Musician was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer three years ago
The Associated Press
updated 8:04 p.m. ET, Sun., Dec. 16, 2007
NEW YORK - Dan Fogelberg, the singer and songwriter whose hits “Leader of the Band” and “Same Old Lang Syne” helped define the soft-rock era, died Sunday at his home in Maine after battling prostate cancer. He was 56.
His death was announced in a statement released by his family through the firm Scoop Marketing, and it was also posted on the singer’s Web site.
“Dan left us this morning at 6:00 a.m. He fought a brave battle with cancer and died peacefully at home in Maine with his wife Jean at his side,” it read. “His strength, dignity and grace in the face of the daunting challenges of this disease were an inspiration to all who knew him.”
Fogelberg discovered he had advanced prostate cancer in 2004. In a statement then, he thanked fans for their support.
“It is truly overwhelming and humbling to realize how many lives my music has touched so deeply all these years,” he said.
Fogelberg’s music was in the vein of fellow sensitive singer-songwriters James Taylor and Jackson Browne, and was powerful in its simplicity.
He didn’t rely on the volume of his voice to convey his emotions; instead, they came through in the soft, tender delivery and his poignant lyrics. Songs like “Same Old Lang Syne” — in which a man reminisces after meeting an old girlfriend by chance during the holidays — became classics not only because of his performance, but for the engaging story line, as well.
Fogelberg’s heyday was in the 1970s and early 80s, when he scored several platinum and multiplatinum records, fueled by such hits as “The Power of Gold” and “Leader of the Band,” a touching tribute he wrote to his father, a bandleader. Fogelberg put out his first album in 1972.
Among his more popular albums were “Nether Lands,” which included the song “Dancing Shoes,” and “Phoenix,” which had one of his biggest hits, “Longer,” a song about enduring love.
Fogelberg’s songs tended to have a weighty tone, reflecting on emotional issues in a serious way. But in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 1997, he said it did not represent his personality.
“That came from my singles in the early ’80s,” he reflects. “I think it probably really started on the radio. I’m not a dour person in the least. I’m actually kind of a happy person. Music doesn’t really reflect the whole person.
“One of my dearest friends is Jimmy Buffett. From his music, people have this perception that he’s up all the time, and, of course, he’s not. Jimmy has a serious side, too.”
Later in his career, he wrote material that focused on the state of the environment, an issue close to his heart. His last album was 2003’s “Full Circle,” his first album of original material in a decade.
A year later he would receive his cancer diagnosis, forcing him to forgo a planned fall tour. After his diagnosis, he urged others to get tested.
Joined: 14 Aug 2006
Posts: 28585
Location: "Onboard" pathenry's desk
tulsadPosted:
Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:20 am
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Dan Fogelberg, RIP
1975 photo of Dan Fogelberg by Henry Diltz
Singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg passed away today after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004. He was 56 years old.
Fogelberg's second album, Souvenirs was released in 1974 and was produced by Joe Walsh. The album solidified his mainstream success with the country-ish/pop leanings of the hit song "Part of The Plan." While Fogelberg would meander towards a shmaltzy "adult-contemporary" sound in later releases, Souvenirs remains one of my favorite all-time albums. While folks like Jackson Browne, The Eagles, CSN&Y, The Byrds and James Taylor laid critical claim to some of the now classic singer-songwriter classics of the 70's, Fogelberg never quite got his due. Maybe that's because he leaned a little more John Denver-ish. But he had a loyal following, one that would will willing to go where Fogelberg wanted to musically take them. He leaves behind a beautifully produced quality body of work; much of it still holding up today. Despite Fogelberg's forays into instrumental faux-jazz with flutist Tim Weisberg, Fogelberg should be remembered for musical experimentation and willingness to follow his muse rather than writing the same old song over and over.
On Souvenirs, Fogelberg surrounded himself with some great musicians and singer-songwriters including Graham Nash, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner and Don Henley, Al Perkins, and Russ Kunkel on drums. Here's a couple of my most favorite songs from the album.
I found this at "Some Velvet Blog;" it does such a great job of hittting some of the hightlights in Dan's career that I hope Bruce doesn't mind I linked it.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
