His father was a bandleader. He inspired,"Leader of the Band" was
released a year before he passed away in 1982.
An avid downhill skier and sailor.
After his death, Jill Greulich (nee Anderson) revealed herself as the ex-girlfriend referred to in "Same Auld Lang Syne". They ran into each other in December 1975, while visiting their respective families in Peoria.
His mother, a Scottish immigrant, is a classcally-trained pianist.
Built a full recording studio known as "Mountain Bird Studio" (as in
folgel = bird and berg = mountain) in the late 1980s, on his ranch, and
skied during the day and worked at night.
Has 2 older brothers, Marc, an attorney and Peter, a graphic
artist.
Has a house on an island of the coast of Maine which he uses during the
summer months.
In 1971, started pursuing music full time.
By 16, he was through with his band, period. Spent a lot of time sitting on a bluff beside the Illnois River singing Gordon Lightfoot tunes. He was more interested in painting and did some theater in high school.
His remains were cremated and his ashes are scattered off the coast of Maine.
Started composing songs and was in his first band, "The Clan", at the
age of 14.
Attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Battled prostate cancer since May 2004.
Dan's mother, Margaret, was happy to state that Dan was a "Rob Roy Macgregor".