"Donald Fagen is born in Passaic, Jersey on January 10, 1948. Walter Becker is born in New York City on February 20, 1950. They both grew up as disaffected suburban youths, going to school in the daytime and listening to the music of their idols Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and John Coltrane at night. They both feel an affinity with the "Jazz Life."

Q: What is the "Jazz Life"?

I'm sure they would have a field day with that one!

And while standard, these questions would be really interesting to get answered from both,

Q: How did they come to listen to Bird, Duke, and Trane? Who introduced them to this music or was it just sought out after radio listens? What was their youth like that led them to Jazz?

Q: What was / is it about Jazz that attracted them to it?

I'm sure there is a bio or two out there that answer some of these questions, but it would be great to hear this from them personally. Live in studio. At a (THE) Jazz station. In San Diego.

Bonus link and question...

Disaffected: "Alienated in feeling; not wholly loyal"

Q: Is that really an accurate description of their youth? Or something that conveiniently fits into a view of the lyrics they write?
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- See Also:  The Jazz In Steely Dan