Part 3 of 3 Dino Danelli / featured drummer - The Rascals….with Zutty Singleton, Cozy Cole, Mongo Santamaria, Gene Krupa
My journey back in time to revisit drummers I’ve seen and heard in my lifetime…..posted 11-16-22
I recently discovered an interview where Dino Danelli speaks of his early days hanging out at The Metropole Café in New York. The Metropole was a venue open from the mid-1950s through 1965. Resident drummers included Zutty Singleton,
Mongo Santamaria,
Cozy Cole
and Gene Krupa.
In 1967...I would become a professional musician and begin my journey on the road. I’ve written about that in my book Notes of a Young Drummer 1966-1969. Revisiting these Rascals tunes I have memories of covering several of their tunes. Not Just...“Good Lovin”
Winter of 1967...I joined a professional nightclub group (The Blenders) went “On The Road” playing clubs in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Early 1968...the band “worked up” “A Beautiful Morning” which became another big hit. The drum part is a shuffle...with optional Tom Tom “conga” eighth notes.
All the world over, so easy to see People everywhere, just wanna be free Listen, please listen that’s the way it should be Peace in the valley, people got to be free.
April 4, 1968...I was playing at a club in Jacksonville, North Carolina when Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis. The band went to Atlanta then back home to Orlando.
During that hiatus, I was hired into a very good group. (The HeadLyters) Jimmy Head, the leader–singer–keyboard player was from Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was a “Blue Eye’d Soul Brother” ...who sang like Smokey Robinson and Felix Cavaliere.
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The HeadLyters drove to––played–––and rehearsed for 2- weeks at a club in Albany, New York. We then departed for a house gig in Biloxi, Mississippi.
We learned to play “People Got To Be Free” by The Rascals...that summer of 1968. It became another hit for The Rascals. The groove and drum pattern has some nice syncopated “and of” accents. I can still visualize my band-mate Jimmy Head singing this tune. Jimmy Head could really belt it out...[As does]...Felix Cavaliere [Fantastic] I think it’s one of his best vocals of all time. This tune is everything...1968.
“I remember it well”
Dino Danelli...really nails “People Got To Be Free”...It’s super soulful and funky.
Notes from an Old Drummer
Michael Welch – Michael Welch Publications
(Notes # 2)