Rascals drummer Dino Danelli

The Rascals drummer Dino Danelli is dead at 78. He was a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Beyond the Rascals, Danelli joined with Cornish to form the band Bulldog in the ’70s, producing two albums before disbanding. The successful event saw the Rascals take it on the road and begin touring together again in 2013. By 1965, they were back in New York City and formed the Young Rascals, adding Gene Cornish on guitar to join with Cavaliere on keys and Brigati on percussion and vocals. The Rascals reunited again in Dec. They split acrimoniously in the ’70s, then reunited in several incarnations. He met future bandmates Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere in 1963, the latter briefly joining Danelli in a Las Vegas casino house band.

Dino Danelli, founding drummer for the Sixties band the Rascals — who had hits with "Good Lovin'" and "Groovin'" — has died at the age of 78.

“He was the epitome of ‘cool’ and never ceased to impress me with his seemingly endless reservoir of ideas and approaches,” Russo said. “He didn’t want it to end and he was almost obsessed with conjuring ideas to keep the ball rolling,” Russo added. [Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/32-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-reunions-that-actually-happened-11011/). Still, according to Russo, Danelli stayed busy creatively in his final years with the two of them working on various video, art, photography, and writing projects. [the Rascals](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/the-rascals/) dropped the “Young” from their name, but their success continued apace with singles like “A Beautiful Morning” and “People Got to Be Free,” both of which appeared on their album, Once Upon a Dream. According to Russo — Danelli’s friend and Rascals archivist — the drummer was “acutely disappointed about the abrupt conclusion” of the reunion. The Rascals reunited for a brief tour in 1988 with all of the original lineup, except Brigati. In 1967, the Young Rascals notched a second Number One with “Groovin’,” a signature track penned by Cavaliere and Brigati. [wrote](https://www.facebook.com/gene.cornish.7/posts/pfbid029HvD1mMsKaU9mvSmgrP8ac34oadVcZ4dzuMg1xiM2TnmmKhtFtHxe24q44P1T9wrl) of Danelli, “He was my brother and the greatest drummer I’ve ever seen. He and Cornish formed the band Bulldog, which released two albums before splitting in 1975; he also played in the group Fotomaker, alongside former Raspberries lead guitarist Wally Bryson. One of the greatest drummers of all time. I am devastated at this moment.” He [added](https://www.facebook.com/gene.cornish.7/posts/pfbid02DrRcAdL1qEkaoKVJo6r1mwdCSGT6ZVtVGaoDcrmoacpv1Ja7VoeAWXfhAZHRbPLgl) in a separate post, Dino never cared about being a ‘rock star’ it was always about the music and art for him.

Dino Danelli, founding drummer of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Rascals, has died at the age of 78, a spokesperson for the band confirmed via ...

"I will say more in the near future about his incredible talent and share experiences from his life he relayed to me, as well as ones we spent as friends and collaborators," Russo wrote. [spoke with PEOPLE](https://people.com/archive/lonely-too-long-vol-47-no-18/) back in 1997 ahead of their Hall of Fame induction, when Cornish explained what it was like to reunite as a band. "He was undemanding, humble, and despite his weakened condition, managed to project a certain air of affability," Russo shared. "I will say this, Dino never cared about being a 'rock star' it was always about the music and art for him," he wrote. The group released nine albums before splitting in the early '70s and later reunited for one tour in 1988, another in 2012 and a few other one-off performances and side projects. "Rest In Peace Dino I love you brother."

Dino Danelli, drummer with blue-eyed soul pioneers the Rascals, died in December 2022 at age 78.

[told fans](https://www.facebook.com/dinodanelliofficial/posts/pfbid02duuqeKLCY5R9PEmbPU5f9haFwE3NjFdxuvHddka3qkqtUwSoymKLa9jG9rEbFizRl): “You all made it possible for him to live his dream, which was to be a musician and artist.” For Danelli, “art was his life – art, music and film consumed his mind and his heart. … So, you put all that stuff on a record and what do you get?” 1 hits “Good Lovin,’” “Groovin’” and “People Got to Be Free.” “We were getting this crossover, which was fabulous for radio,” he said. “Felix sang with that voice that sounded like he was black; Eddie to some extent did also. “People need labels for things, so that one seemed like a good label.

Dino Danelli, The Rascals drummer who brought a jazzman's virtuosity to the band's rock 'n roll sound died on Dec. 15 in New York City. He was 78.

Over the decades, all four members rarely appeared on stage together, with the notable exception being the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. “You all made it possible for him to live his dream, which was to be a musician and artist.” The original run of the group latest until 1972. Danelli's drumming was integral to the group's success. Bruce Springsteen was also in the audience. Danelli was a New Jersey native who picked up several gigs before connecting with Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati and Gene Cornish to form the Young Rascals.