RIP Dan Fogelberg
Pete’s Comments:
While I was never familiar with the Dan Fogelberg catalog, it was his biggest hit, “Same Old Lang Syne”, that always connected with me. Who can resist the story line? Running into a former lover in a grocery store on Christmas Eve; grabbing a six-pack of beer and sitting in the car, toasting to the good times past, and saying goodbye all over again: “Just for a moment I was back at school / And felt that old familiar pain /And as I turned to make my way back home / The snow turned into rain.” Zowwww. Ouch. The song, and that line in particular, has always tugged at the heartstrings over the years. Michael Brecker’s saxophone finishes the bittersweet song with a warm snippet of “Auld Lang Syne.”
The song was a big hit in the U.S. in early 1981. Fogelberg said it was a true story of a mid-70’s encounter in a Peoria, Illinois grocery store with a high school girlfriend of his. The song apparently wrote itself.
Dan passed away Sunday at the young age of 56 after a battle with prostate cancer. [AP Story on Yahoo News]
My thoughts & prayers to Dan’s family and friends.
Dan Fogelberg – Same Old Lang Syne
BUY: Check out The Very Best of Dan Fogelberg
WEB: Dan’s Official Site
REALITY: Dan’s message to us…
To each and every man….
I cannot encourage you strongly enough to get a DRE (Digital Rectal Exam) and a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test EVERY YEAR.
The medical community suggests this for men over 50, but men with a family history of prostate cancer should start getting tested at age 40.
The PSA test is a simple blood test…it only takes a minute or two. The DRE, okay, every man squirms at the thought of this exam, but hey, it too takes only a minute or two, and IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.
Prostate cancer can be very slow growing or very aggressive, but detected early while it is still confined to the prostate gland, it can usually be treated and cured successfully.
Once it spreads beyond the prostate it is called Advanced Prostate Cancer (PCa). At this point it becomes imminently more life threatening and harder to treat. Do yourself and your loved ones a huge favor and GET CHECKED REGULARLY. I promise you, you DON’T want to go through what I’m going through if you can avoid it.
Education and awareness are key, I urge you to follow the link below to the Prostate Cancer Foundation web site and read up on how best to protect yourself and reduce your likelihood of contracting this terrible disease.
Michael’s Comments:
When I was a very young man my uncle gave me a 45 rpm of the song “Leader of the Band”. To this day that song holds a special place in my heart and I have to stop and listen when it comes on.
The leader of the band is tired
And his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through my instrument
And his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate the man
I’m just a living legacy
To the leader of the band
Dan Fogelberg lost his battle with Cancer this morning at the age of 56. Our condolences go out to the Fogelberg family, friends and fellow fans.
Afrofunk falls into a Deep Sleep
14 Comments
Barb Turner
Loved you Dan,I can’t stand the fact you left us. But God captured his angel and took him home. I will love and miss you. Jean God be with you and the family-always Barb
Eric
I bought Dan’s “Souvenirs” album when it came out (’73, or ’74?) and beacme a huge fan, although, as time went on, I like his output less and less (LOVE”…Auld Lang Syne”, though). However, I still listen to that mid ’70s stuff, and love it – as I told my wife this morning, upon reading of his death in the paper, his music was part of the music that got me through my “lonely teenage boy” years. He will be missed – a lot of people got in to him after I did, and that’s what it’s all about; just because I didn’t like something of his, somebody else did, and that’s the whole idea. He brought a lot of people much enjoyment. R.I.P. Dan – I was one of many friends you didn’t know. Peace be with you.
Macdad
Eric said, “He brought a lot of people much enjoyment. R.I.P. Dan – I was one of many friends you didn’t know. Peace be with you.” That is just about all of us, the friends he didn’t know, because of his wonderful music. He was still a young man when he left this world, but his music will live as long as we have music.
Dan
It is very sad that he passed so young after so much great music, but I will heed his sensible message to be tested. I am setting up a Dr.s’ appt. for January as a direct response to this.
Dan
Admittedly this is a great song, but everyone can hear this one about 20 times a day during the holidays on every light FM station.
Fogelberg had a string of great albums with a lot of really great songs on them. If you are not familiar with Fogelberg, try to hear something from Souvenirs, Home Free, Phoenix or Captured Angel. Many moments of greatness. Innocent Age of course. And Twin Sons, but those first 4 are terrific.
Pete
Thanks for the comments all. And Dan, good for you for scheduling the exam. I’ll be checking out some of your recommendations…
Dan
No appointment for you, Pete?
Pete
Dan – I will be talking to my doc about it for sure. I’m 37 – so if he recommends it, definitely.
Zeb
I had forgotten how good this music was. THere was so much good music to listen to during the 70’s. It waas similar to the information overload of the internet today. Just wanted to say to you, whomever published Dan’s letter, you’re the bomb. This is the most important message that one can give. saving your fellow man! (Unfortunately, Dan, was victimized) More celebrities need to do this! OMG ! Follow that advice. My father had the prostate irradiated, they frickin nuked him, it destroyed the cancer, but diabetes got him in the end. There is a genius MD that treated my Dad, who was big into selenium therapy, to ward off prostatic CA. Eat your Brazil nuts, boys.
joanne
how can someone get inside so many people’s lives unless his heart and soul can communicate with everyman? such a talent will be sorely missed. much sympathy for his family…hopefully they can take comfort in the idea that this one man touched so many.
Emily
Hey. I’m very sorry to hear that Dan Died. I know he had many memories in his life, good and bad. We all know.
tara
I was sad to hear of Dan’s passing. Believe it or not, my mother’s best friend had an on-again, off-again relationship with him. He apparently wrote “Same Ol Lang Syne” for her.
Christine
I first heard Dan’s Nether Lands in 1977 in high school, and was blown away by its beauty. I have been so sad to hear that he is gone, and have been rediscovering his music all over again (to the point of spending a ridiculous amount on eBay for his Christmas album). The rawness of “Missing You”, the sweetness of “Heart Hotels”, the rhythms of “Part of the Plan”. . . How awful that he is gone so young, and I hope his music lives on forever.
Roy Sencio
That’s sad, I did not know he passed. That makes two musicians I know who had Prostate Cancer, the other was Frank Zappa.