It was just another day working at the computer. I got up and got ready for another day in my home-based business. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
I sat down and fired up my old mac and waited. I logged in an opened my email program.
Of all the messages I received, one struck me as out of place. It was an email from Dan Fogelberg’s site. I remembered hearing that he had been diagnosed in 2004 with advanced prostate cancer and I had signed up to receive updates on his condition when they were available. I had not heard anything since signing up and this had concerned me whenever I thought about it.
It was then that my fears were confirmed. The eloquently written email announced that he had passed away on Sunday, December 16th from the disease he had battle since 2004.
Like all of his fans, I felt a great sadness that such a great musician had been silenced for good at such a young age.
From all reports, he faced his death with a great deal of dignity and strength.
I remember how impressed I was reading his personal message about his diagnosis. He told the truth about what he was going through. What really got me was the time he spent brow-beating men into getting their yearly PSA exams. I could easily see how anybody faced with a life-threatening illness could lose sight of the bigger picture. He was determined back in 2004 if the disease were to claim him that his death wouldn’t be for nothing.
His melodic and harmonic vocabularies were as varied as they were impressive. His musicianship and technical abilities the best you are going to see in one package ever.
My heart goes out to Dan’s family in this time of grieving.
The “Leader of the Band” has gone home.
Goodbye, Dan. We will all miss you!