JD Souther , an actor and famed singer-songwriter most known for his work with The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt , has died. He was 78.
“Celebrated recording artist and Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee JD Souther passed away over the weekend at his home in New Mexico,” says a statement from Souther’s family obtained by Amarillo Globe-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. “Highly regarded by his peers, fellow artists, friends and fans, the Amarillo native was beloved by his sisters, brothers in law, nieces and nephews.”
John David “JD” Souther was born in Detroit and raised in Amarillo, Texas, according to his website bio. He “would stay 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 shortly after they both moved to California in the mid-1960s, according to the Globe-News archives . Frey and Souther formed a short-lived folk duo, Longbranch Pennywhistle. Souther later dated Ronstadt, who hired Frey and drummer Don Henley, on Souther’s suggestion, to play in Ronstadt’s backup band. There, they performed with Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner — eventually forming the core of The Eagles.