Very Sad News…RIP Singer / Songwriter JD Souther…

Having to report on someone’s death is always difficult, but this one stung especially hard, as two of his songs are on my daily rotation…as reported:

John David “JD” Souther, a prolific songwriter and musician who helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s with his collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, has died at the age of 78.

JD Souther collaborated on some of the Eagles’ biggest hits, such as “Best of My Love,” “James Dean,” “New Kid in Town,” “Heartache Tonight” and a song on my playlist “How Long” – sadly he died Tuesday Sept. 17th at his home in New Mexico, according to an announcement on his website.

Souther released many albums of his own in his career, with this single being a #1 hit at the end of the 70’s…here he is performing the gorgeous ballad “You’re Only Lonely”:

Souther also wrote and recorded with many of his lifelong friends, including this one: a song about James Taylor’s gut-wrenching breakup with Singer Carly Simon:

“Her Town Too”

This song looks at a very public breakup.

Here are some of the lyrics, with a classic line about what happens when two musical artists split up assets – which I highlighted:

“It used to be her town
It used to be her town too
It used to be her town
It used to be her town too

Well, people got used to seeing them both together
But now, he is gone, and life goes on
Nothing lasts forever, oh no
She gets the house and the garden
He gets the boys in the band

Some of them his friends
Some of them her friends
Some of them understand
Lord knows that this is just a small town city

Yes, and everyone can see you fall
It’s got nothing to do with pity
I just wanted to give you a call

It used to be your town
It used to be my town too…”

Here is this gorgeous song about love and loss…

“Her Town Too”:

Souther was born in Detroit and grew up in Amarillo, Texas. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1960s, where he met fellow Michigan native Glenn Frey, a founding member and guitarist of the Eagles. The two began a longtime partnership, starting with a band called Longbranch Pennywhistle. Frey would credit Souther with introducing him to country music.

They were all lifelong friends….and the Eagles sang a number of Souther’s song…first, here is Souther’s live solo version of his song “How Long”:

The Eagles made it the first song on their final album called “Long Road Out Of Eden”…it was a smash hit.

Here is the gorgeous version performed by The Eagles:

JD is all over this double album…here is a look at it track by track:

Souther also worked with Jackson Browne as well…here they are performing “Fountain Of Sorrow” live:

The iconic Singer Linda Ronstadt performed many of his songs as well – here they are they singing the hit song he wrote for her called “Faithless Love”:

For those who don’t know, the Eagles were Ronstadt’s backup band when getting started…she encouraged them to form a group and make their own music, and supported them by covering several of their songs…here is that story:

RIP JD Souther…a massive loss for music…

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Categories: 70's Music, Art, Classic Rock, Memoirs, Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities

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