“To live in hearts we leave behind… Is not to die.“—Thomas Campbell. We may never know why Danny Bacher was called home so suddenly at such a young age, but we can certify the truth of this Thomas Campbell quote; Danny had the 
capacity to live in our hearts from the moment of meeting him. Although wildly accomplished, his personality was his greatest asset. Always sunny and cheerful, he was kind and generous, easy-going, funny and full of love—all given unstintingly.
Of his material accomplishments, he was a singer-songwriter, saxophonist, comedian, actor, magician and lately author. He considered himself foremost an entertainer, a vocation in which he built strength upon strength. It was a win-win life path. Danny loved to entertain and because he put himself into his artistry one-hundred percent, those fortunate enough to be in a Bacher audience, whether in a concert hall, cabaret room or on a jazz stage, always left energized and uplifted.
Danny was born to Jane and Joel Bacher and grew up in Wayne, NJ with his brother Josh, a school teacher, 
with whom he created the after-school puppet series The Backyard Players and helped run the Camp Liberty summer program in Jersey City, NJ. He was a graduate of Wayne Hills High School and New Jersey City University. As he built his career, Danny garnered awards and accolades; he received the Margaret Whiting Award (photo, right, with Debi Whiting), was also nominated for best male vocalist in the 2019 National Jazz Times reader’s poll. He has three studio albums to his credit: The Terry Gibbs Legacy Band, Swing That Music! and Still Happy and most recently co-authored with Bernie Hogya, Collecting Laurel and Hardy, Along with studying the sax at age ten, precocious Danny also began on another passion: collecting Laurel and Hardy memorabilia since age five, going on to amass one of the world’s largest and most important private collections.
Beside his parents and brother, Danny is also survived by his beloved wife of many years, Erin Bernard-Bacher.
The legacy of Danny Bacher, the ever-smiling practitioner of “serious fun” will live on in many ways, but mostly—as he would love—in the hearts of each and every one of us.
Remembering Danny:
