Veteran Musicians, Up-and-Coming Stars to Play Benefit Concert

Throughout his life singer/guitarist Danny DeGennaro inspired and mentored fellow musicians. Now, a group of Philadelphia area musicians are working to keep DeGennaro’s legacy alive.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Michael “Kidd Funkadelic” Hampton, as well as rock band All Lit Up and Grateful Dead cover band Steal Your Face will join up-and-coming musicians (and Danny DeGennaro Foundation scholarship award winners) Katelyn Cryan, Emma Spies and Alexa Korogodsky onstage at World Café Live on April 28. The fundraiser benefits the Danny DeGennaro Foundation, which provides music and art scholarships to Bucks County Community College students.

“Danny D is a musician I jammed with near the end of his life,” Hampton, of Bucks County, said. “He had a groove of inspiring musicians in a very special way.”

The Foundation is named for the late singer/songwriter and guitarist, Danny “Rio” DeGennaro, who traveled the world playing with the Billy Squier Band and the Grateful Dead off-shoot Kingfish. The Foundation was established to inspire future musicians following the Levittown musician’s untimely death.

All Lit Up lead singer Johnny Webb, of Levittown, said DeGennaro inspired him to play music the way the Foundation inspires up-and-coming musicians and artists to follow their dreams.

“I met Danny at a very young age. He was my idol. I looked up to him so much. He was like God to me with the guitar and his flawless vocals,” Webb said. “My brother kind of hung out with all these rock star dudes. I witnessed this growing up and that’s what made me want to play music.”

His passion will be evident on April 28 as his high-energy rock band All Lit Up – which is comprised of members from Bucks and Montgomery counties and Manayunk – plays covers of Guns ‘N’ Roses, Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd and more.

“We put a lot into the audience, making people feel like they’re a part of it,” he said. “You can tell we’re having fun up there. We just love doing it. It’s in our blood.”

Webb said he holds DeGennaro close to his heart and always dedicates a song to him.

“Danny was one-of-a-kind to me,” he said. “When I saw Danny for the first time sing and play, really it was a magical thing. He was like a walking juke box. He could play any kind of song.”

If you go

Talent Night will be held at World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., in Philadelphia on April 28. Doors open at 8 p.m. The show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $15 and are available here: https://www.worldcafelive.com/event/1587122-talent-night-world-cafe-live-philadelphia/. The Danny DeGennaro Foundation is chartering two buses to the concert, one leaving from Sparky’s World Famous Bar, 4333 New Falls Road, Levittown and one leaving from Road House Bar & Grill, 2200 New Falls Road. Space is limited. To reserve a seat on the bus, please call Linda DeGennaro at 215-778-4873 or Johnny Web at 215-805-2965.

About the Danny DeGennaro Foundation

The Danny DeGennaro Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 2014 to provide annual scholarships to Bucks County Community College students. The Foundation offers multiple scholarships and mentoring opportunities through its annual Creative Inspiration™ benefit concert. The Foundation is comprised of experienced, well-known professional musicians and artists, dedicated volunteers and sponsors who take pride in helping talented individuals. The Foundation’s guiding principle is to make the world a better place by encouraging creativity that inspires others to enjoy and