Dan Fogelberg Dead at 56

From E! Online

Dan Fogelberg Dead at 56

by Sarah Hall

The leader of the band is gone.

Easy-rocking singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg, known for such '70s and '80s hits as "Leader of the Band" and "Same Old Lang Syne" died Sunday at his home in Maine, following a battle with prostate cancer. He was 56.

"Dan left us this morning at 6 a.m. He fought a brave battle with cancer and died peacefully at home in Maine with his wife Jean at his side," read a statement posted on the singer's Website. "His strength, dignity and grace in the face of the daunting challenges of this disease were an inspiration to all who knew him."

Fogelberg was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2004. He underwent hormonal therapy and achieved a partial remission but failed to completely eliminate the disease.

In a statement expressing his gratitude to his fans for their support following his diagnosis, Fogelberg said he found it "truly overwhelming and humbling to realize how many lives [his] music has touched so deeply all these years."

"I thank you from the very depths of my heart," he added.

Over the course of his career, Fogelberg released more than 20 albums, many of them going gold or platinum.

While his first album, 1972's Home Free, received only a lukewarm response from critics, his follow-up, 1974's Souvenirs, was a huge hit, catapulting him to stardom.

Perhaps his best-known album was 1981's The Innocent Age, which included his biggest singles, "Leader of the Band," "Same Old Lang Syne" and "Hard to Say."

His final album, Full Circle, was released in 2003, and featured a return to his folk-inspired roots of the '70s. It was his first album of original material in a decade.

Fogelberg was also known for his live performances and spent most summers on the road, either with a full band or as a solo acoustic act.

In 2002, fans showed their appreciation by selecting him to be one of the first 10 artists inducted into the Performers Hall of Fame at Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

At the time of his cancer diagnosis, he was planning a fall tour, which he was subsequently forced to cancel. He later urged others to be tested regularly, writing on his Website, "I promise you, you DON’T want to go through what I’m going through if you can avoid it."

Fogelberg is survived by his wife, Jean. No funeral plans had been announced.

Judakris spends a lot of time writing about and listening to popular music, but we have always had a soft spot (in truth, also a tearful affection) for the easy rock sounds of our childhoods. In my opinion, the music industry has lost an extremely talented singer/songwriter. Hits like Longer, Hard to Say, The Lion's Share, Leader of the Band, and Same Old Lang Syne will continue on in my heart on those long road trips where I can sing as good as Dan. -K