Dan Fogelberg Died Today

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071217/ap_en_mu/obit_fogelberg_11

"Leader of the Band" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8mml7n4FmA
An only child alone and wild
A cabinet maker's son
His hands were meant for different work
And his heart was known to none --
He left his home and went his lone and solitary way
And he gave to me a gift I know
I never can repay

A quiet man of music
Denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once
But his music wouldn't wait
He earned his love through discipline
A thundering, velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls
Took me years to understand.

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.

My brothers' lives were different
For they heard another call
One went to Chicago
And the other to St. Paul
And I'm in Colorado
When I'm not in some hotel
Living out this life I've chose
And come to know so well.

I thank you for the music
And your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom when it came my time to go --
I thank you for the kindness
And the times when you got tough
And, papa, I don't think I
Said 'I love you' near enough --

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
I am the living legacy
To the leader of the band.

Wow, that is so sad. 56 is way too young. :(

AWWWWW.... I loved his voice... :( run for the roses..

I got stoned so many times in the 70's listening to his music. He was truly wonderful.

So many memories come back reading about him. I think I will dig out my old albums and shed a tear or two for all the friends and dreams of yesterday.

Same Auld Lang Syne http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QExQCwn6kwg

Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling christmas eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve

She didn’t recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried.

We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged.

We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldn’t find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

She said she’d married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would have liked to say she loved the man
But she didn’t like to lie.

I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasn’t sure if I saw
Doubt or gratitude.

She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly
But the traveling was hell.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to time
Reliving in our eloquence
Another ’auld lang syne’...

The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out
And I watched her drive away.

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 --

Such sad news. And yes, 56 is much too young. :(

AWWWWWW. :(

He left a great legacy of music.

Longer Than...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg0LiDnh5c4&feature=related

When he wrote this song, he came to Louisville when it was premiered. It was Ky Derby time. Celebrities who come here are very relaxed and friendly with the people of this area.

He was arrogant and unfriendly, and didn't care at all for the attention he was receiving. But,this song he wrote has come to become the theme song for the Kentucky Derby.

But,despite his attitude on that visit, I always admired him for his talents.

I hate to hear that he died so young and of prostate cancer. Men, get your prostates exams done!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZdDwm3QIwfg

I know I was upset by this news...rest in peace mate

In an interview after he was diagnosed, he said he couldn't believe how many people contacted him, how many people cared about him, how many people he had touched, and I wondered, "How could he not know?" Then I thought, "How wonderful that he found out."

I wonder if it hit him that for every person that contacted him, there were hundreds, probably thousands more who felt the same?.

AND wouldn't we ALL be lucky if we knew how many people who's hearts we've touched?

I am a Xmas music lover, and was listening to his "First Chrismas Morning" CD last night. It is one of my fav Xmas cd's, as it is very unusual. I didn't know he had died. I was a fan. I am very sad today.

Nandara