Donald Jay Fagen was born on the 10th January 1948, in Passaic, New Jersey USA. He is a musician – singer and songwriter, who is perhaps best known for being the co-founder of Steely Dan, a jazz rock band, together with Walter Becker. They released several albums, including “Countdown To Ecstasy” (1973), “Aja” (1977), “Everything Must Go” (2003), among others. He has released four solo studio albums as well.
Have you ever wondered how rich Donald Fagen is, as of mid-2016? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that the total size of Donald’s net worth is as high as $15 million, which has been accumulated through his successful career on the music scene now spanning over 50 years. Another source is coming from his career as a writer, releasing a collection of essays and other biographical stories under the title “”Eminent Hipsters” in 2013.
Donald Fagen Net Worth $15 Million
Donald Fagen was raised with a younger sister in a Jewish family by his father, Joseph “Jerry” Fagen, who worked as an accountant, and his mother, Elinor, who was a homemaker and singer in New York’s Catskill Mountains as a child. In his teens, the family moved to South Brunswick, New Jersey, where he attended South Brunswick High School, after which he became a student at Bard College, where he studied English literature. During the 1950s, he showed an interest in music, soon after he went to the Newport Jazz Festival. Afterwards, he learnt to play the piano and sing baritone. While in college, he met his future colleague Walter Becker, a musician.
Donald`s career began in the 1960s, when he was a part of several bands, including Leather Canary, Bad Rock Band, and the Don Fagen Jazz Trio, with his friend and colleague Walter Becker. However, none of the bands achieved much success, and the two formed another band entitled Steely Dan. The band`s first album came out in 1972, entitled “Can`t Buy A Thrill”, which achieved platinum status, increasing Donald`s net worth by a large margin, but also encouraging the two to continue with their musical career. Throughout the 1970s, the band`s popularity went through the roof, and such albums as “Pretzel Logic” (1974), “Katy Lied” (1975), “The Royal Scam” (1976), and “Aja” (1977), achieved platinum status, becoming the main source of Donald`s net worth. However, the band disbanded in 1981, but before that they released one album more in 1980, entitled “Gaucho”, which also achieved platinum status.
Subsequently, the band reformed in 1993, and since then Fagen and Becker have released two albums “Two Against Nature” in 2000, and “Everything Must Go” in 2003, which has been their latest studio album. Apart from his successful career as a part of Steely Dan, Donald has also been recognized as a solo artist, releasing four albums so far. “The Nightfly” (1982), which was his debut album, reached No. 11 on the US Billboard 200 chart, and achieving platinum status. He continued in the same rhythm with his second release “Kamakiriad” (1993) reaching No. 10, and achieving gold status in the US, and Canada. His third album came out in 2006, entitled “Morph the Cat”, and his latest studio release is 2012`s “Sunken Condos”, which also added a lot to his net worth. Thanks to his successful career, Donald has been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 as a part of Steely Dan. Speaking about his personal life little is known in the media about Donald Fagen, except the fact that he has been married to Libby Titus since 1993.
Grammy Award for Album of the Year, Grammy Award for Best Surround Sound Album, I.G.Y, New Frontier, Reelin' In the Years
Music Groups
Steely Dan, The Dukes of September, I.G.Y, New Frontier, Reelin' In the Years
Nominations
Grammy Award for Song of the Year, Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, I.G.Y, New Frontier, Reelin' In the Years
Movies
Steely Dan: Two Against Nature
#
Quote
1
I'll tell you what I like about our group. What I like about us, outside of our technical accomplishments, is that our music scares me more than anybody else's.
2
Popularity has everything to do with business and nothing to do with music.
#
Fact
1
Steely Dan (Walter Becker, Donald Fagen, and many other fabulous musicians) is on their "Everything Must Go" tour of the U.S., ending in October. [August 2003]
2
Won three Grammy Awards (along with Walter Becker) for the Steely Dan album "Two Against Nature". [2001]
3
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Walter Becker as members of the rock band, Steely Dan. [March 2001]
TV Series writer - 1 episode, 2016 performer - 1 episode, 2005
Big Noise, New York
2015
Video short writer: "Big Noise, New York"
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2015
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Royal Pains
2014
TV Series writer - 1 episode
True Blood
2014
TV Series writer - 1 episode
American Hustle
2013
writer: "Dirty Work"
R.I.P.D.
2013
writer: "Hey Nineteen"
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
2010-2013
TV Series writer - 14 episodes
Late Show with David Letterman
TV Series writer - 4 episodes, 2011 performer - 1 episode, 2012
The Dukes of September Live at Lincoln Center
2012
TV Movie documentary writer: "Kid Charlemagne", "Hey Nineteen", "Peg", "Reelin' In The Years", "Pretzel Logic"
Parenthood
2011
TV Series writer - 1 episode
One Night Stand
2010
TV Series short writer - 2 episodes
All Good Things
2010
writer: "Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More", "Do It Again", "Don't Take Me Alive"
The A-Team
2010
writer: "REELIN' IN THE YEARS"
Ugly Betty
2009
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Life on Mars
2008
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Guitar Hero World Tour
2008
Video Game writer: "Do It Again"
Cold Case
2008
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
2008
performer: "New Frontier" / writer: "New Frontier"
Zodiac
2007
writer: "Deacon Blues"
Rabbit Fever
2006
writer: "REELIN' IN THE YEARS"
Invincible
2006
writer: "Do It Again"
The Devil's Rejects
2005
writer: "Reelin' in the Years"
CHIKARA Tag World Grand Prix 2005, Night 2
2005
Video writer: "Jack of Speed"
In Good Company
2004
writer: "Reeling in the Years" 1972
Nip/Tuck
2004
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Six Feet Under
2003
TV Series writer - 1 episode
The One
2003
TV Movie writer: "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"
The Dead Zone
2002
Video writer: "Do It Again"
Comedian
2002
Documentary writer: "Jack of Speed", "Deacon Blues"
The Dead Zone
2002
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Laurel Canyon
2002
writer: "Do It Again" 1972 - as Donald Jay Fagen
Ed
2002
TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Kid Stays in the Picture
2002
Documentary writer: "Dirty Work", "Do It Again"
The Sopranos
2001
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Almost Famous
2000
writer: "Reeling in the Years"
Me, Myself & Irene
2000
writer: "Do It Again", "Midnight Cruiser" uncredited, "Barrytown" uncredited, "Any Major Dude Will Tell You", "Only A Fool Would Say That", "Bodhisattva", "Bad Sneakers", "Reelin' In The Years" uncredited, "Razor Boy", "Monkey In Your Soul", "Chain Lightning"
Outside Providence
1999
writer: "Do It Again"
All Saints: The Video
1998
Video writer: "I Know Where It's At", "I Know Where It's At Live" uncredited - as Fagen
Fresh Pop
1997
TV Series short writer - 1 episode
Eddie
1996
writer: "AIN'T NO LOVE"
Chicago Hope
1995
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Beavis and Butt-Head
1994
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Love Potion No. 9
1992
performer: "RUBY BABY"
Glengarry Glen Ross
1992
writer: "Blue Lou"
Sjans
1992
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Reasonable Doubts
1991
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Beverly Hills, 90210
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1991 writer - 1 episode, 1991
writer: "FM No Static At All", "Do It Again", "FM Reprise"
Pauline's Quirkes
1976
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Day Dreamer
1975
writer: "Do It Again" - uncredited
Little Girl Blue
1974
writer: "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" - uncredited
Mob Job
1974
writer: "Show Biz Kids" - uncredited
You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
1971
writer: "You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat", "Flotsam and Jetsam", "War and Peace", "Roll Back the Meaning", "You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat" reprise, "Dog Eat Dog", "Red Giant/White Dwarf", "If It Rains"
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Big Noise, New York
2015
Video short
Bright Lights, Big City
1988
Set in Motion
1987
Short
Traveling Light
1985
Short as Donald Fagan
You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
1971
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bright Lights, Big City
1988
orchestrator
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
All Good Things
2010
special thanks
Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey
1993
Documentary special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Late Show with David Letterman
2012
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest
The Dukes of September Live at Lincoln Center
2012
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Down the Rhodes: The Fender Rhodes Story
2011
Documentary
Himself
Steely Dan's Two Against Nature
2000
Video documentary
Himself
Classic Albums: Steely Dan - Aja
1999
Video documentary
Himself
VH1 Storytellers
1996
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Simpsons
2016
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Michel Gondry 2: More Videos (Before and After DVD 1)
2009
Video
Himself (segment "Snowbound")
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1989
Grammy
Grammy Awards
Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television