Kingfish Guitarist Danny Degennaro Murdered

Guitarist Danny Degennaro of the band Kingfish was found dead in front of his home in the Philadelphia suburb of Levittown on Wednesday, Dec. 28th. A neighbor found his body and contacted police. Paramedics attempted to revive DeGennaro before taking him to St. Mary Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

"It does involve a gunshot wound to the chest," Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler reportedly told PhillyBurbs.com. "We're obviously treating it as a suspicious death. So far it does not appear the shooting was a random act of violence."

Following an autopsy Friday, Bucks County Coroner Dr. Joseph Campbell ruled the death a homicide. Police confiscated guns found in the home, but according to Hughes, none were used in the murder and as of Friday, the murder weapon had not been found.

Kingfish formed in San Fransisco in the early '70s and sprang from a circle of friends that included New Riders Of The Purple Sage and The Grateful Dead. The Dead's Bob Weir was a even member of the band for a short time. Degennaro, age 56, joined the long-running band back in 1979.

They released their final studio album in 1999. DeGennaro last played with Kingfish in a 2010 tour. He later formed The Danny DeGennaro Band and along the way, has performed with Billy Squier, Bo Diddley and the late Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, among others.

His manager Kevin Kirwan said, "There is early talk about organizing a future tribute concert to celebrate DeGennaro's music, which would likely feature local performers. But for the moment, the family is focused on funeral arrangements."