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Dan Fogelberg Biography
Review The Artist (7)
Source: http://www.treehouse.org/fogelberg/biography.html
Daniel Grayling Fogelberg was born on August 13, 1951 in Peoria, Illinois. He has two older brothers Marc, an attorney, and Peter, a graphic artist that live in Chicago and Peoria respectively. His father, Lawrence Peter Fogelberg, was a World War II veteran and worked as a band leader for both Woodruff 1945-1955 and Pekin 1956-1976 High Schools and Bradley University, all in Peoria. He inspired "The Leader Of The Band" which was released a year before he passed away in 1982. Dan's mother, Margaret Young Fogelberg, a Scottish immigrant, is a classically-trained pianist.
While growing up, Dan took piano lessons and taught himself to play an old Hawaiian slide guitar that his grandfather gave him. By age 14, Dan was composing songs and was in his first band, The Clan, which played only Beatles tunes. His second band, The Coachmen, played songs by West Coast bands and even appeared with some national acts like Paul Revere and the Raiders. The group also spent some time at a Peoria- area recording studio, The Golden Voice, and released two songs "Maybe Time Will Let Me Forget" and "Autumn Leaves" as 45s on Ledger Records in 1967. They were even offered $1000 for "Autumn Leaves" by a band called The Cryan Shames but turned it down.
By 16 Dan was through with his band period and his "introverted self came out and started taking over," he has said. For the next two years, he spent a lot of time sitting on a bluff beside the Illinois River singing Gordon Lightfoot songs. But at that time he was actually more interested in painting and even had done some theater in high school.
After being named an Illinois State Scholar and graduating from Woodruff High School in 1969, Dan enrolled at the University of Illinois at Champaign as a theater major but quickly changed to painting. After two years he was becoming so successful playing music in local coffeehouses and around the state that he dropped out of college in 1971 to pursue music full-time.
He went to Los Angeles with friend and manager, Irving Azoff, also an ex-student at the University of Illinois. Irving got Dan a record contract and Home Free, his first album, was released and 1972. In the early 70's, Dan was also a session musician, playing on albums by Jackson Browne, Joe Walsh, Randy Newman, Roger McGuinn and others. Dan's second album, Souvenirs, produced by Joe Walsh, came out in 1974 and got him his first hit, "Part Of The Plan." Dan's painting on the inner jacket shows things mentioned in the title song, such as the key, window sill and sunrise. Items from other songs are shown too, such as the raven and the gambler s card. Also, notice the date circled on the calendar.
Dan wasn't comfortable with the California lifestyle, so he moved to Tennessee where he purchased a farm near Nashville about 1973. After three years, he moved to a place near Boulder, Colorado. His third album, Captured Angel in 1975, was written as a result of the move.
The fourth album, Nether Lands in 1977, recorded at the Caribou Ranch, was about "living on the edge," as Dan describes it. For the song , "Give Me Some Time," Dan needed a flute player and this is how he met Tim Weisberg. Dan's next album Twin Sons Of Different Mothers in 1978 was a collaboration with Tim. Dan said that "We'd rather solo with a melodic purpose than do 85 bars of jamming. The album is what I've musically always wanted to say."
In 1979, Dan released Phoenix , his sixth album. This album contained "Longer" , which made it to #2 on the charts. The Egyptian legend of Phoenix is about a beautiful lone bird that lived in the desert for 500 years and then consumed itself in fire, only to rise again from the ashes to live another long life. Dan equates this in the title song to rising again after losing at love. The album cover shows the Phoenix bird rising, pulling its heart upward as well.
The next album, The Innocent Age was released in 1981. This is Dan's favorite album. This ambitious project was inspired by his thoughts of turning 30 and many of its songs reflect on youth, which is an age of innocence. To write it he went back to his grade school and the woods he played in as a child. The album is song-cycle arranged, it appears, in a progression beginning with songs of creation and youth, and ending with a song about death and the ghosts of days left behind. The album leads us from the cradle, through many experiences, and finally to the grave. The record's cover photo reflects this theme.
In 1982 Dan moved from near Boulder to his current home, a ranch in the southern Colorado Rockies. There he married his first wife, Maggie, from a wealthy family in Memphis. Unfortunately, their relationship lasted less than two years and they were divorced in 1985. The year he moved also marked the release of his Greatest Hits album, followed by Windows And Walls in 1984. The following year came High Country Snows, inspired by a bluegrass festival he attended in Telluride in 1983.
Next came the album Exiles, released in 1987. It has become known as the "divorce album." Meanwhile, he met his second wife Anastasia Savage, a nurse and painter, from Louisiana. Coincidentally, she used to be a private nurse for Georgia O'Keeffe, one of Dan's favorite artist and to whom "Bones In The Sky", from The Wild Places, was dedicated, after her death. Dan once said how he had wanted to stop by O'Keeffe's ranch to meet her, but she probably felt the same way about uninvited visitors as he does. He is also a painter and photographer. In 1991, Dan recorded Greetings From The West live at a St. Louis, MO concert. An accompaning video of the concert and an interview was also released.
Dan is an avid downhill skier and sailor. He also has a modest old home on an island off the coast of Maine where he keeps his sailboat and visits in the summer. He built a full recording studio known as "Mountain Bird Studio" (as in Berg = Mountain and Fogel = bird, for those of you that didn't know) on his ranch in the late 80's and now he can ski during the day and work at night. Here he has recorded his last two albums River Of Souls in 1993 and No Resemblance Whatsoever, again with Tim Weisberg in 1995.
Unfortunately, Dan and Anastasia were separated in late 1996. Dan's close friends reportedly include Jimmy Buffett and members of The Eagles, several of which have appeared on his albums. He has inspired other artists such as Garth Brooks etc. |
Would you please submit the latest Dan Fogelberg biography to me? Thank You.
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Review about Dan Fogelberg
Fogelberg was very talented | Reviewer: Anonymous | 2/18/2008Dan was one of the few incredibly talented, and not prone ot commerical pressure, musician-songwriters, like Todd Rundgren, and Karla Bonoff. Maybe not as commerically successful are these three, but all known by other musicians, as the talent at a highest level!
"...and it's going to be a day..." | Reviewer: tim pastor | 2/9/2008
Since the fall of '75, I affectionately referred to Dan as "Uncle Dan"! His music stuck a chord that still resonates deep within me...the ethereal, "To the Morning", opened the flood-gates to a a great river that I'm still proud to travel down! my first girlfriend said "ya, gotta hear this new singer!"
...this beautifully haunting melody was on the first album, first side, the first song- And as far as emoting in my attempt to write & express musically,I've never been the same since!
...I know you're shining, "Uncle Dan", within the depths of my own darkness! > "...and it's going to be a day, there is really nothing left to say but come on morning..." see u soon, tim
Still so deeply saddened | Reviewer: Cynthia | 1/30/2008
I have been a long time fan of Dan, but was still somewhat surprised and how strongly the grief took hold of me. I felt like I had lost a close family member. And, then I realize, I had. He was with me in my teens, at my marriage, I rocked my babies to his songs. He comforted me after my divorce and consoled me during the tough times of dating again and being a single mom. He was ALWAYS there. The one person I turned to when I couldn't find the words to express my own emotions. With each stage of my life, he was there. I truly have lost a member of my family and I still grieve. I hope soon to once again find the comfort in his music, instead of feeling the loss.
Gone, but not forgotten | Reviewer: Alan Slawter | 1/29/2008
Although most artists are guarded to elude scorn or criticism, Dan would just write and sing what he thought and felt. There are millions of us who loved and appreciated the special qualities and person introspectives of his creations. I miss him, but enjoy his music more than ever as his passing emphasises how transient our time is "in the passage..."
Respect for a Music Man | Reviewer: Jeff Short | 1/20/2008
My heart is still heavy with the passing of Dan, I loved his music and most importantly his song writing. I was lucky enough to meet with him and talk before he performed on stage in Knoxville, Tennessee. Thank you for your sweet soul Dan.
Only the heart can see * | Reviewer: Doug Abbott | 12/21/2007
I would like to express my deep appreciation of Dan & his music. His songs insprired us as young musicians, as well as the great shows he put on. His duet with Emmylou Harris was like a lullaby to my kids in the early 80's, and the song "Leader of the Band" probably saved my marriage, way back when in 1981. I am so thankful to Dan. I hope he had a happy life. DGA
Netherland art work on brown paper | Reviewer: Jeanie | 12/18/2007
Pen and ink water color wash.dated 1977 Plus M Lone 1989.
I am wondering if this is an orginal art by Dan Fogelberg? or a friend. The pic is a man on a bluff overlooking a pine valley. snow mountains in the distance. The man has a back pac.
the lyrics are all hand printed...thanx Jeanie
Review the Artist Dan Fogelberg
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