Died On This Date (December 16, 2007) Dan Fogelberg / Popular Singer-Songwriter

Dan Fogelberg
August 13, 1951 – December 16, 2007

dan-fogelbergDan Fogelberg was one of the most popular soft rock singer-songwriters of the 1970s.  Starting in 1975, Fogelberg released a string of gold and platinum selling albums including 1979’s Phoenix, which included the #2 single, “Longer,” that has since become a wedding favorite.  Two collaborations with Tim Weisberg were also very popular with his fans.  In 1981, he released High Country Snows, a bluegrass album that included such guests as Vince Gill, Doc Watson, Jerry Douglas and David Grisman.  Fogelberg stayed very active either touring or recording into the early 2000s, Often using his popularity to promote social and environmental issues.  Dan Fogelberg was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004, and died of it on December 16, 2007.  He was 56.

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Died On This Date (December 16, 1997) Nicolette Larson / Popular Country Singer

Nicolette Larson
July 17, 1952 – December 16, 1997

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Nicolette Larson was a country and pop singer who is perhaps best remembered for her 1978 hit single, “Lotta Love,” a cover of the Neil Young song.  Larson’s angelic voice lead to numerous vocal sessions over the years.  She can be heard singing back-up on records by the likes of Commander Cody, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young and the Doobie Brothers.  In 1978, Larson released her debut album, Nicolette, which prompted Rolling Stone magazine to cite her as the best female vocalist of 1978.  Larson’s last hit single was a country one, 1985’s duet with Steve Wariner, on “That’s How You Know When Love is Right.”   Later vocal credits include records by Dolly Parton, Weird Al Yankovic, and Jimmy Buffett.  Nicolette Larson was 45 when she died on December 16, 1997 from complications of cerebral edema.

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Died On This Date (December 16, 2001) Stuart Adamson / Big Country

William Stuart Adamson
April 11, 1958 – December 16, 2001

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Stuart Adamson is best remembered as the lead singer of popular ’80s rock band, Big Country.  He also found moderate success in an earlier influential punk band, the Skids.   Formed in 1977, the Skids had a UK charting single with “Into The Valley” and would later be cited as an influence on U2 and Green Day.  In 1982, Adamson formed Big Country, a full-sounding rock band that incorporated elements of Scottish folk music and instrumentation into their sound.  The band’s debut album, The Crossing was a hit across Europe as well as in the United States, thanks to songs like “Fields Of Fire” and “In A Big Country,” which received heavy video play on a young MTV.  Although the band never matched the success of The Crossing, they continued to make solid records and be popular concert draw well into the ’90s.  The band released its final album in 1999 and mounted what would be their farewell tour in 2000.  Adamson, who reportedly suffered from depression, disappeared on at least two occasions, causing concern for family, friends and band mates.  In November of 2001, he did just that, and on December 16th, he was found dead of self-strangulation in his Hawaii hotel room.  He was 43.

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Died On This Date (December 16, 1988) Sylvester / Disco Star

Sylvester James
September 6, 1947 – December 16, 1988

Sylvester James, who generally went by just his first name, was a disco-era star who had hits in the late ’70s with “Dance (Disco Heat),” “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real),” and “Can’t Stop Dancing.”  Born and raised by a music-loving family in Los Angeles, James was encouraged to sing at an early age.  During the late ’60s, he moved to San Francisco where he became part of the gay and transgender entertainment community, with most notably, the Cockettes.  Over the next few years, James began making a name for himself throughout the Bay area and in 1977, he signed with Fantasy Records, who teamed him up with legendary Motown producer, Harvey Fuqua.  James quickly became a disco star by releasing numerous hits and appearing on television and film.  His last hit came in 1984.  On December 16, 1988, Sylvester James, 41, died of complications from AIDS.

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