"Leader of the Band" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg for his 1981 album The Innocent Age.
The song was written as a tribute to his father Lawrence Fogelberg, a musician and leader of a band who was still alive when the song was released.
[1][2] Before Lawrence's death in August 1982, he granted many media interviews because of the song.
1 song on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, following his 1980 hit "Longer".
[6] On the Radio & Records charts, "Leader of the Band" peaked at no.