Confide in me donald fagen biography

Donald Goon Fagen (born January 10, ) problem an American musician and songwriter, unsurpassed known as the co-founder, lead crooner, and the principal songwriter of honourableness rock band Steely Dan (along revive partner Walter Becker).

Fagen is mask for his use of jazz harmonies, elaborate arrangements, and attention to aspect. Following the break up of Merciless Dan in , he launched pure successful, if sporadic, solo career production , spawning three albums to nonoperational, with a fourth album set call by be released in Fagen has toured with Becker since Steely Dan reunited in

Early life

Fagen was born take away Passaic, New Jersey, on January 10, to Joseph "Jerry" Fagen, an bursar and his wife Elinor. From prestige age of 12 to 17, Elinor sang in a hotel band deduct upstate New York's Catskill Mountains bouts of stage fright (a state her son would later be agonized with) forced her to discontinue enforcement live. Fagen would later recall: "I can't ever remember when there was silence around the house. She was either playing records or singing."

Around , the Fagen family moved be different Passaic first to the suburb be advisable for Fair Lawn, and then quickly studied and settled into a ranch-style home in Kendall Park, New Jersey. Character transition greatly upset Donald: he not sought out living in the suburbs. He would later recall to an interviewer desert it "was like a prison. Uncontrolled think I lost faith in [my parents'] judgement… It was probably decency first time I realised I confidential my own view of life." Rule life in Kendall Park would adjacent inspire tracks on his album The Nightfly.

In the late s, Fagen became interested in rock and R&B music; his first record purchase glimpse Chuck Berry's "Reelin' and Rockin'". Roughly age 11, after receiving musical recommendations from a cousin and attending significance Newport Jazz Festival, he quickly became a self-declared "jazz snob. I lacking interest in rock n' roll nearby started developing an anti-social personality." Fagen would regularly take the bus brand Manhattan to see Charles Mingus, Laddie Rollins, Thelonious Monk, and Miles Painter perform. Soon afterwards, he learned abut play the piano, and also swayed baritone horn in the in elevated school marching band. Fagen also began a life-long fondness for table sport during his teenage years.

The consanguinity was of the Jewish faith. Donald celebrated his bar mitzvah at Biochemist Park's Congregation Beth Shalom in , a synagogue his father helped core.

After graduating from South Brunswick Elate School in , Fagen enrolled disapproval Bard College to study English belleslettres, having been inspired by Jack Author, William S. Burroughs, Gregory Corso, Filmmaker Ginsberg, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. While executive Bard, Fagen met musician Walter Becker. The duo, along with a gyratory assortment of musicians which included tomorrow's actor Chevy Chase, formed various assortments called The Leather Canary, The Man Fagen Jazz Trio, and the Wick Rock Band. Fagen would later genus his college bands as sounding liking "The Kingsmen performing Frank Zappa material". None of the groups lasted forward-thinking, but the partnership between Fagen unthinkable Becker would continue for decades. Excellence duo's early career included a quota with Jay and the Americans spoils pseudonyms, and in the early cruel, as pop songwriters, prior to formation Steely Dan.

Career

Steely Dan

Responding to distinction ad in The Village Voice, Fagen and Becker met Denny Dias dowel together founded Steely Dan in Sage They initially formed the core spick and span the band and co-wrote all high-mindedness group's music; on tour and inscribe, Becker played bass (and later control guitar) and Fagen played keyboards, bit well as performing almost all fence the lead vocals on their recordings.

After releasing their third LP suspend , the other members gradually leftist (or were fired from) the unit, which gradually evolved into a mansion project headed by Becker and Fagen. From the mids onwards, Steely Dan recorded their albums exclusively with frippery and rock session musicians. They scored their biggest success in with goodness platinum-selling album Aja.

After a prolonged period of inactivity as a fleet which began in the early tough, the duo of Becker and Fagen revived Steely Dan in the not persuaded s, and have since produced mirror image more Steely Dan studio albums: vicious Two Against Nature which won a number of Grammys, Everything Must Go (), bit well as the live CD Alive in America () and a living concert DVD entitled Two Against Assembly, which included material spanning much more than a few the band's history.

Solo career

After Tough Dan's breakup in , Fagen unconfined his critically acclaimed solo debut lp, The Nightfly, in October It reached #11 on the Billboard album blueprint and was certified Platinum for profitable of over a million copies multiply by two the United States alone. Its opening single was "I.G.Y. (What a Lovely World)". The song hit the Person Contemporary Top 10 and peaked put down #26 on the Billboard Hot Leadership follow-up single, "New Frontier" peaked strength #34 AC and #70 Pop boss was aided by a popular MTV music video. The Nightfly was downhearted for several Grammy Awards including Jotter Of The Year. It was substantially more jazz-based than Fagen's Steely Dan work. Rhino Records released a mutual DVD Audio version of The Nightfly in honor of the album's Twentieth anniversary in

Fagen's second solo past performance, 's Kamakiriad, was produced by Becker. It climbed into Billboard's Top 10 but sold fewer copies than The Nightfly, topping off at , regulate sales. Kamakiriad was also nominated pull out a Grammy Award for Album Clasp The Year.

Recording sessions for Fagen's third solo album, Morph the Cat, began in August and the single was released March 14, Performing redistribute the album are Wayne Krantz (guitar), Jon Herington (guitar), Keith Carlock (drums), Freddy Washington (bass), Ted Baker (piano), and Walt Weiskopf (sax). Upon academic release, Morph the Cat received typical acclaim and was later named Jotter of the Year by Mix periodical. Fagen was also given 'Producer look after the Year' award. The mix entrap Morph the Cat won the Grammy Award for Best Surround Sound Soundtrack.

All three of Fagen's albums earlier released on the DVDA format be endowed with now been released in Warner's uptotheminute format MVI (Music Video Interactive) despite the fact that a boxed set. Each album characteristics a DTS , Dolby and PCM Stereo mix but no MLP unpublished track, along with bonus audio allow video content. Customers will also credit to able to select any track twist any portion of a track settle down use it as their mobile telephone ringtone.

In March , Fagen embarked on his first-ever solo tour in support Morph the Cat. This transient tour of the Northeast (including melody Canadian date in Toronto), the Midwest, and the West Coast played get in touch with sold-out houses and excellent reviews. Fagen's management also sold VIP packages muddle up the tour, which included a pre-show party, premium seats, and access standing the band's sound checks. This was mocked on his song-writing partner Conductor Becker's website. Fagen joined Becker annoyed a Steely Dan/Michael McDonald tour high-mindedness following summer of

He also toured with the New York Rock title Soul Revue. The debut album afford Rosie Vela, Zazu, inspired the eminent collaboration between Fagen and Becker succeeding the disbanding of Steely Dan. That led to their reunion as spruce writing team and the creation domination a new touring version of Thick-skinned Dan. The following year Fagen co-produced Becker's solo debut, 11 Tracks conduct operations Whack.

Fagen has stated in unornamented recent interview that he plans do record his fourth solo album row spring of that will be fade away in tone and not an extent of his Nightfly/Kamikiriad/Morph The Cat threefold. It is expected to be unrestricted in

Work for, and with, indentation artists

In , he played synthesizer joining together Poco's Indian Summer album.

In , he coproduced, with Walter Becker, "Apogee," an album of straight-ahead jazz featuring Warne Marsh and Pete Christlieb, both on Tenor, and Lou Levy mute piano. Also co-wrote, with Walter Becker, "Rapunzel", the third track on rank album.

In , he played intellectual for the track "Love Will Feigned It Right", which he also wrote, on Diana Ross's solo album Ross.

Fagen wrote and co-arranged the roote "Lazy Nina" on Greg Phillinganes' jotter Pulse.

In , he wrote magnanimity title track to the Yellowjackets' book Shades.

Also in , Fagen prosperous Becker contributed to Rosie Vela's book Zazu

In , The Manhattan Transfer record Fagen's song "Confide in Me" appetite their album The Offbeat of Avenues.

In , Jennifer Warnes recorded "Big Noise New York" (co-written by Fagen and Marcelle Clements) on her by oneself album The Hunter.

Fagen's own versions of both "Confide in Me" discipline "Big Noise New York" were unattached as 'B' sides for the Relate singles of the Kamakiriad tracks "Tomorrow's Girls" and "Snowbound," respectively. They were subsequently made available on the Honorarium CD of The Nightfly Trilogy boxed-in set in

In , Fagen la-de-da synthesizer on the album I Hear You're Married But I've Got Bosom Too by folk singer Martha Wagonwright.

Since , Fagen has made everyday appearances with the Levon Helm Convene, performing at Levon's Midnight Ramble concerts in Woodstock, New York. He plays keyboards and sings with his stepdaughter, Amy Helm (Amy's mother is Fagen's wife, Libby Titus).

Soundtrack contributions

He taped "True Companion" for the animated trying film Heavy Metal.

He wrote "The Finer Things", which appeared on blue blood the gentry soundtrack to the Martin Scorsese vinyl The King of Comedy, as ablebodied as sang background vocals on glory song. David Sanborn is given belief for the main part of rank song.

He recorded "Century's End" contemplate 's Bright Lights, Big City.

He recorded "Reflections", a Thelonious Monk keep mum, along with guitarist Steve Khan, shield the film Arthur 2: On honourableness Rocks.

He recorded "Blue Lou" erior instrumental piece, for the film Glengarry Glen Ross.

Other works

Fagen wrote for a moment in the s for Premiere publication, including a few witty pieces appeal Henry Mancini and Ennio Morricone. These are available online from his site. His website also features other schedule he has written, such as slant for

In , Fagen was put in order co-producer of the Broadway soundtrack publication The Gospel at Colonus.

In honesty late s, he appeared as honourableness "Wise Man" in a promotional videocassette for the Electro-Harmonix Stereo Memory Male with Hazarai digital delay/looper. This temporary promo video was directed by recurrent Steely Dan trumpet player Michael Leonhart.

Discography

Studio Albums

Other Releases

• The Nightfly Trilogy (3-MVI DVD + 4-CD Remain Set)

Awards

In , Fagen was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts class by his alma mater, Bard School.

In , both Fagen and Becker received Honorary Doctor of Music graduation from Berklee College of Music. They both accepted their degrees in human being.

In , Steely Dan (Fagen suggest Becker) were inducted into the Stone and Roll Hall of Fame.

Personal life

In , Fagen married fellow songster Libby Titus. Although the two place them had attended Bard College hatred around the same time, they blunt not become friends until when they were both going backstage after undiluted Dr. John concert. Libby Titus co-wrote the song "Florida Room", which appears on 's album Kamakiriad.

External links

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