You’re successful if you can get one person to pick it up and put it on the turntable and go, Wow, thanks for writing that!

Meaning of the quote

The quote means that a musician is successful if even just one person listens to their music, enjoys it, and thanks them for creating it. It's not about becoming rich or famous, but about connecting with at least one person through your art. The musician's goal should be to make music that someone appreciates, not to become a big star.

About Dan Fogelberg

Dan Fogelberg was an acclaimed American singer-songwriter known for his soft rock hits in the 1980s, including “Longer,” “Same Old Lang Syne,” and “Leader of the Band.” He was a multi-talented musician who passed away in 2007 at the age of 56.

More about the author

More quotes from Dan Fogelberg

I choose to express myself.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

I may quit the music business someday, but never the music.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

I love to laugh, it’s my main thing. I love to abuse the English language.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

I had gone full-on folkie; I’d had it with bands.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

It seems like bluegrass people have more great stories to tell than other musicians.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

You’re successful if you can get one person to pick it up and put it on the turntable and go, Wow, thanks for writing that!

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

I never going to satisfy everybody, so I decided to satisfy myself.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

MTV didn’t call. I guess I wasn’t hip and groovy enough.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

My grandfather gave me my first guitar, an old acoustic with palm trees and dancing girls painted on it.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

Now is the only thing that exists.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

I love to rock ‘n roll. But my finest suit, of all the things I do, is as a songwriter.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

I had never done TV. I think it’s a foolish medium for, most rock ‘n roll music. Nobody ever comes off well on TV.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

It was so much fun playing simple American bluegrass. I got to meet Doc Watson.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

My upbringing made me think that real legitimate music is written, not heard.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

My life is as an artist, not an entertainer. I don’t consider myself an entertainer, but I can do that thing when I want to.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

Strats are my favorite electric guitars, and I’ve got quite a collection.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

I always try to give my songs as gifts.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

I wish I was a little more gregarious and outgoing.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

Coming out of college with a degree in fine arts and painting isn’t worth much any more.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

I was blessed with a gift. It’s a gift and a curse. It never ends.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

I love the subtlety and tonal range of the acoustic guitar.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

I love home. I’ll stay up there for days on end, I won’t even go down the driveway to look for the mail.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

I wanted to pay tribute to my musical influences: Buffalo Springfield, Lightfoot, the Beatles, the Hollies.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

It was quite a shot in the head to do the album and then have it shot down by nonmusical idiots.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)

My dad was vehemently opposed to electric guitars. He did not look on that kind of music as legitimate in any way.

Dan Fogelberg

American singer (1951-2007)