Denny Greene obit

Sha-Na-Na co-founder Dennis Greene was beloved law professor

 

He was not on the list.

DAYTON — Dennis Greene, law professor at the University of Dayton and former member of the band Sha-Na-Na, has died, university officials have confirmed.

Greene died Saturday after a brief illness, according to a statement from the university.

He was 66.

“Dr. Greene was a beloved and highly respected member of the campus community and our prayers go out to his family, friends, colleagues and students,” UD’s statement reads.

Greene had taught at UD since 2001, specializing in constitutional and entertainment law.

As a founding member of the retro-rock group Sha-Na-Na, Greene performed at Woodstock in 1969 and was featured singing with the group in the movie Grease (1978).

Funeral arrangements are pending.

The television show Sha Na Na aired from 1978 to 1981. Greene choreographed most of the moves for the show, on which he was known simply as Denny. Denny was portrayed in the series as the most intelligent member of Sha Na Na. He sang lead in the song "Tears on My Pillow" when he appeared with Sha Na Na in the movie Grease, in 1978. Denny also performed at Woodstock with Sha Na Na, just before Jimi Hendrix.

 

Movie appearances

1970 - Woodstock - as himself with Sha Na Na

1972 - Dynamite Chicken - as himself with Sha Na Na

1977 - Greased Lightning - Slack

1978 - Grease - with Sha Na Na as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers

1994 - Woodstock Diary - as himself with Sha Na Na

2003 - Festival Express - as himself with Sha Na Na

 

Publications

1994 Tragically Hip: Hollywood and African American Film

1996 The Resurrection of Gunga Din, 81 Iowa Law Review

1997 Immigrants in Chains: Afrophobia in American Legal History, 76 Oregon Law Review

1998 Cultural Colonization in the Hollywood Film, 5 Asian Law Journal