J.D. Souther

John David Souther (/saʊðər/; November 2, 1945 – September 17, 2024) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was "a principal architect of the Southern California sound and a major influence on a generation of songwriters". Souther wrote and co-wrote songs recorded by Linda Ronstadt and some of the Eagles' biggest hits, including "Best of My Love", "Victim of Love", "Heartache Tonight" and "New Kid in Town". "How Long", which appeared on the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden, came from Souther's first solo album. He recorded two hit songs in his solo career: "You're Only Lonely" (1979) and "Her Town Too" (1981), a duet with James Taylor. He had a brief acting career and appeared on TV and in movies. He played with the Eagles on their 2008 farewell tour.

Souther was born on November 2, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of John Souther and Loty (née Finley), and was raised in Amarillo, Texas. His father sang in a jazz band and later ran a store selling records and musical instruments. His grandmother was an opera singer, and the first song he learned as a child was Puccini's "Nessun Dorma". He learned to play the violin, and later clarinet, saxophone and guitar. He attended Amarillo college but dropped out to play drums with his first band, The Cinders.

His first recordings were made with The Cinders at the nearby Norman Petty Recording Studios in Clovis, New Mexico. The band's first 45 rpm record was released on the RIC label in 1965. The following year, Norman Petty successfully shopped their recordings to Warner Bros. Records for a second single release under the name John David and The Cinders.

After living in New York and Florida, Souther moved to Los Angeles in 1969 and met musician and songwriter Glenn Frey. They became roommates and musical collaborators and briefly performed as folk duo Longbranch Pennywhistle. They released an album in 1970 on Jimmy Bowen's Amos Records. Souther helped the Eagles to form as a backing band for Linda Ronstadt, and when they branched out on their own, he played with them at the Troubadour on LA's Sunset Strip.

Souther declined an offer to join the Eagles and instead signed to David Geffen's Asylum label and recorded a debut solo studio album under his own name. In 1972 he formed the Souther–Hillman–Furay Band with Chris Hillman of The Byrds and Richie Furay of Buffalo Springfield. The group released two albums which failed to sell and the band split up. Souther wrote the song "Run Like a Thief", which appeared on Bonnie Raitt's 1975 album, Home Plate.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.