Rick Danko

Richard Clare Danko (December 29, 1943 – December 10, 1999) was a Canadian musician, bassist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known as a founding member of the Band, a rock group that gained prominence in the late 1960s. Danko began his career as a member of the Hawks, backing Ronnie Hawkins and later Bob Dylan. In 1968, the Hawks became the Band and went on to release seven studio albums before disbanding in 1977. Danko participated in the Band's partial reunion from 1983 until his death. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Danko was born in Blayney, Ontario to a musical family of Ukrainian descent and grew up listening to country music, blues, and R&B.