John David “JD” Souther, a renowned songwriter and member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, passed away at the age of 78. Throughout his career, he collaborated with iconic artists such as the Eagles, James Taylor, and Linda Ronstadt, contributing to the creation of numerous chart-topping hits, as per reported by Rolling stone.
According to representatives at Solters PR, the singer-songwriter passed away peacefully at his home in New Mexico. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Don Souther was born on November 2, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Amarillo, Texas. He later relocated to Los Angeles, California, during the late Sixties, where he established a long-standing collaboration with Glenn Frey from the Eagles. Together, they briefly formed a band called Longbranch Pennywhistle and released a self-titled album in 1970 under Jimmy Bowen’s Amos Records.
In the Seventies, Souther teamed up with the Eagles to co-write a number of hit songs, including “Best of My Love,” “James Dean,” “New Kid In Town,” and “Doolin-Dalton.” One of his notable collaborations was the song “Heartache Tonight,” which he co-wrote with Frey, Bob Seger, and Don Henley. The Eagles recorded and released the track in 1979, and it became their last song to reach the top of the Hot 100 chart.
Souther embarked on a successful solo career, starting with his self-titled debut album in 1972. He later joined forces with Chris Hillman and Richie Furay to form The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band. In 1976, he released his second solo album, “Black Rose,” which was produced by Peter Asher. This album featured a notable duet with his then-girlfriend Linda Ronstadt titled “If You Have Crying Eyes.” Souther’s solo career saw two major hits: the 1979 single “You’re Only Lonely,” which reached Number Seven on the Hot 100, and the 1981 duet with Taylor called “Her Town Too.”
Souther’s songwriting talents extended beyond his solo career. He wrote “Run Like a Thief” for Bonnie Raitt’s 1975 album, “Home Plate,” and contributed several songs to Linda Ronstadt’s repertoire, including “Faithless Love” and “White Rhythm and Blues.” Souther even collaborated with Ronstadt on several duets, such as “Prisoner in Disguise,” “Sometimes You Can’t Win,” and “Hearts Against the Wind,” which appeared in the 1980 film “Urban Cowboy.”
Souther was not only a talented actress but also made appearances in popular television shows such as “Thirtysomething,” “Nashville,” and “Purgatory.” She also showcased her acting skills in films like “Postcards from the Edge,” “My Girl 2,” and “Deadline.”
The versatile artist had plans to go on tour this month with Karla Bonoff until the new year, but unfortunately, the tour had to be cancelled.
When Souther was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013, he was recognized as a key figure in shaping the Southern California sound and as a significant inspiration for a whole generation of songwriters.
In a 2016 interview with PBS, Souther expressed his belief that timing plays a crucial role in any artistic career. He humbly acknowledged his own fortune in this regard.
“When reflecting on my career, if I had the option, I would choose to go to the beach, spend an additional two weeks skiing in Aspen, or simply relax on my farm with my beloved dogs,” he expressed. “I work because I genuinely enjoy it, but my life is my utmost priority.”
In response to the question about the significant time gap between the release of “Home by Dawn” in 1984 and “If the World Was You” in 2008, Souther explained that he made a conscious decision to take a break from the constant cycle of writing, recording, touring, and promoting. He wanted to explore what life was like beyond the demands of the music industry. As a result, he enjoyed a blissful period of 12, 14, or even 20 years.
