George played in an all-star band with Danny just a few years ago. “The world will certainly miss that energy." Larry Howard, the blues guitarist best
known as a founding member of the seventies band Grinderswitch also spoke with KUD- ZOO about Dan. “Dangerous Dan was an incredible person. His guitar performance has been legendary for along time. I didn't get to play much with Dan but knew him as a man of his word, a true fighter, and a beloved Christian brother. It's a sad day but I know I'll see him again soon. I'm sure he's already lo- cated many of our friends in Heaven and got the best guitar tone ever. Turn up Dan, it's okay to play loud in Heaven!” Ed Zinner, a longtime friend of Danny’s
who played in bands with him including the Gregg Allman Band, was asked to deliver a eulogy at the Toler memorial service. He in- cluded the quote he had written for our story as a part of that remembrance. “I once played one of Dan's solo's to him at
his home to which he looked at me with an in- fectious smile as he chuckled and said, "I'm going to kill you slow boy, take maybe a week!" (That was his favorite quote from a Clint Eastwood movie) In reality, I know that he felt honored by even the idea that I wanted to emulate him musically and that became
Tommy Crain and Dan Toler at Angelus in Tampa, Florida.
(Rick Broyles Photo)
something between us for years, I would play or better said, attempt to play his lines and he would always laugh with that same response. Today, I take comfort in knowing that he too enjoyed those moments. I also know that he was proud to have had such an influence on a fellow musician. The last time I was with Dan, in late Novem- ber of last year, his right hand was so swollen he was un- able to play his gui- tar, but he pointed to it and then to me as if asking me to play it. So as I played for him some of his fa- vorite songs from his GAB days and after he listened awhile, he used his left hand to grab mine and he laughed with that same old smile and then slowly wrote on his electronic chalk board, KILL YOU SLOW... he then pointed at me and
then the chalk board and we just laughed. We enjoyed each other's company for the remain- der of what was, and what I knew then would be, my last day with Danny.” There was a beautiful memorial service
held for Dan on March 9th. Dan’s brother and frequent band mate David “Frankie” Toler died in June of 2011 following complications from a liver transplant. •
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