A talented man who wrote songs that touched the heart. RIP.

longer... my favorite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxEUn6ozJNA
RIP

4 L.A. Confidential
That's one thing about life, you never get out of it alive!

As I wrote elsewhere: Dan Fogelberg was never what you would call a superstar -- truthfully, never someone who immediately sprang to mind when the discussion centered on defining musical talents of the '70s and '80s -- but his music always appealed to me, and millions of others, and I can't remember ever wanting to change the station when one of his songs came on my car radio. Indeed, I can remember singing along with some of the tunes -- late at night, especially, when melancholy claims dominion on my soul. To pay him the highest compliment I can think of: He left this world a better place than it might have been if he'd never been in it.

same old lang syne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NmdFgFyhnk&feature=related

wow.....I didn't see that one coming.......I enjoyed his music.....I saw him play the Aquarius in LA.....oh geeeezzz must of been.......73/74....with Linda Rondstadt.......wow....RIP..Dan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGCs2gZAfT0&feature=related

Good to see these responses out here. I too am saddened in a deep way. Fogelberg's music is a deep part of my musical DNA, and I've been a part of a band that does "tribute" shows to his music, covering both the hits and the obscure. I am honored more than ever to be one who will definitely work to keep his music alive.

You can find more of my thoughts on Dan here:
http://www.ericfolkerth.com/wheneftalks/files/danfogelberg.html

I've been thinking of Dan's song "Wandering Shepherd" tonight:

"Wandering Shepherd...wander no more....
Rest from your troubles...your worries and woes."

Eric

Eric @ 16 - I thought of Wandering Shepherd too.

I saw Dan in concert 3 or 4 times, his music was such a part of our family since the 70's. I can still remember going into my older sister's room and playing "Netherlands" on her record player. God, what a tragic loss. Rest in Peace Dan.

Kathy's Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmgpF0syJ90

Although the music of the '70's is much maligned (sometimes rightly so) as having lost the edge that earlier rock had, there were some redeeming qualities. A string of performers emerged whose real strength was song writing which allowed them to tell a story without it being a "ballad" as much of the contemporary country music was at that time. They were able to navigate between genres which wanted them to fit more easily into pre-defined roles. This led to much of this music being over looked or given only a superficial glance and equally superficial review.
Dan Fogelberg and a few others (to name two good ones, Jim Croce and Jimmy Buffett) recorded albums with sometimes catchy tunes interspersed with some longer, more thoughtful songs where the strength of the story or characters was the spotlight not the volume or prowess with which they played their particular insttrument. Except for the occaisional radio hit, most of these artists' libraries of work went under the radar. Those who bought Fogelberg's "Souvenirs" were much more likely to have heard the songs on "Captured Angel" or the collaborative effort with Tim Weisberg, "Twin Sons of Different Mothers".
Some of the music from the '70's lives on where it deserves to be - in an elevator. However, a few like Dan Fogelberg gave us some songs that would still show up on the "desert island lists" of more people than you would think. For myself, I have a few. A couple that people would remember like "Part of the Plan" and a couple less familiar ones like "Slow Below the Surface" or "Guitar Etude #3".
Anyone who reads through all of this will probably think, "Wow, this guy really liked that stuff from the '70's or he's got way to much time on his hands and should probably get a job." No comment. But I do hate to see people get glossed-over and I expect that that is what will happen if it even draws a mention from the media other than here. So thanks, Nicole, for putting this up. I was not a die-hard fan but I will remember him fondly.
Jim G.

These Dreams - Jim Croce
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aZsusLw0XgM&feature=related

LG -
> These Dreams

Hmm, it makes me want to post something eXpecially for sphinx because she takes my breath a WAY, let me think ...

Camel: Breathless

http://technohippie.com/geeklog/public_html/mediagallery/media.php?s=200...

Always wished he's hooked up with post-Furay Poco.

CSNY - Only love can break your heart (rare live)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0iLxIYVuooM&feature=related

Crosby Stills & Nash - You Don't Have to Cry

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rTgYVX9Si64
Goodbye all, it's been fun!

Jim Croce - "I've Got A Name" / "5 Short Mintes" Live 1973
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YMD7_qRaAoQ&feature=related

Crosby Stills & Nash - Teach Your Children
http://youtube.com/watch?v=p6pphVs8bF0

I think that's an ultimate CS&N song, suckerorpuns.

That was much too young. If anyone deserved to die of prostate cancer, it'd Rudy. There just ain't no justice.

"And some would curse John Sutter's Mill".....R.I.P. Dan...

I am a career long Dan Fogelberg fan, having been to his several concerts and own much of his catalog. What a pioneer! He was the best, I remember him fondly, 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. Truly a great singer-songwriter. To a bunch of kids growing up back then, he rocked! Now I still enjoy listening to his albums. One CD--Souvenirs, I like best. The sound quality is average at best, and now owning the CD is not a big problem. I found it with a good price at dealstudio.com. By this way, we can feel that he is still alive! God bless you!

I once heard him in an interview say that although a lot of his songs seemed sad he was actually a pretty happy person. It was just that when he was sad he worked through it by writing songs. He was definately one of my favorite artist.

I saw Dan at Kent State on May 4th 1975 when he opened for the Eagles (original, not current). Nothing but a piano and a guitar. I sat in the first row and I will remember that show for the rest of my life. I saw him many times over the years, mostly at Blossom, outside under the stars. I want to thank him for most of the sex that I had during the 70's.

RIP Dan

Nearly thirty years later, "The Innocent Age" remains one of my favorite albums. Fogelberg may not have been one of the most well-known or most commercially-popular artists ever to appear on the charts -- but he wrote beautifully and he wrote from the heart.

RIP, Dan...we'll miss you.

RIP John,

We will always remember you on Derby Day in Kentucky 'Run for the Roses' is special song, one of many

How sad, Dan lived in the next town in over to me back in the 80's in Colorado and used to do annual benefit concerts for the local humane society.
I used to check his bags at the local airport on his many travels and he was always kind and good-humored.
All you guys out there in your 50's that haven't gotten a prostate exam, here's your wake-up call.

Some much lousy news: did a cop kill his wife? Will we ever find peace in the middle east? The rich get richer and the poor struggle even harder. This administration is ripping the constitution to shreds. And a peaceful, simple musician who honored his parents and respected his audience, who wrote gentle songs, didn't try to change the world, but just make it a little more tolerable--this man had to suffer cancer and die too young.

Some people think that I am supposed to be able to explain how God lets these kinds of things happen. They would be wrong. But I do thank God for "Sutter's Mill."

although i haven't listened to him for many years, his early material was constantly used as inspiration, and being played and learned on the guitar-- he wrote so many good songs--

"and it's going to be a day,
there is really no way to say no
to the morning"

Saw Dan in concert many years ago, and just a few years ago.
I can put on one of his cd's and go back in time.
Might just do that tonite
Getting old may suck but it sure beats the hell out of the alternative.
RIP Dan.

I didn't wish for his death, but count me out of the platitudes. The 1970s "mellow gold" era was as musically relevant as the late 1950s (eg. Bobby Vee) after Presley joined the army and the other "bad boys" had their scandals (eg. Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, etc.). Record companies wanted safe "mature" music to distance themselves from the hippie era and found people like him, the Carpenters, the Captain and Toenail, etc.

There were some great singer-songwriters from that era (eg. Joan Armatrading, Boz Scaggs, Al Stewart) but not Fogelberg. And as for song storytellers, nobody compares with (pre-1984) Chris de Burgh.

Whizkid - You mention Poco, so I have to tell my tale. The first time I slept with a high-school girlfriend (in college) she insisted on stacking up Dan Fogelberg on the record changer. I agreed, but made her put Poco on top, and timed the procedings so that "Good Feeling" would be playing at the appropriate moment.
Don't remember if it worked...

Saw Dan at Michigan State University also about 20 years ago... I was working the show as a student stage hand and met his girlfriend at the time...she was a knockout of course - but was also as sweet as could be to everyone. It may have been Jean? I dunno, if so, God bless her. Dan played songs form his hit album "Twin Sons of Different Mohters" w Tim Weisberg that I also still cherish and find myslef listening to more and more often than I ever would have imagined 1n 1978. Esp. "The Power of Gold." God bless the Folgerberg Family. JBK

Graduated from Woodruff HS in Peoria in 1969 and went to the Univ. of Illinois for 2 years, where he was discovered by a talent scout (I believe the talent scout/agent may have signed the Eagles as well) and promptly quit school, moving to L.A.

RIP Dan

His "Part of the Plan" is an absolute gem.

As the lyrics seem such a fitting tribute, here they are in full:

I have these moments
All steady and strong
I'm feeling so holy and humble
The next thing I know
I'm all worried and weak
And I feel myself starting to crumble

The meanings get lost
And the teachings get tossed
And you don`t know what
You're going to do next
You wait for the sun
But it never quite comes
Some kind of message
Comes through to you
Some kind of message
Comes through
And it says to you

Love when you can
Cry when you have to
Be who you must
That's a part of the plan
Await your arrival
With simple survival and
One day, we'll all understand
One day, we'll all understand
One day, we'll all understand

I had a woman
Who gave me her soul
But I wasn't ready to take it
Her heart was so fragile
And heavy to hold
And I was afraid
I might break it

Your conscience awakes
And you see your mistakes
And you wish someone
Would buy your confessions
The days miss their mark
And the night gets so dark
And some kind of message
Comes through to you
Some kind of message
Shoots through
And it says to you

Love when you can
Cry when you have to
Be who you must
That's a part of the plan
Await your arrival
With simple survival and
One day, we'll all understand
One day, we'll all understand
One day, we'll all understand

There is no Eden
Or heavenly gates
That you're gonna
Make it to one day
But all of the answers
You seek can be found
In the dreams that
You dream on the way

Chopvac,

I'd hate to have you write MY obituary.

Dan Fogelberg sang from his heart -- his music had little to do with what the record companies wanted. And, as another reader mentioned, he could really rock in concert. When I saw him in 1979 in Boston, "As the Raven Flies" and other songs
rocked out.

There are a lot of his songs I can't listen to -- too mellow or inspid -- but to lump him with Captain & Tonille is absolutely stupid.

Chopvac @ 61:

I didn't wish for his death, but count me out of the platitudes. The 1970s "mellow gold" era was as musically relevant as the late 1950s (eg. Bobby Vee) after Presley joined the army and the other "bad boys" had their scandals (eg. Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, etc.). Record companies wanted safe "mature" music to distance themselves from the hippie era and found people like him, the Carpenters, the Captain and Toenail, etc.

There were some great singer-songwriters from that era (eg. Joan Armatrading, Boz Scaggs, Al Stewart) but not Fogelberg. And as for song storytellers, nobody compares with (pre-1984) Chris de Burgh.

For most sensible people the "hippie era" was a phase, not a way of life. For those who had wised up and emerged from the fog with their sensibilities at least somewhat intact, the record companies responded with quality products from artists such as Dan Fogelberg. There wasn't some corporate conspiracy to cram mellow crap down people's throats. This music is quite relevant, especially for people interested in getting in touch with emotions other than their anger.

Artists don't have to be "in your face" to be genuine and their music doesn't always have to be "edgy" to be good. If you had actually done your homework on Fogelberg you would know he was quite a rocker in his own right, but unfortunately you heard the more mellow stuff on the airwaves and wrote him off.

In the song storyteller department, you forgot to give Harry Chapin his due, too.

I saw Dan in concert about a dozen times over the years, and it was really fun to see him in his home town of Peoria, Illinois. He liked to tell stories, and not just with his songs. When he played in Peoria he talked about his youth, his family (some of which still live there), and just life in general. If you haven't listened to anything but his hits, you may not be aware of the full depth of his talents. Those that have his albums or CDs - take a look at the liner notes. He played the majority of the instruments and did most of the vocal (lead and backing) on most of his songs. Also, although he was known for the ballads (because that's what the record companies pushed), he could rock with the best of them, and he also was a hell of a bluegrass and blues musician. In his later years, he focused on Native American and environmental issues; he wasn't worried about making a buck as much as he was about getting a point across and making people think. One telling thing -- he had the respect of other musicians. Take a look at some of his sidemen -- some of the best in the business. Rest in peace, Dan.