A belated farewell Dan Fogelberg

Back in December of last year the music world lost one of the greatest songwriters and performers of my time and I have been remiss in paying my farewell respects.  Dan Fogelberg died of cancer at the young age of 56 and I want to touch on how the music of this great musician touched my life in ways I can barely describe.  Dan burst on the scene in the early 70's, a time of my life when I as an aspiring musician was striving to define my art and thus very impressionable.  Mr. Fogelberg wrote what I consider some of the most personal and touching music that holds up even today.  While his music styling was very beautiful the lyrics of his songs were such that they touched my soul very deeply over the years and I consider it a lamentable fact that I never met him.

I am sure that some of my feelings for Fogelberg's music lie in the fact that my young voice was straining for a vehicle and his music provided that in many different ways.  I am no doubt biased by the fact that my young singing voice was very similar to Dan's making his music a favorite of mine to perform back in the day but if you sit down even today and listen to the messages that are shared in his songs I am confident you will be moved as I still am.  Those of you who are too young to be familiar with Dan's music have probably heard some of his greatest songs and not realized it.  His "Same Old Lang Syne" that is played every year at New Year's is classic and his "Run for the Roses" that is still played each year for the Kentucky Derby here in the US both demonstrate how his lyrics can capture an event in unyielding clarity that we all can empathize with.  The tribute to his father, "Leader of the Band" is one of the most moving songs you will ever hear if you truly listen to the lyrics of this hit.

I had the good fortune to see Fogelberg every chance I could and his performances were always such that you found him to be even better live than on his recordings.  His ability to pour the essence of himself in each of his performances resulted in his songs touching each and every one listening in a way unique to each one.  He was one of those rare songwriters who could conjure up a mirage through his music that listeners can experience deeply.  You only have to listen to his epic "The Reach" to understand what I mean by that.  So farewell Mr. Dan Fogelberg.  I thank you immensely for letting me share your music that has touched my life in such positive ways.

Dan Fogelberg official web site (caution, music will play when opened)

Comments

[Tax Man]

I didn't realize he died. James Taylor had a more profound impact on me personally, but Fogelberg wrote some amazing songs. In fact, I'm reminded by your post that I performed "Along the Road" at by high school commencement. Such a great song, and my first real public singing gig.

[ArchiMark]

I agree, james...such a shame to lose him at such a young age...

I'm going to date myself now, but the first album I got for what then my girlfriend and now my wife, was Dan's album (yes, one of those big round black things with a hole in the middle...) 'Phoenix' I think it's called....must of been around '79....

;-)

[sbtablet]

James,

I didn't know he had died, either. IMHO, most of Dan Fogelberg's best stuff never hit the top 40 radio market. You have to go hunting for it, but it's worth finding. The older albums touch me most. "Daybreak" still goes through my head on those tough to get going days, because as he says, "There is really no way to say no to the morning."

[Linda]

I agree with you about Dan. He was wonderful. I too think that some of his best was never played on the radio. With all due respect, you wrote "Dan was a rare songwriter who could conjure up a mirage through his music that listeners can experience deeply". Did you mean he could conjure up an image rather than mirage? I think he painted vivid pictures with his music an lyrics that listeners could imagine. A mirage is something that doesn't exist...anyway nice post about Dan.

[James Kendrick]

Linda, while "image" would have worked fine I chose the word "mirage" quiet deliberately as it described the images that Dan's music forges in my mind. Crystal clear mental images that you can experience yet are not really there. Mirages in other word(s).