JD Souther, singer-songwriter behind Eagles classics, dies at 78

John David “Jedi” Souther, a Songwriters Hall of Fame member known for co-penning hits with the Eagles, James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, has died at age 78.

According to Salters PR representatives, the singer-songwriter died peacefully at home in New Mexico. Cause of death not given.

Souther was born in Detroit, Michigan, on November 2, 1945, and raised in Amarillo, Texas. After moving to Los Angeles, California in the late sixties, he formed a long-time partnership with Glenn Frey of the Eagles. The pair briefly formed a band called Longbranch Pennywhistle, which released an eponymous solo album in 1970 for Jimmy Bowen's Amos Records.

Throughout the seventies, Souther collaborated on several songs for the Eagles, including “Best of My Love”, “James Dean”, “New Kid in Town” and “Doolin-Dalton”. He would go on to co-write “Heartache Tonight” with Frey, Bob Seger and Don Henley, which the Eagles would record and release in 1979, earning the group their final track to top the Hot 100.

As a successful solo artist, Souther recorded his self-titled debut in 1972 before forming The Souther-Hillman-Furey Band with former Byrds member Chris Hillman and Poco's Richie Furey. In 1976, he released a second solo album, black rosewhich was produced by Peter Asher and featured a duet with his then-girlfriend Linda Ronstadt, “If Your Eyes Were Crying.” His two biggest solo hits were the 1979 single “You're Only Lonely”, which reached number seven on the Hot 100, and the 1981 “Her Town Two” duet with Taylor.

The famous songwriter wrote “Run Like a Thief” for Bonnie Raitt's 1975 album, home plateand several songs for Ronstadt, including “Faithful Love” and “White Rhythm and Blues”. Souther also recorded several duets with Ronstadt, including “Crisined in Disguise”, “Sometimes You Can't Win” and “Hearts Against the Wind”, the latter of which was part of the 1980 film. Urban Cowboy.

As an actor, also appeared in Southern television shows thirty something, NashvilleAnd Purifier As well as films Postcard from the edge, my daughter 2, And time limit.

The versatile artist was set to embark on a tour this month with Carla Bonoff through the New Year, which will be cancelled.

After being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013, Souther was recognized as “a major architect of the Southern California sound and a major influence on a generation of songwriters”.

During an interview with PBS that aired in 2016, Souther said that “there's a lot of time involved in any kind of career in the industry” and called himself “lucky”.

“If really given the choice, I'd rather go to the beach, I'd spend an extra two weeks in Aspen and ski, or hang out at my ranch with my dog,” he said, looking back on his career. “I work because I love my work, but I don't love it more than my life.”

When asked why there was a large gap between 1984 and Home in the morning And If the world were you In 2008, Souther replied, “I said, 'I'm going to get off the hamster wheel for a while and just see what life is like when it's not on. Write, record, tour, write, record, tour, write, record, tour, promote.' And to be honest I was very happy for 12, 14, 20 years.”

After his hiatus, the singer-songwriter would release four more albums. Reflecting on his return, Souther added, “I fell back in love with work, which is always the point.”