - Bye Bye Baby, and From the Heart...each of them displaying his beautiful lyrics, strong delivery and amazing guitar licks !SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER 2007 found Danny in the Southeast including Louisiana - New Orleans and surrounding areas gigs with BIG LUTHER KENT...ALSO during the Summer conversations with LEO "THE MAN" NOCENTELLI --and gigs with BIG LUTHER KENT.LATER SUMMER 2007 finds Danny in the Tampa/St. Pete, FL area preparing for an upcoming recording session -lots of material he has written and been anxious to record. While preparing for this he has been a featured performer or member of various bands in around the West, Central and East coast of Florida!
FALL 2007 Danny has returned for an unspecified amount of time to Pennsylvania area. You may contact him through this site.What inspires and motivates Danny? Well --including the untold fans who he loves --more specifically his lovely daughter Gia, other family members and friends. (He gives Bubbles and Sally special mention for their dedication and suppor!)What are Danny's interests and passions? MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC! PERFORMING ! TEACHIN (the kind of teachin' from his music heart and soul, delivery, performance and 'beyond' ..PRODUCING ....RECORDING and WRITING - music, lyrics, He keeps on writing --and truly this artist writes from the heart with soul and delivers with power --you KNOW through each and at the end "of the delivery" the message.Danny has and continues to 'walk the walk" about heart and soul. His musical journey is greatly inspired by the loving memory of his beloved wife Christina, his Dad and his brother Jack. They will eternally serve as inspiration of Danny's messages and joy of music. Music Danny enthusiastically plans to share with his current fans --and NEW fans!* Wanna REALLY keep him INSPIRED?
--CONTACT DANNY here at myspace for APPRECIATIVE COMMENTS of his music!
--BLOG 'YOUR" space tell others to 'visit' Danny
--COPY OR REPOST any BULLETINS* Wanna 'BOOK 'EM?" for PERFORMING, TEACHING, PRODUCING !
Danny says "RIGHT HERE, MY SPACE, CONTACT ME NOW* Whatcha WANT ? Solo Danny OR with with Band?* Wanna HEAR HIM LIVE --tune in right here, myspace mostly
Florida area - Gulf, Central, East Coast.ONWARD AND UPWARD ! "... Danny "Rio" with his powerful and soulful voice will serenade a ballad to perfection or blow the doors off a hardcore rock & roll song..."
