Blogging in B Minor

I was saddened to learn that Dan Fogelberg, one of my favorite, if not most favorite and inspirational songwriters had passed away this morning at 6:00am. He fought a brave 3-year battle with prostate cancer. Dan Fogelberg, in my opinion, was one of the best “storytellers” of our time. His songs, such as Same Auld Lang Syne, Longer, Heart Hotels and many others were written in a way that songwriters can only hope to write one day – and he did it in a way that seemed so effortless.

I remember when I heard the news back in 2004 that he had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and I was taken aback. Prostate cancer is a preventable disease (at least early detection is possible and thus, a strong chance of treating and beating it is possible) and he wasted no time in writing a very strongly worded “sermon” as he indicated on his home page at Dan Fogelberg.com that urged every man to stay on top of this and get a DRE and PSA test every year. On his birthday in 2005 I believe it was, he wrote a letter to his fans that was posted on his web site but after that there was no word from him or on his condition. I knew that he had moved back to Maine where he owned a home.

His primary residence to that point had been a sprawling ranch in Colorado called Mountain Bird Ranch. He named the ranch Mountain Bird after his last name – Fogel meaning Mountain and Berg meaning Bird. I noticed the estate went up for sale in 2005. Here are some pictures – the studio picture is beautiful – he recorded a lot here apparently – it’s sad to me to look at this.

I was able to see Dan live in 1991 and unfortunately that was the only time. He was to tour in 2004 and canceled the tour due to his diagnosis. He will be missed but his music lives on.

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