As a longtime admirer of JD Souther, I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness hearing about his passing. The man behind some of the most iconic songs of the ’70s, a collaborator par excellence, and a solo artist in his own right, leaves an indelible mark on the music industry.
78-year-old musician and composer JD Souther, known for collaborating on tunes with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, has passed away.
Reportedly, Souther passed away tranquilly in the comfort of his New Mexican residence. The reason for his passing remains undisclosed. A tour with Karla Bonoff had been planned for him.
Glenn Frey, an inductee to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was instrumental in penning some of the Eagles’ most popular tunes such as “Best of My Love”, “Victim of Love”, “Heartache Tonight”, and “New Kid in Town”. Alongside Ronstadt, he co-wrote and performed iconic duets like “Prisoner in Disguise”, “Sometimes You Can’t Win” and “Hearts Against the Wind.” Frey also had a prosperous solo career, composing hits like “You’re Only Lonely” and “Her Town Too,” the latter being a duet with Taylor.
Hailing from Detroit, Michigan on November 2, 1945, he was later raised in Amarillo, Texas. He began his musical career within the local Amarillo music scene, and his first band was called The Cinders. In 1965, they released a single under the name John David & The Cinders.
In the late ’60s, Souther relocated to Los Angeles, where he crossed paths with Glenn Frey and the two forged a friendship. They subsequently lived together and worked musically, eventually forming the country rock band Longbranch Pennywhistle. Initially, they performed under the name John David & Glenn, but more members joined the group later. Longbranch Pennywhistle released their first album, titled “Longbranch Pennywhistle,” on Jimmy Bowen’s Amos Records label in 1969.
Through his friendship with Frey, Souther found himself in a group of friends and artistic partners that encompassed Don Henley and Linda Ronstadt, and he proposed himself as a potential Eagles member. Although he ultimately didn’t become a band member, Souther maintained a close working relationship with the Eagles and collaborated on several of their iconic songs. From the record-breaking Eagles album “Hotel California,” Souther co-wrote the tracks “New Kid in Town” and “Victim of Love.” On the 1974 album “On the Border,” Souther contributed to “You Never Cry Like a Lover,” “Best of My Love,” and “James Dean.” And on the 1979 album “The Long Run,” Souther co-authored three songs, including the No.1 hit single “Heartache Tonight.
During the early ’70s, Glenn Frey was romantically involved with singer Linda Ronstadt. He collaborated on several songs for her, also co-producing her 1973 album titled “Don’t Cry Now”. For her subsequent album, “Heart Like a Wheel”, he penned the track “Faithless Love.” Frey performed duets with Ronstadt numerous times, such as “Prisoner in Disguise,” “Sometimes You Can’t Win,” and “Hearts Against the Wind,” which was showcased in the 1980 film “Urban Cowboy”.
Additionally, James Taylor was another partner in our collaboration, and we achieved significant acclaim with the 1981 hit “Her Town Too,” a song that peaked at position 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The 1970s saw a bustling and innovative period for Souther. Besides his collaborations with the Eagles and Ronstadt, he was also part of The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, comprising former Byrd member Chris Hillman and Richie Furay from Poco.
As a dedicated fan, I might say: Despite being renowned for his collaborations with some of the greatest names in country rock, Souther also carved out a thriving solo path. Kicking off this journey in 1972 on David Geffen’s Asylum Records, my favorite album of his, self-titled, bore tracks like “Run Like a Thief,” later given new life by Bonnie Raitt on her album “Home Plate.” Additionally, the single “How Long” became a regular feature in the Eagles’ live shows and was eventually included in their 2007 album “Long Road Out of Eden.
Souther achieved his greatest success as a solo artist with the track “You’re Only Lonely,” off his self-titled album from 1979. This tune reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Altogether, Souther has put out eight solo studio albums and one live album. In the year 2013, he was honored by being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Apart from music, Souther also tried his hand at acting. He made occasional appearances on TV shows such as “Thirtysomething”, “Nashville”, and “Purgatory” as well as films like “Postcards from the Edge”, “My Girl 2”, and “Deadline”.
Souther is survived by his two sisters, his former wife and her daughter.
Read More
- BODEN PREDICTION. BODEN cryptocurrency
- GHST PREDICTION. GHST cryptocurrency
- BETA PREDICTION. BETA cryptocurrency
- STRD PREDICTION. STRD cryptocurrency
- Mango Markets Exploiter Found Guilty Of Fraud And Manipulation
- GBP EUR PREDICTION
- MATIC PREDICTION. MATIC cryptocurrency
- LOOKS PREDICTION. LOOKS cryptocurrency
- BRN/USD
- TNSR PREDICTION. TNSR cryptocurrency
2024-09-18 15:24