Dan Fogelberg Dead Of Cancer At 56

Yes, I am aware that we do not play Dan Fogelberg. We tend to lean away from the soft rock crowd @ AOR. It's why the song If by Bread is never The Early Morning Eye Opener at 5:45 AM. But I am a fan, and this is a sad thing that should be mentioned, because the guy was one of the best lyricists ever to sit down with a pen:

And balanced on the precipice

The moment must reveal

Naked in the face of time

Our race within the wheel

As we hang beneath the heavens

And we hover over hell

Our hearts become the instruments

We learn to play so well.

Wealthy the spirit that knows its own flight

Stealthy the hunter who slays his own fright

Blessed the traveler who journeys the length of the light.

"Nexus" -Dan Fogelberg, The Innocent Age CD

Dan Fogelberg -- the singer-songwriter who made his mark with such ballads as "Longer," "Leader of the Band" and "Same Old Lang Syne" -- died yesterday (Sunday) at his home in Maine after a three-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 56.

The Illinois native's death was announced in a posting on his website. "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. His strength, dignity and grace in the face of the daunting challenges of this disease were an inspiration to all who knew him."

In a 2003 interview with us, Dan discussed his musical genre, one which placed him alongside fellow acoustic rockers Carole King, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell. "Our generation, the whole generations of singer-songwriters especially from the late-'60s and early-'70s, were a pretty exceptional class. That the musical quality was really up there. And they were not just selling a product, these were people writing experiences. And these experiences translated into a whole generations of experiences."

While best known for his own compositions, Fogelberg occasionally performed songs made famous by others. Cascades leader John Gummoe recalled for us such a show in LA. "I had the great thrill of seeing him perform at the Greek Theater and was able to go backstage and meet him and thank him personally for doing my song, 'Rhythm of the Rain.' I was so nervous to be standing in his presence, and he was so gracious. What a wondrous talent and I will miss him greatly." --Mike McCann, Premiere Radio