Don Henley

Donald Hugh Henley (born July 22, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is a founding member of the Eagles, serving as a songwriter, drummer, and vocalist for the band. Henley sang lead vocals on Eagles songs such as "Witchy Woman", "Desperado", "Best of My Love", "One of These Nights", "Hotel California", "Life in the Fast Lane", and "The Long Run". The Eagles disbanded in 1980, but reunited in 1994. Following the death of co-founder Glenn Frey in 2016, Henley became the Eagles' only remaining consistent founding member.

After the Eagles' 1980 breakup, Henley pursued a solo career and released his debut studio album I Can't Stand Still in 1982. As a solo artist, he has released five studio albums, two compilation albums, and one live DVD. Henley's notable solo tracks include "Dirty Laundry", "The Boys of Summer", "All She Wants to Do Is Dance", "Not Enough Love in the World", "Sunset Grill", "New York Minute", "The End of the Innocence", "The Last Worthless Evening", "The Heart of the Matter", and "Taking You Home".

The Eagles have sold over 150 million albums worldwide; won six Grammy Awards; and charted five number one singles, 17 top 40 singles, and six number one albums. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and is the highest-selling American band in history. As a solo artist, Henley has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, had eight top 40 singles, and won two Grammy Awards and five MTV Video Music Awards. In 2008, he was ranked as the 87th-greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone.

Henley has also played a founding role in several environmental and political causes, including the Walden Woods Project.

Donald Hugh Henley was born on July 22, 1947 in Gilmer, Texas, and grew up in the small northeast Texas town of Linden. He is the son of Hughlene (née McWhorter; 1916–2003) and Con Junell "C. J." Henley (1907–1972), and has English, Scottish, and Irish ancestry. Henley attended Linden-Kildare High School, where he initially played football; due to his relatively small build, Henley's coach suggested that he quit, and he joined the high school band instead. Henley first played the trombone, then moved to the percussion section.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.