JD Souther, singer-songwriter known for work with Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, dies at 78

JD Souther, an actor and famed singer-songwriter most known for his work with The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, has died. He was 78.

"Celebrated recording artist and Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee JD Souther passed away over the weekend at his home in New Mexico," says a statement from Souther's family obtained by Amarillo Globe-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. "Highly regarded by his peers, fellow artists, friends and fans, the Amarillo native was beloved by his sisters, brothers in law, nieces and nephews."

John David "JD" Souther was born in Detroit and raised in Amarillo, Texas, according to his website bio. He "would stay until he left Amarillo College and headed west to Los Angeles."

Souther was one of Eagles frontman Glenn Frey's first friends when the two met in Los Angeles shortly after they both moved to California in the mid-1960s, according to the Globe-News archives. Frey and Souther formed a short-lived folk duo, Longbranch Pennywhistle. Souther later dated Ronstadt, who hired Frey and drummer Don Henley, on Souther's suggestion, to play in Ronstadt's backup band. There, they performed with Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner — eventually forming the core of The Eagles.

The seminal country rock band was formed in Los Angeles in 1971.

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Henley said earlier this year that Souther played a "critical role" in writing the two Eagles megahits "Best of My Love" and "New Kid in Town," among others. Souther made frequent stage appearances at the band's homecoming concert in Los Angeles earlier this year, including handling lead vocals in "New Kid in Town," duties once performed by the late Frey.

Other songs co-written by Souther that appeared on Eagles albums included "Heartache Tonight," "Victim of Love," "James Dean," "Doolin-Dalton," "The Sad Cafe," "You Never Cry Like a Lover," "Teenage Jail" and "Last Good Time in Town." Souther wrote "How Long," a cover the Eagles released in 2007 of a song he first put out as a solo artist in 1972. He co-wrote Henley's "The Heart of the Matter" and several other tracks on Henley's solo albums.

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Souther was also involved in tracks Linda Ronstadt recorded, including "Prisoner in Disguise" and "Faithless Love," and also collaborated with James Taylor ("Her Town, Too") and the Dixie Chicks ("I'll Take Care of You"), George Strait and Bonnie Raitt, among others.

Souther had a long solo career that included the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit "You're Only Lonely." His releases include "Tenderness," "John David Souther," "Black Rose" and "Home By Dawn."

On the acting side, he was involved in indie features and TV shows "Thirtysomething," "Postcards from the Edge" and "Nashville."

According to a statement on Souther's website, Souther started out recording with a local Amarillo group called The Cinders, traveling to nearby Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico, where Buddy Holly’s producer shopped their recordings to Warner Bros. for a single release under the name John David and the Cinders.

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He went on to record his self-titled debut in 1972 before forming The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with former Byrds member Chris Hillman and Poco's Richie Furay.

According the website statement, Souther was about to begin a tour with Karla Bonoff on Sept. 24 in Phoenix.

"Souther is survived by his two sisters, his former wife and her daughter, his beloved dogs Layla and Bob and by countless friends and colleagues within the music community and beyond," the statement says. "Donations in JD's honor can be made to Best Friends Animal Society, an organization that was very important to him."

"We will miss his humor, storytelling, generosity, and his endless love for all of us," the family's statement added. 

Contributing: Bryan Alexander