Biography
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Born
13 August 1951
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Born In
Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois, United States
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Died
16 December 2007 (aged 56)
Dan Fogelberg (August 13, 1951 – December 16, 2007) was an American singer-songwriter known for his success in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He worked with manager Irving Azoff and gained recognition for his contributions to the soft rock genre of that era. Fogelberg's music often addressed social and ecological themes, and he participated in events such as the No Nukes concerts. Throughout his career, he collaborated with various musicians, including Van Morrison, Joe Walsh, Tim Weisberg, and Ricky Skaggs.
Fogelberg was born in Peoria, Illinois, the youngest of three sons. His mother, Margaret, was a classically trained pianist and a Scottish immigrant, while his father, Lawrence Peter Fogelberg, was a high school band director of Swedish descent. His father inspired the song "Leader of the Band." Fogelberg taught himself to play guitar and piano and began his music career at age 14 in several local bands, including The Clan and The Coachmen, which released singles in 1967. He also played in a blues band called Frankie and the Aliens during the 1980s.
After graduating from Woodruff High School in 1969, Fogelberg studied theater arts and painting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He performed solo in coffeehouses and was discovered by Irving Azoff in 1971. Fogelberg moved to California and became a session musician before releasing his debut album "Home Free" in 1972. His second album, "Souvenirs" (1974), produced by Joe Walsh, included the hit "Part of the Plan" and brought him wider attention.
Fogelberg released several gold and platinum albums during the mid to late 1970s, including "Captured Angel" (1975) and "Nether Lands" (1977). He collaborated with jazz flutist Tim Weisberg on "Twin Sons of Different Mothers" (1978). The album "Phoenix" (1979) reached the Top 10, featuring the hit "Longer," followed by the Top 20 single "Heart Hotels." His 1981 double album "The Innocent Age" was commercially successful and included notable songs such as "Leader of the Band," "Hard To Say," "Run for the Roses," and "Same Old Lang Syne." In 1984, he released the album "Windows and Walls."
In the later part of his career, Fogelberg explored different musical styles. He recorded the bluegrass album "High Country Snows" in 1985 with contributions from prominent musicians. He returned to rock with the album "Exiles" (1987) and released "The Wild Places" (1990), which reflected environmental themes. A live album, "Greetings from the West," was released in 1991. His last studio album with Sony Records was "River of Souls" (1993). In 1997, the four-disc compilation "Portrait" highlighted various aspects of his music. He released a Christmas album, "First Christmas Morning," in 1999 and returned to a folk-influenced soft rock style with "Full Circle" in 2003.
Fogelberg used his music to engage with social issues such as peace and Native American rights and was an advocate for environmental causes, including opposition to nuclear power. He participated in the Musicians United for Safe Energy "No Nukes" concerts in 1979 and 1980.
Throughout his career, Fogelberg performed live extensively, both with a full band and in solo acoustic settings. In 1979, he played Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 2002, he was inducted into the Performers Hall of Fame at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Fogelberg was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in May 2004. After treatment, he experienced partial remission but did not fully recover. He announced progress in his condition in 2005 and spent time with his wife, Jean Fogelberg. He maintained homes in Deer Isle, Maine, and near Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Dan Fogelberg died on December 16, 2007, at his home in Maine. Following his death, his wife announced the posthumous release of a song he had recorded for her, titled "Sometimes a Song," with proceeds benefiting the Prostate Cancer Foundation. A collection of previously unreleased songs, provisionally titled "Love In Time," was also planned for release.
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