JD Souther, Songwriting Hitmaker for Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor & More, Dies At 78

John David “JD” Souther, a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee known for his hit collaborations with the Eagles, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt and many more, passed away peacefully in his New Mexico home at the age of 78.

Born in Detroit but raised in Amarillo, Texas, Souther was known for his longtime partnership with the Eagles’ Glenn Frey, whom he met in Los Angeles after moving there in the late ‘60s. The duo briefly formed a band called Longbranch Pennywhistle, with an album recorded for Jimmy Bowen’s Amos Records. 

That would last through collaborations on some of the Eagles’ biggest hits, including “Best of My Love,” “James Dean,” “New Kid in Town” and “Doolin-Dalton.” He also co-wrote “Heartache Tonight,” with Bob Seger, Frey and Don Henley.

Souther was so close to the Eagles, he even appeared on the back cover of their 1973 album, Desperado, with Souther and others reenacting the capture of the legendary Dalton Gang. He described his start with Frey at The Troubadour, the popular West Hollywood music club, as “the best study in songwriting I can imagine.”

“So many great songwriters came through — Laura Nyro, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Newman, Elton John, James Taylor, Tim Hardin, Carole King, Rick Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, Tim Buckley, Gordon Lightfoot, Taj Mahal and more,” he said in a statement on his website. “It seems impossible now to imagine that much music in a year and a half or so, but that was my life and the Troubadour was our university.

“It’s also where I met Linda Ronstadt and where Don Henley and Glenn Frey met to form this little country rock band called Eagles that would go on to make musical history,” Souther wrote.

Souther started out recording with a local Amarillo group called The Cinders, traveling to nearby Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico, where Buddy Holly’s producer shopped their recordings to Warner Bros. for a single release under the name John David and the Cinders.

Souther was also a successful solo artist, recording his self-titled debut in 1972 before forming The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with former Byrds member Chris Hillman and Poco’s Richie Furay. 

A second solo effort, Black Rose, produced by Peter Asher and released in 1976, includes a duet with his one-time girlfriend Linda Ronstadt, “If You Have Crying Eyes.” Souther scored his biggest solo hit with “You’re Only Lonely,” from the 1979 album of the same name, peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Other songs penned by Souther include “Run Like a Thief,” for Bonnie Raitt, and several songs for Ronstadt, including “Faithless Love” and “White Rhythm and Blues.” He also recorded several duets with her, among them “Prisoner in Disguise,” “Sometimes You Can’t Win” and “Hearts Against the Wind,” the latter featured in the 1980 film “Urban Cowboy.” A collaboration with James Taylor, “Her Town Too,” reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Souther contributed as a singer to artists such as Don Henley, Christopher Cross, Dan Fogelberg and Roy Orbison, among many others. He also appeared as an actor in TV’s “Thirtysomething,” “Nashville” and “Purgatory” as well as the films “Postcards from the Edge,” “My Girl 2” and “Deadline.”

Souther was active until the time of his death, having reportedly performed in concert just five days prior. He completed a solo tour in May and was to embark on a tour with singer Karla Bonoff Sept. 24 in Phoenix at the time of his death.

Also in 2024, Souther performed “Southern Cross” with the Coral Reefer Band at “Keep The Party Going: A Tribute To Jimmy Buffett” at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and appeared as a surprise guest with Eagles to play “Best of My Love” at Kia Forum in January. 

“What an absolute joy, performing these songs written with my best pals and now standing next to Don singing ‘Best of My Love’ with him 50 years after it was number one,” Souther posted to his Facebook page after the show. “It’s impossible to wipe the smile off my face. Huge thanks to them and to all of you.”

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum said of Souther in a statement: “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,” said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “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 was declared “a principal architect of the Southern California sound and a major influence on a generation of songwriters,” upon his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.  His final original album, Tenderness, was released by Sony Masterworks in 2015, with Uncut magazine describing it as connecting “L.A.’s ‘70s golden age with the Great American Songbook.” An expanded edition of his 1979 album, You’re Only Lonely, was released in July by Omnivore Recordings, which also released expanded editions of his first three solo records.

Souther is survived by his two sisters, his former wife and her daughter, his beloved dogs Layla and Bob, and by countless friends and colleagues within the music community and beyond.

Donations in Souther’s honor can be made to Best Friends Animal Society, an organization that was very important to him.