Remembering John Amirante
The New York Rangers’ legendary anthem singer passed away this morning at 83.
It is with heavy hearts and great sadness to post that John Amirante passed away this morning at age 83.
It is with great sadness our Rangers family shares the loss of legendary anthem singer John Amirante, who passed away this morning at 83.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 17, 2018
Our thoughts are with his wife Ann, his children and the entire Amirante family.
We will forever remember and miss John @TheGarden. pic.twitter.com/6jc2qowYhF
Amirante was born in the Bronx and he sang the anthem at Madison Square Garden from 1980 to 2015, and made sporadic appearances after that point.
Although the words were the same each time, there were a few renditions that stood out above the rest. His performance before Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Final gives me goosebumps to this day, and I remember the first time I watched it.
Ladies and gentlemen, we ask that you please rise and remove your hats for the National Anthem.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 17, 2018
Here to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" the one and only, John Amirante. pic.twitter.com/N0qmCHAIKX
The roar of the crowd singing along in unison was truly something special, and something I hope to one day experience. In recent years his anthem before Game 6 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Final was memorable. It was a game the Rangers won to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1994.
Amirante was a person who could be found around Madison Square Garden, and I am sure many have stories of meeting him and memories in general of times he sung the anthem at The Garden.
There aren’t any good words at a time like this, so we simply offer our thoughts and prayers to his wife Ann, his children and the rest of Amirante family.
Rest in peace John.