Goodbye, Mom... I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack

My mom passed away on Wednesday, and I'd like to take this Music Monday post to say goodbye. She would have been 85 years old next month, and had a very full life... most importantly including love and involvement with our family and her wonderful neighbors. I admire those who are able to speak at their loved ones' memorial services and suspect I will not be one of them. I break down every time someone says something kind to me about my mom, and I won't be able to speak the words that I would say. We're having my mom's memorial service next Sunday, and in the meantime, we've been doing what I know my mom would want us to do: celebrating her life instead of mourning her death. We had our seventh annual Roxiticus Sunset party on Friday night, and while it may have seemed a bit unconventional, it felt so right to be surrounded by our closest friends. On Saturday, London and Maddie had their dance recital at Garden State Ballet, and I knew my mom was watching over them and would have been so proud to see them dance.



I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

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Tribute to Danny Federici: Original E-Street Band Member Lost Battle to Cancer on Thursday

Danny Federici, the long-time keyboardist for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, died Thursday, April 17th, at Memorial-Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He was 58 and had battled melanoma for three years.

The New York Times has a nice tribute, including a touching quote from the Boss: “He was the most wonderfully fluid keyboard player and a pure, natural musician,” Mr. Springsteen said in a statement. “I loved him very much. We grew up together.”

Here is a very well done tribute video I found on YouTube from Targuzz, who also provided a link to give a gift to the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund to benefit the Memorial-Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Get a box of tissues before you click PLAY.

According to the Courier News, Federici grew up on the Pennsylvania Avenue Extension in Flemington, New Jersey, and bought instruments as a youngster from Flemington Music, now known as Nolde's Pianos. "He was an accordion player and his mother really pushed him to take accordion lessons," said Jim Lane of Nolde's Pianos. When he was a little older, he joined Flemington area bands like The Jolly Crickets and the Legends.

Early biographies of the E Street Band didn't get Danny Federici's hometown right, so when he recorded his first solo album in 1997, he named it "Flemington." I will post an Amazon link below, but it is "Currently unavailable. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock."


Danny Federici released two other albums:

• Danny Federici (October 2, 2001)
• Out of a Dream (July 26, 2005)

Both are pretty much out of stock everywhere...it's sad (and I'm as guilty as everyone else) that he had to die before people hunted down his solo music, but we'll hope his label will make more copies available, or release a retrospective compilation.

Federici first met Springsteen in the late 1960s. The pair often jammed at the Upstage Club in Asbury Park, a now-defunct after-hours club that hosted the best musicians in the state. It was Federici, along with original E Street Band drummer Vini Lopez, who first invited Springsteen to join their band. According to the New York Times, the band was named Child and soon renamed Steel Mill, which built a strong reputation touring the East Coast. From there, Springsteen and his band became musical and cultural superstars. (The Courier-News)

It's hard to grow up in Jersey without being a Springsteen fan, but for me, it was not just the Boss, but the E Street Band, that represented the Jersey Shore sound.

If you believe in forever,
Then life is just a one-night stand.
If there's a rock and roll heaven,
Well you know they've got a hell of a band...
The Righteous Brothers

Rest in peace, Danny.