JD Souther, who collaborated on ‘Heartache Tonight’ and other Eagles hits, dies at 78

LOS ANGELES — John David “JD” Souther, a prolific songwriter and musician who helped form the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California within the Seventies along with his collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, has died on the age of 78.

Souther, who collaborated on a few of the Eagles’ greatest hits, equivalent to “Better of My Love,” “James Dean,” “New Child in City,” and “Heartache Tonight,” died Tuesday at his residence in New Mexico, based on an announcement on his web site.

He additionally labored with James Taylor, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and lots of extra, and in addition discovered success as a solo artist. He was about to begin a tour with Karla Bonoff on Sept. 24 in Phoenix, now canceled.

When he was inducted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame in 2013, Souther was described as “a principal architect of the Southern California sound and a significant affect on a era of songwriters.” He was additionally on the coronary heart of the social scene, his girlfriends together with Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks, who in a 1982 interview with Excessive Occasions journal remembered him as “very, very, very male chauvinistic and really candy and cute and fantastic however very Texas.”

An early reference to a future Eagles member

Souther was born in Detroit and grew up in Amarillo, Texas. He moved to Los Angeles within the late Nineteen Sixties, the place he met fellow Michigan native Glenn Frey, a founding member and guitarist of the Eagles. The 2 started a longtime partnership, beginning with a band known as Longbranch Pennywhistle. Frey would credit score Souther with introducing him to nation music.

“Our first yr collectively will at all times appear to be yesterday to me,” Souther mentioned in an announcement after Frey died in 2016. “His wonderful capability for the massive joke and that sensible groove that lived inside him are with me, even now, on this loss and sorrow. … The music and the love are indestructible.”

Souther was so near the Eagles, he even appeared on the again cowl of their 1973 album, “Desperado,” with Souther and others reenacting the seize of the legendary Dalton Gang. He described his begin with Frey at The Troubadaour, the favored West Hollywood music membership, as “one of the best examine in songwriting I can think about.”

“So many nice songwriters got here by means of — Laura Nyro, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Newman, Elton John, James Taylor, Tim Hardin, Carole King, Rick Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Neil Younger, Waylon Jennings, Tim Buckley, Gordon Lightfoot, Taj Mahal and extra,” he mentioned in an announcement on his web site. “It appears inconceivable now to think about that a lot music in a yr and a half or so, however that was my life and the Troubadour was our college.

“It’s additionally the place I met Linda Ronstadt and the place Don Henley and Glenn Frey met to type this little nation rock band known as Eagles that may go on to make musical historical past,” Souther wrote.

Duets with Linda Ronstadt

On his personal, Souther recorded his self-titled debut in 1972 earlier than forming The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with former Byrds member Chris Hillman and Poco’s Richie Furay. A second solo effort in 1976, Black Rose, included a duet with Ronstadt, his one-time girlfriend, “If You Have Crying Eyes.” Different duets he had recorded together with her embody “Prisoner in Disguise,” “Generally You Can’t Win” and “Hearts In opposition to the Wind,” the latter featured within the 1980 movie “City Cowboy.”

His greatest hit as a solo artist was “You’re Solely Lonely,” from the 1979 album of the identical identify.

Different songs he wrote embody “Run Like a Thief,” for Bonnie Raitt, and “Faithless Love” and “White Rhythm and Blues” for Ronstadt. He collaborated and sang with James Taylor on “Her City Too.”

Amongst different artists he labored with as a singer have been Don Henley, Christopher Cross, Dan Fogelberg and Roy Orbison.

He appeared as an actor on tv in “thirtysomething,” “Nashville” and “Purgatory” and within the movies “Postcards from the Edge,” “My Lady 2,” and “Deadline.”

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