Country Rock Pioneer JD Souther, Who Worked With Eagles And Linda Ronstadt, Dies At 78; Here’s A Look At His Life And Legacy

As a lifestyle expert with a deep appreciation for music, I find myself reminiscing about the profound impact of John David Souther, or JD Souther, who has left us at the age of 78. His contributions to the country rock movement in 1970s Southern California were nothing short of legendary, and his influence can still be felt today.


78-year-old John David Souther, more commonly known as JD Souther and famed for contributing to the development of the country rock genre in 1970s Southern California, quietly passed away on Tuesday, September 17th. Although no specific reason for his passing was disclosed, his representatives at Solters PR confirmed the news via Variety, stating that he died peacefully at his home in New Mexico.

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the report pointed out Souther was planning a tour this autumn alongside Karla Bonoff, another prominent figure from the ’70s Southern California music world. Notably, he had taken the stage as recently as five days prior to this statement.

Amid the singer-songwriter’s sudden demise, below is a brief account of his life and legacy.

Souther is particularly recognized for composing tunes for the band, the Eagles. Among his widely acclaimed collaborations with them are New Kid, Best of My Love, Heartache Tonight, James Dean, Doolin-Dalton, Victim of Love, Last Time in Town, You Never Cry Like a Lover, Teenage Jail, and others. He was the lone author of How Long, a song that gained popularity by the Eagles in 2007, as they covered it; originally, Souther had released this song as a solo artist in 1972.

During an interview with The Creative Independent, Souther mentioned that people frequently inquired if it annoyed him that the Eagles scored their major hits from his compositions. In response, he would usually show these individuals his payment checks for reference.

During the same interview, Souther disclosed that when he experienced solo stardom (having eight solo albums and one live album under his belt with You’re Only Lonely), he didn’t take as much pleasure in it, and it didn’t bring in quite as much income. The song reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Apart from the Eagles, Souther also contributed to Linda Ronstadt‘s album collection during the 70s, with whom he had a romantic relationship. Their joint works include Prisoner in Disguise, Faithless Love, Sometimes You Can’t Win, and Hearts Against the Wind. The latter track was played in the ’80s movie Urban Cowboy.

He also wrote songs for Dixie Chicks, George Strait, and Bonnie Raitt, among others.

Souther, a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, ventured into acting as well. He sporadically appeared on TV shows such as Thirtysomething (1989) and Nashville (2012), and in films like Postcards From the Edge (1990), My Girl 2 (1994), Purgatory (1999), and Deadline (2012).

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, yet brought up in Amarillo, Texas, JD Souther – formerly of The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band – leaves behind his former spouse and two sisters.

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2024-09-19 11:22