I learned today that Dan Fogelberg has died at age 56 of cancer.
Back in the late 70s when I was attending college, Fogelberg was my favorite musical artist. As a guitarist and song writer myself, I felt a kindred spirit with him. I also sensed some similar musical influences in his mixture of electric and acoustic guitars with his wonderful melodies and songs that told stories. I learned to play and sing every song on his album entitled “Souvenirs.” I often dreamed of playing songs with him some day.
One of my favorites from the “Souvenirs” album was his song “Part of the Plan.” It showed that Fogelberg was more than a folk singer… he could really rock! No wonder it was a great song, he had Joe Walsh on acoustic and 12 string guitar and Graham Nash on backup vocals.
Take a look at these great lyrics from “Part of the Plan.” Fogelberg wrote weighty stuff.
I have these moments all steady and strong
I’m feeling so holy and humble
The next thing I know I’m all worried and weak
And I feel myself starting to crumble
The meanings get lost and the teachings get tossed
And you don’t know what you’re going to do next
You wait for the sun but it never quite comes
Some kind of message comes through to you
Some kind of message comes through
And it says to you…
(Chorus)
Love when you can
Cry when you have to
Be who you must
That’s a part of the plan
Await your arrival with simple survival
And one day we’ll all understand
One day we’ll all understand
One day we’ll all understand
According to his website bio, Dan always had a “wish list” of musicians that he wanted to play with and over time he got to play with nearly every one of them. The list of people he recorded with goes from Don Henley to Doc Watson, and from Graham Nash to Ricky Skaggs.
One of my best friends since childhood, Bruce Denton, and I went to see Dan Fogelberg in concert at Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tennessee when he was promoting his “Netherlands” album. Dan came out onto the stage alone for the first half of his concert. On the stage was a grand piano and a chair surrounded with various guitars. He sat down and started talking to us (all 20,000 of us) like we were in his living room. He proceeded to play and sing solo from the piano (he was an accomplished pianist) and then moved to a chair center stage and sang and played from about five different guitars (he had excellent chops from his studio days). This was without a doubt the best concert I ever attended. Both Bruce and I were blown away.
Plus, I would be negligent not to mention that the “Netherlands” album was mine and Robin’s kissing album (Don’t get all self-righteous on me now! I bet you had kissing music too).
So, I owe Dan a debt of gratitude. His music was the backdrop to my early days as a musician and a man in love with a woman.
I wish I could have played with you Dan, but I guess it wasn’t part of the plan.