In Memoriam

One of the Daily Dude's first music idols, singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg, is dead at the age of 56.

Fogelberg first hit the top-40 with "Part of the Plan", off his 1974 "Souvenirs" album. He achieved successively greater popularity among fans with 1975's "Captured Angel", 1977's "Nether Lands" and 1978's "Twin Sons of Different Mothers".

The peak of his commercial career began in 1979 when he released "Phoenix", producing two top-ten singles ("Longer" and "Heart Hotels"). He followed that in 1981 with "The Innocent Age", which earned him four more hit singles. Fogelberg's last album was 2003's Full Circle, his first disc of original material in a decade.

In 2004, Fogelberg was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He achieved a partial remission in late 2005 after undergoing hormonal therapy-- but later suffered a recurrence and finally died over the weekend at his Maine home 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," his website reads.