The Eagles’ farewell tour “Long Goodbye” is expected to end in 2025
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee The Eagles have announced the start of their farewell tour, entitled “The Long Goodbye,” which begins this September.
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JD Souther, an actor and famous singer-songwriter best known for his work with The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, has died. He was 78 years old.
“Acclaimed recording artist and Songwriter Hall of Fame member JD Souther passed away over the weekend at his home in New Mexico,” said a statement from Souther’s family provided to the Amarillo Globe-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. “The Amarillo native was highly respected by his peers, fellow artists, friends and fans, and loved by his sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.”
John David “JD” Souther was born in Detroit and grew up in Amarillo, Texas, according to his biography on his website. He “remained there 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 in the mid-1960s, shortly after they both moved to California, according to Globe-News archives. Frey and Souther formed a short-lived folk duo called Longbranch Pennywhistle. Souther later dated Ronstadt, who, at Souther’s suggestion, hired Frey and drummer Don Henley to play in Ronstadt’s backing band. There they performed with Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner — and eventually formed the core of the Eagles.
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Henley said earlier this year that Souther played a “pivotal role” in writing the Eagles’ two mega-hits, “Best of My Love” and “New Kid in Town.” Souther made frequent appearances at the band’s homecoming concert in Los Angeles earlier this year, including singing lead vocals on “New Kid in Town,” a job once held by the late Frey.
Other songs co-written by Souther that appeared on Eagles albums include “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 released 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 also participated in Linda Ronstadt’s recordings, including “Prisoner in Disguise” and “Faithless Love”, and worked with James Taylor (“Her Town, Too”), 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.”
As an actor, he was involved in the indie films and television series “Thirtysomething,” “Postcards from the Edge,” and “Nashville.”
According to a statement on Souther’s website, Souther began recording with a local Amarillo group called The Cinders and traveled to nearby Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico, where Buddy Holly’s producer offered the recordings to Warner Bros. for release as a single under the name John David and the Cinders.
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He recorded his eponymous debut in 1972 before forming the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with former Byrds member Chris Hillman and Richie Furay of Poco.
According to the statement on the website, Souther was scheduled to begin a tour with Karla Bonoff in Phoenix on September 24.
“Souther leaves behind his two sisters, his ex-wife and their daughter, his beloved dogs Layla and Bob, and countless friends and colleagues inside and outside the music community,” the statement said. “Donations in JD’s name may be made to Best Friends Animal Society, an organization that was very important to him.”
“We will miss his humor, his storytelling, his generosity and his endless love for us all,” the family statement continued.
Contributors: Bryan Alexander
