One of my favorites.
Sigh….
Singer Dan Fogelberg, 56, Dies of Cancer
Dan Fogelberg, the singer and songwriter whose hits “Leader of the Band” and “Same Old Lang Syne” helped define the soft-rock era, died Sunday at his home in Maine after battling prostate cancer. He was 56.
His death was announced in a statement released by his family through the firm Scoop Marketing, and it was also posted on the singer’s Web site.
“Dan left us this morning at 6:00 a.m. He fought a brave battle with cancer and died peacefully at home in Maine with his wife Jean at his side,” it read. “His strength, dignity and grace in the face of the daunting challenges of this disease were an inspiration to all who knew him.”
Fogelberg discovered he had advanced prostate cancer in 2004. In a statement then, he thanked fans for their support.
“It is truly overwhelming and humbling to realize how many lives my music has touched so deeply all these years,” he said.
Through the years as the fire
starts to mellow
Burning lines in the book of our lives
Though the binding cracks and the
pages start to yellow
I’ll be in love with you….
4 Responses
My wife said, Dan Who?
The Leader of the Band has died. Prostate cancer took this young 56 year old singer/songwriter. It has been said that had it been caught earlier, Dan might have survived. As a prostate cancer survivor I was diagnosed at age 47 (quite by accident). Fogelberg’s diagnosis happened when he was 52 and by then it was in advanced stages. As a professional speaker ( http://www.chuckgallagher.com ) I have the opportunity to speak to groups nation wide. While my presentations don’t center around this disease, I use every opportunity available to encourage men to get checked early and often. A simple blood test done soon enough could mean the difference between life and death.
Oh, Billy, so sad. Fogelberg was so much a part of my life as a young adult – I can’t imagine not having his music to help me grow up a bit.
One of my friends just had a scare with prostate testing and fortunately doesn’t have cancer, but it was scary for a while, and the testing got expensive when he lost his job and insurance. My own close call with colon cancer was scary, too. So important to get these tests done and take care of these things EARLY.
He was my favorite throughout high school. I own most of his albums still, I believe.