Jahfin Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY 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 Sunday in a statement by Anna Loynes of the Solters & Digney public relations agency, and 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. ... I thank you from the very depths of my heart." Fogelberg's music 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 storyline, as well. Fogelberg's heydey 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. 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 would write material that focused on the state of the environment, an issue close to his heart. Fogelberg's 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joelmon Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 Oh no !! I loved that album he did with Tim Weisberg.... A cool mix of jazz and folk....damn... RIP Dan......I had no idea he was sick.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadScreamingGallery Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY 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. [.....] Oh no !! I loved that album he did with Tim Weisberg.... A cool mix of jazz and folk....damn... RIP Dan......I had no idea he was sick.... R.I.P. Dan That was a very cool album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dawg Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 His loss is ours, sorry to hear he passed away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGG Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 Can't grow up in the 70's and not know this man's music well.... R.I.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joelmon Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 I heard "As The Raven Flies" on the way to the coffeeshop this morning and it brought a tear to my eye......dang..... I see the raven’s made Her nest in your eyes She’s got you thinking that Her love is a prize And you’ll go under from The weight of her lies As the raven flies As the raven flies She’ll bring you stories That just never sound true She’ll bring you secrets That were never meant for you, And just as you come round She’ll send you back through She’s in love with you She’s in love with you. Darker, darker Don’t let her talk her way Into you. Lonely, lonely You know she’s only No good for you. I see the raven’s made Her nest in your eyes She’s got you thinking that Her love is a prize And you’ll go under from The weight of her lies As the raven flies As the raven flies As the raven flies As the raven flies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedZepChick Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 Beautiful vocals.....RIP..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maven2blue Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 He had such a wonderful voice. RIP Dan. This has been a strange and sad month. We lost a dearly loved forum member on PZ. Kevin Dubrow, Ike Turner, Evel Knievel and now Dan Fogelberg have died. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rorer714 Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...logID=338727966 Hey Jahfin, Kitty had this to say on her blog Sunday night. Sad news,soothing music.I'm sure that he will rest in peace! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted December 18, 2007 Author Share Posted December 18, 2007 http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...logID=338727966 Hey Jahfin, Kitty had this to say on her blog Sunday night. Sad news,soothing music.I'm sure that he will rest in peace! Thanks for the link, Rolling Stone posted Jackson Browne's thoughts on Fogelberg earlier today: Jackson Browne stopped by the Rolling Stone offices this morning to talk about his thirty-year battle against nuclear power, and afterwards he shared memories of his friend and collaborator Dan Fogelberg, who died yesterday of prostate cancer. The two first sang together on Browne’s 1974 album Late For The Sky. “He was beautiful, an angel,” Browne said. “People either don’t know it or don’t remember it, but he had the highest harmonies. He sang above Don Henley and J.D. Souther on those tracks. My favorite song of his [”Same Old Lang Syne”] was about running into an old lover in a supermarket on New Years – I shouldn’t admit it, but it made me cry. It encapsulated the passing of time and the revisiting of former hopes and dreams. He was a really emotional songwriter and a beautiful singer.” Andy Greene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetredwine Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 (edited) "And it's going to be a day There is really no way to say no To the morning. Yes it's going to be a day There is really nothing left to Say but Come on morning." "To The Morning" Mourning ... and missing you, Dan. Onward morning. Edited December 18, 2007 by sweetredwine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwizard03 Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 I just saw this .He will be missed.Rest in Peace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Rest in peace, Dan Fogelberg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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