Posted on 09/18/2024 12:56:36 PM PDT by fidelis
JOHN DAVID “J.D.” Souther, a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame known for co-penning hits with the Eagles, James Taylor, and Linda Ronstadt, has died at the age of 78.
The singer-songwriter died peacefully at home in New Mexico, according to reps at Solters PR. A cause of death was not given.
Souther was born in Detroit, Michigan, on Nov. 2, 1945, and raised in Amarillo, Texas. After moving to Los Angeles, California, in the late Sixties, he formed a longtime partnership with the Eagles’ Glenn Frey. The duo briefly formed a band called Longbranch Pennywhistle that released a single eponymous album in 1970 for Jimmy Bowen’s Amos Records.
Throughout the Seventies, Souther collaborated on several songs for the Eagles, including “Best of My Love,” “James Dean,” “New Kid In Town,” and “Doolin-Dalton.” He would go on to co-write “Heartache Tonight” with Frey, Bob Seger, and Don Henley, which the Eagles would record and release in 1979, earning the group its final track to top the Hot 100.
As a successful solo artist, Souther recorded his self-titled debut in 1972 before forming The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with former Byrds member Chris Hillman and Poco’s Richie Furay. In 1976, he released a second solo album, Black Rose, which was produced by Peter Asher, and featured a duet with his then-girlfriend Linda Ronstadt, “If You Have Crying Eyes.” His two biggest solo hits included 1979 single “You’re Only Lonely,” which reached Number Seven on the Hot 100, and the 1981 “Her Town Too” duet with Taylor.
(Excerpt) Read more at rollingstone.com ...
“Fallin’ In Love” is a classic.
Poco was the Triple-A league band for Eagles bassists.
Sad to see JD go he wrote a lot of good songs.
Frey was a family friend back on Kauai. He raised great kids.
Saw Poco in concert in El Paso, early 80s. Great concert, they were the opening act for Little River Band.
If he’s a believer (in Christ), he’s got a peaceful, easy feeling.
From what I could tell, Glen Frey was the only one in that band that WASN’T a proper jackass.
My wife’s dad was a sound engineer that worked their last concerts......he said most of ‘em acted like spoiled 8 year olds.
Yep— Classic Poco- Jim Messina on guitar long before Kenny Loggins days: Great finger style telecaster in the tradition of chicken pickers everywhere and... everywhen, very nice center lead given. Great times and...fun!
You Better Think Twice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlzoAHZw75s
RIP JD
Gonna be a heartache tonight.
RIP, and thanks for the great songs.
78 is no spring chicken....HOWEVER, he was all set to start a tour this Fall. And no mention of him battling any long-term illnesses.
“No cause of death given”.....hmmmmm?
I saw Poco at the Municipal Auditorium in San Bernardino in 1970-71, along with Riders of the Purple Sage. Pretty good foncert, even if we were all sitting. I loved a lot of JD Souther’s songs, especially the ones he wrote for Linda Ronstadt. Prisoner in Disguise was particularly beautiful & it’s still one of my favorite songs to sing when I’m warming up my voice. https://open.spotify.com/track/6lRnkoWcRBgGt4teFG3KNu?si=QB4rnMIGQ6-YXFDfeB_U8Q
I didn’t know a lot about the guy, But I always equated his name to “When your only lonely”. Great song.
What a talent. RIP.
From the several eagles documentaries out there I got the impression Frey was overbearing. What is not in question is Frey was a raging leftist. It supposedly caused friction when the other bandmates didn’t want to be as political as Frey.
Frey got rid of Don Felder because Felder wasn't sufficiently reverential towards Sen. Alan Cranston (D) when they played at a fundraiser for that loser.
This song will be enjoyed hundreds of years from now.
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