From the PJS:
Peoria native Dan Fogelberg, an influential singer and songwriter in the 1970s and 1980s, died today at his Maine home after a battle with prostate cancer. He was 56.
Fogelberg was before my time at Woodruff High School. One of my English teachers — Wendy Blickenstaff — attended WHS with him.
He’s probably the most famous grad we have.
Reuters’ version is here.
Peoria History has an article here.
Tags: Dan Fogelberg
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
Rest in peace, Danny – you were an inspiration to us all at Woody High, even us in the Class of 88 …
Sad news indeed. My lovely and talented better half has some connections-through-WHS-classmates with Mr. Fogelberg as well.
Another Peoria native son passes…
Sorry to see Dan pass so young.
I never cared for his music… thought it was too sugary to keep down… but I was glad to see a local guy make it reasonably big on the worldwide stage for a spell.
Rest in peace, Dan.
I enjoyed Dan’s music and appreciated that he was from here. Sad news, indeed.
While I’ve got to agree that much of Dan’s stuff was a bit too marzipannish for my taste, “Same Old Lang Syne” is the quintessential Peoria nostalgia song, perfect at this time of year when returnees can occasionally run into lovers and friends at the grocery store.
The song always raised the question about lax policing of beer-drinkers in Glen Oak Park, however.