Country-rock pioneer, songwriter, and musician J.D. Souther has died at age 78. His collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt produced timeless music that still holds strong in the industry. On Monday, it was confirmed from an announcement on his website that he died Wednesday of natural causes in his home in New Mexico.
He took an active part in composing some of the best Eagles hits, including “Best of My Love,” “James Dean,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Heartache Tonight.” These were some of the hits that shaped the Eagles’ music as they grew into internationally acclaimed bands. J.D. Souther’s contributions were not limited to the Eagles, as he worked with other prominent artists such as James Taylor, Bob Seger, and Bonnie Raitt, just to mention but a few. He also achieved individual success mainly with his greatest single, “You’re Only Lonely,” out in 1979.
The Early Years of J.D.: The Musical Break Through
The Amarillo, Texas native that was raised in Detroit, J.D. Souther, relocated to Los Angeles in 1968. Glenn Frey was also from Michigan, and Souther met him there. Frey was one of the Eagles’ founding members. These musicians started a band named Longbranch Pennywhistle, and Frey credits him for making him discover country music. Their partnership later on resulted in him being more involved in the formation of the Eagles. In a statement, after Frey died in 2016, J.D. Souther reflected on their partnership, recalling
“Our first year together will always seem like yesterday to me… The music and the love are indestructible”
This bond is further made solid by the fact that he posed on the back cover of the Eagles’ album, which was released in 1973, known as Desperado, where he had to recreate the capture of the famous Dalton Gang with the band.
Key Collaborations and Solo Success
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One important thing to note is that the Eagles were also great composers, and J.D. Souther’s songwriting was not only limited to the band but touched an infinite number of people. He penned songs for Linda Ronstadt and sang them together, such as ‘Crying Eyes’; the songs ‘Faithless Love’ and ‘White Rhythm and Blues’ were composed for Ronstadt’s albums. He also wrote ‘Run Like a Thief’ for Bonnie Raitt, whom he worked with, and even co-wrote ‘Her Town Too’ with James Taylor.
Apart from his musical career, J.D. Souther also tried to become an actor and did great in television series such as ‘Thirtysomething,’ ‘Nashville,’ and the films Postcards from the Edge and My Girl 2.
Final Thoughts: A Lasting Legacy
Souther joined the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013 and for good reason. He was defined as one of the principal architects of the sound we associate with Southern California today. J.D. Souther was going to start a tour with Karla Bonoff on September 24, 2024, in Phoenix, AZ, but the tour was canceled after his death. He is gone, but his creations will live on and continue giving hope to the up-and-coming musicians.
