Woodruff High School - "Leader of the Band" - Peoria, IL - Immortalized in Lyrics on Waymarking.com

In Peoria, along Abington Street, is the Woodruff Career and Technical Center, which was where Dan Fogelberg went to school as a youth and his father taught music.

The high school entrance is off Abington Street, but the address is 1800 NW Perry Ave. There is a large parking lot - I suggest visiting on the weekend. During Dan's time there, it was high school. Recently, it was remade into a technical school. Abington Street has an honorary name attached to it as well - Fogelberg Parkway - after Dan Fogelberg.

The song, "Leader of the Band" is Dan's tribute to his father. There is no specific mention of Woodruff H.S. in the song. However, Dan went to high school there, and his father taught music in Peoria and, later, Pekin.

An article in the Peoria JournalStar about a tribute concert for Lawrence Fogelberg stated that Lawrence Fogelberg was music director for Woodruff High School, Bradley University, and Pekin Community High School. Dan's mother was a classically trained pianist, as well. Thus, Dan had a lot of exposure to music and eventually decided to pursue it. I could not find a direct reference whether he Dan was in any classes that his father taught, but it was possible. Certainly the part of his father sculpting thousands of souls was true and done here. The song relates Dan's gratitude to his father for the gift of music. His father was alive when the song was released.

On the Dan Fogelberg Foundation of Peoria web site, there there is an audio tour where you can learn more about this and other locations related to Dan Fogelberg in Peoria.


Audio Tour:
(visit link)

Danfogelberg.com
(visit link)

Peoria Journal Star (Tribute Planned for Father of Fogelberg):
(visit link)

Musician: Dan Fogelberg Name of Song: Leader of the Band Relevant Verse: An only child Alone and wild A cabinet maker's son His hands were meant For different work And his heart was known to none He left his home And went his lone And solitary way And he gave to me A gift I know I never can repay A quiet man of music Denied a simpler fate He tried to be a soldier once But his music wouldn't wait He earned his love Through discipline A thundering, velvet hand His gentle means of sculpting souls Took me years to understand (Chorus) The leader of the band is tired And his eyes are growing old But his blood runs through my instrument And his song is in my soul My life has been a poor attempt To imitate the man I'm just a living legacy To the leader of the band My brothers' lives were different For they heard another call One went to Chicago And the other to St. Paul And I'm in Colorado When I'm not in some hotel Living out this life I've chose And come to know so well Music break I thank you for the music And your stories of the road I thank you for the freedom When it came my time to go I thank you for the kindness And the times when you got tough And, papa, I don't think I Said 'I love you' near enough (Chorus) I am a living legacy to the leader of the band Location website: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
There are no specific requirements for logging a waymark. You are, however, encouraged to include any funny or interesting pictures of your visit.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.