20 years ago today (12/10/99), Rick Danko of The Band died in his sleep at his home near Woodstock, New York at age 55. The Canadian guitarist and singer joined The Hawks in 1963 who went on to work as Bob Dylan’s backing band, (with Robbie Robertson, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson) and then became The Band. Of a group of four singers, Danko offered some of the most compelling and heartfelt vocals that conjured up the original rock and roll stew that was The Band. Check out Danko leading The Band through “Stage Freight” from The Last Waltz.
