Donald Fagen American musician, one of the founders of the group “Steely Dan” Date of Birth: 10.01.1948 Country: USA

Biography of Donald Fagen

Donald Fagen is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, songwriter, and co-founder of the jazz-rock band "Steely Dan." Born in Passaic, New Jersey, Fagen grew up in a musical household. His mother, Eleanor, was an amateur singer whose career was cut short due to stage fright. Fagen once said, "I don't remember a time when it was ever quiet in our house. She was always either listening to music or singing herself."

In 1958, the Fagen family moved to the suburb of Fair Lawn, which greatly upset Donald as he struggled to adapt to suburban life well into adulthood. It was during this time that he first realized his opinions could fundamentally differ from those of his parents. This period of his life would later inspire his solo album "The Nightfly."

In the late 1950s, Fagen developed a strong interest in rock and R&B. His first purchase was Chuck Berry's album "Reelin' and Rockin'." At the age of eleven, he attended a jazz festival in Newport and from that point on, he considered jazz to be his true passion. Additionally, he developed a strong fascination with table tennis for unknown reasons, though this interest did not continue into adulthood.

In 1965, Fagen enrolled at Bard College, where he studied English literature and discovered authors such as Kerouac, Burroughs, Corso, Ginsberg, and Ferlinghetti. It was at Bard that he met Walter Becker. Together, along with various rotating band members including future actor Chevy Chase, they formed several groups such as "The Leather Canary," "The Don Fagen Jazz Trio," and "Bad Rock Band." While none of these groups lasted long, the partnership between Becker and Fagen would endure for decades.

In August 1972, Fagen and Becker formed the band "Steely Dan." They assembled a core lineup and co-wrote all of the band's songs. Becker played bass guitar (later switching to regular guitar), while Fagen played keyboards and took on almost all of the lead vocal duties. By 1974, all other members had left the band, and "Steely Dan" became Becker and Fagen's studio project. They released albums that combined the best elements of American rock and jazz, with their most successful album being the platinum-selling "Aja."