Biography
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Born
2 November 1945
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Born In
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States
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Died
17 September 2024 (aged 78)
J. D. Souther (born John David Souther on 2 November 1945 in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Amarillo, Texas; died 17 September 2024) was an American singer-songwriter country rock singer and songwriter remembered for his songwriting abilities - he co-wrote some of the biggest hits for Eagles, including "Best of My Love", "Victim of Love", "Heartache Tonight", and "New Kid in Town". In 2013, Souther was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Souther was greatly influenced by Texan Roy Orbison. Following his move to Los Angeles in the late 1960s, he met a young guitarist from Detroit named Glenn Frey. They bonded over their Detroit roots and a common love of country and R&B music. In short order, they began working together while sharing a small apartment in Los Angeles' Echo Park area (their downstairs neighbor was Jackson Browne with whom both Souther and Frey would collaborate on numerous projects).
Shortly after meeting, Souther and Frey formed a folk duo called Longbranch Pennywhistle. Their lone album, released in 1970 on Jimmy Bowen's Amos Records, featured significant contributions from guitarists James Burton and Ry Cooder, fiddler Doug Kershaw, drummer Jim Gordon, pianist Larry Knechtel and bassist Joe Osborn.
After recording an eponymous solo album in 1972, persuaded by David Geffen, Souther formed The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with Chris Hillman and Richie Furay. The group released two albums, but creative tensions and lack of record sales, not to mention Furay's discomfort at playing secular music after a conversion to Christianity, led to the band's demise.
Souther is probably most remembered for his well-crafted songwriting abilities, especially in the field of country rock. He co-wrote some of the biggest hits for Eagles, including "Best of My Love", "Victim of Love", "Heartache Tonight", and "New Kid in Town". In 2008, Eagles charted with "How Long" which was on his "John David Souther" album in 1972 (but written by Jack Tempchin, who also wrote "Peaceful Easy Feeling"). Souther avoided the spotlight deciding to not be one of "Eagles when they first formed! Nevertheless, he joined Eagles on numerous occasions live on stage. As such and because of his significant songwriting contributions, he became known as "the secret Eagle".
He also wrote songs for several of Linda Ronstadt's multi-platinum albums, including "Faithless Love" from "Heart Like a Wheel" album and "White Rythm and Blues" included in her "Living in the USA" album. Linda once said JD was the best songwriter in the world. He also recorded several notable duets with Ronstadt including "Sometimes You Can't Win" and "Prisoner in Disguise". He also wrote for Bonnie Raitt including "Home" on her album "Sweet Forgiveness."
His biggest hit as a solo artist was the 1979 Orbison-influenced song "You're Only Lonely" from the album of the same name which reached the top 10 of the Billboard Charts. A collaboration with James Taylor called "Her Town Too" from Taylor's "Dad Loves His Work" reached number 11 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart.
He was a Contributor on the Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night 1987 concert and video, and sang The Platters' "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" in the 1989 movie Always!
Don Henley's 1989 hit song "The Heart of the Matter" was co-written by Souther.
Souther co-wrote "Doin' Time for Bein' Young", a song performed by James Intveld for the soundtrack of the 1990 Johnny Depp movie Cry-Baby.
On October 14, 2008, Souther released If the World Was You, his first new studio release in nearly 25 years. In the fall of 2009, he released a follow-up live album titled Rain − Live at the Belcourt Theatre, featuring a blend of old and new material.
On May 31, 2011, Souther released Natural History, featuring new versions of his songs recorded by other artists.
On October 9, 2012, he released Midnight in Tokyo, an EP that was recorded live.
On June 14, 2013, Souther was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and called "a principal architect of the Southern California sound and a major influence on a generation of songwriters."
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