Celebrating the Life, Legacy, and Music of Dan Fogelberg

One warm spring evening in May of 1978, May 5 to be exact, I first heard the music of Dan Fogelberg. I was on tour with my high school choir attending a mixer in Mobile, Alabama and I was 16 years old. I still remember vividly the house, the room, the moment, the turntable and the emotion I felt after hearing my first Dan Fogelberg song. The song was ‘There’s A Place In The World For A Gambler’ from his 1974 album ‘Souvenirs’. I immediately forgot about the party and sat down in front of the turntable for the rest of the evening playing ‘Souvenirs’ over and over until someone insisted that it was time to put on ‘Born to Run’ by Bruce Springsteen. I succumbed to ‘The Boss.’ No worries I thought because by now my life had already been permanently altered and I was in another mind space and musical world. I had a new path and a new star to guide my way.

Music has been my lifeblood as far back as my parents, and I can remember. Those who know and understand me are aware of how many musical artists have strongly a!ected and changed my life. It is just a large part of who I am. Some are impressed, and some roll their eyes, but there is no denying that for better or for worse my soul is the amalgamation of many musical artists and styles. I could list dozens upon dozens of musicians whose music is ingrained in me forever, but very few have given me serious life changing moments that forever a!ected my path, music, soul, and spirit. For the sake of keeping this short, I will share with you today that Dan Fogelberg, Gino Vannelli, The Beatles, Alice Cooper and David Cassidy top the list.

When I returned home from that 1978 choir trip, I was a di!erent young man. My vision of the musician and artist I wanted to be had now completely changed, much like it had in 1975 when I first heard the music of Gino Vannelli. The very next day I went out and bought every Dan Fogelberg album, cassette and 8-Track I could get my hands on, and they immediately became my Bible. I asked my parents for an Ovation acoustic guitar for my Birthday that summer and my life changed forever.

The first of many times I had the opportunity to see Dan Fogelberg live was at The Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia in April of 1979. His performance that evening is one of my most cherished memories I have, and it completely cemented his permanent influence in my spirit and my original music. Like so many people his music went on to be a soundtrack to my life with many select memories only I can cherish. I cannot express in words how much Dan’s music, message, and life has influenced me. To this day it has never waned.

August 13, 2017 – Today is an extraordinary day for it would have been Dan’s 66th Birthday, and tonight at Fiddlers Green Amphitheater in Colorado, Dan Fogelberg, Joe Walsh, and Caribou Ranch will be inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. I am quite sad that I cannot be there in person to share in this long awaited celebration, but I will be there in spirit.

I ask you today to celebrate and enjoy the timeless music, message, magic and spirit that was Daniel Grayling Fogelberg.

Let it Shine....

Jeff Pike