Singer and Eagles Songwriter J.D. Souther Dead at 78
John David “JD” Souther, a singer and songwriter famed for his work with such artists as the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, and James Taylor, has died at the age of 78.
According to People, Souther passed away "peacefully in his New Mexico home." As of yet, no official cause of death has been released.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Amarillo, Texas, Souther had a band called Longbranch Pennywhistle with the Eagles' Glenn Frey and eventually worked on such Eagles' hits as “Best of My Love,” “James Dean,” “New Kid in Town” and “Doolin-Dalton.”
Among his many other successful collaborations were Raitt's "Run Like a Thief" and Ronstadt's "Faithless Love" and "White Rhythm and Blues." Souther's duet with Ronstadt, "Hearts Against the Wind," was featured in the 1980 film Urban Cowboy with John Travolta and Debra Winger.
Souther's career wasn't all collaborations, however. On his own, he released songs like "You're Only Lonely" in 1979 (from the album of the same name). He formed a band in the '70s with former Byrds member Chris Hilmman and Richie Furay of Poco, fittingly titled the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band.
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More than just a musician, Souther was also an actor. He appeared in such shows as Nashville, Thirtysomething, and Purgatory, in addition to movies including Postcards from the Edge, My Girl 2, and Deadline.
Souther was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013. As Billboard reported, Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, praised his talent in a statement at the time.
“It’s been said that JD Souther could have been a major artist if he had kept more of those beautiful, introspective songs he wrote for himself,” Young said. “He had the aching tenor voice, the good looks that got him TV acting jobs. But he was happy to co-write ‘New Kid in Town’ and ‘Best of My Love’ with his friends the Eagles and give ‘Prisoner in Disguise’ to Linda Ronstadt. He wasn’t a star of country-rock, but he was crucial to its enduring power.”
Souther is survived by two sisters, his former wife and her daughter, and his dogs, Layla and Bob.
