Fogelberg Estate Makes Iconic Deal
• The estate of the late multi-platinum singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg has entered into an agreement with Irving Azoff‘s Iconic Artists Group (Iconic) to acquire, develop and expand Fogelberg’s musical catalog and legacy to new generations.
The deal epitomizes the close friendship between Fogelberg and Azoff that started back in 1970 when the pair dropped out of the University of Illinois and drove to LA seeking fame and fortune in the music business. Fogelberg had promised his band leader father Lawrence (whom Fogelberg would later immortalize in his song “Leader of the Band”), that he would return to college if there was little success after a year. And the rest, to use an overstated saying, is history.
“I love that story,” said Jean Fogelberg, Dan’s widow. “As Dan recounted it, they stayed with Irving’s Aunt Bernice for a few weeks before moving to a one-bedroom apartment on Holloway Drive, just down the street from Tower Records. While Dan worked on his music, Irving made inroads with his customary energy and determination, netting Dan a record deal at Columbia Records. In time, they both became very successful, but through the years their friendship remained unchanged. Dan always considered Irving ‘family,’ and told me if I needed anything after he was gone, I could count on Irving, and he was right.”
Jean continued, “When Iconic Artists Group approached me about curating Dan’s catalog, I didn’t have to think about it for very long. Partnering with Iconic feels like a natural continuation of the work Irving and I have done together since Dan died in 2007. I’m excited about the possibilities of collaborating with a dedicated team of industry professionals, and I take comfort in knowing that Dan’s legacy will be nurtured for generations to come.”
Azoff said, “Dan Fogelberg and I met at school at the University of Illinois. He was the folk guy, and I booked the rock clubs. The first time he came by my little office, someone stole his bicycle! Acting upon our dreams and our belief in his talent, we made our way to LA like so many others in the early seventies. The rest is history. I am so grateful to Dan and Jean for the trust they have put in Iconic and the Azoff family. (My wife) Shelli and I were married as my closest friend Dan sat at the piano and played ‘To the Morning.’ I can’t believe he has been gone sixteen years. I still miss him greatly. I am honored to work with Jean continuing the fine work she has done to manage Dan’s legacy.”
Jimmy Edwards, President of Iconic, noted, “Dan Fogelberg always wrote songs about his own life experiences and had the ability to immerse himself in any genre while still doing what he did best: telling a story from his heart. Iconic is honored to celebrate the legacy that Irving and Dan started together more than 50 years ago.”
Fogelberg’s second album, the 1974 Joe Walsh-produced Souvenirs, hit the top 20 and spawned the hit, “Part of the Plan,” and led Fogelberg into a three-decade run that would include 11 platinum and two gold albums. His best-known songs include “Longer,” which became a wedding standard; “Run For The Roses,” “The Language Of Love,” “The Power of Gold” (with Tim Weisberg), and “Same Old Lang Syne,” to name but a few.
Fogelberg died of prostate cancer in 2007. He was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame; the Red Rocks Performers Hall of Fame; and in August of 2017 he was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame during a sold-out tribute concert at Fiddler’s Green, Colorado.
The Fogelberg agreement follows Iconic’s recent acquisitions of interests in the catalogs of Cher, Dean Martin, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Nat King Cole, Linda Ronstadt, Joe Cocker, and The Beach Boys. [Photo credit: Henry Diltz]
