Donald Fagen

Donald Jay Fagen was born on January 10, 1948, in Passaic, New Jersey. His early life involved a move to Kendall Park, New Jersey, which notably influenced his later album, “The Nightfly.” He developed an interest in rock and rhythm and blues in the late 1950s, purchasing his first record, “Reelin’ and Rockin'” by Chuck Berry. At age 11, he discovered jazz music and frequently traveled to Manhattan to see performances by notable jazz musicians. Fagen learned to play the piano and played the baritone horn in his high school marching band. He also developed an appreciation for soul music, funk, Motown, and Sly and the Family Stone in his late teens. He graduated from South Brunswick High School in 1965.

Fagen attended Bard College to study English literature, where he met Walter Becker in 1967. This meeting led to a foundational partnership that would define much of his career. Together, they formed several bands, including Leather Canary, the Don Fagen Jazz Trio, and the Bad Rock Band. While these early groups were short-lived, the collaboration between Fagen and Becker endured. They worked with Jay and the Americans, using pseudonyms during their time with the group. In the early 1970s, they served as pop songwriters for ABC/Dunhill Records.

In the summer of 1970, Fagen and Becker formed Steely Dan. The band’s initial lineup was assembled in December 1971 in Los Angeles. Fagen and Becker were the core of the group, writing all the songs with Becker on bass and later lead guitar, and Fagen on keyboards and vocals. After the release of their third LP in 1974, Steely Dan transitioned into a studio project led by Fagen and Becker. Their best-selling album, “Aja,” released in 1977, was certified platinum. Fagen launched his solo career in 1982 with “The Nightfly,” which received seven Grammy nominations. After Becker’s death in 2017, Fagen continues to tour under the Steely Dan name.