The Eagles & Linda Ronstadt Sang Them. JD Souther Wrote Them (RIP)

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photo: Jeremy Cowart


It’s hard to comprehend how the California country influence or the catalog of The Eagles would hold up if songwriter JD Souther had not been such an important part of them. He wrote so many of the songs that would become instrumental to West Coast country’s international appeal, inspired his fellow songwriters of the era and region to step up their game, and sang a few hits himself.

JD Souther dated both Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks at different points. He sang and wrote songs with some of California country’s most seminal stars such as Chris Hillman and Richie Furay. He was an actor, and mentor to other songwriters as well. And according to most everyone who knew him, he passed away suddenly and before his time.

“Heartache Tonight”, “Best of My Love,” “James Dean,” “Victim of Love,” and “New Kid in Town” were all songs written or co-written by Souther that are now considered essential to the repertoire of The Eagles. He wrote Linda Ronstadt’s “Faithless Love” and “White Rhythm and Blues,” sang numerous duet’s with Ronstadt including “Prisoner in Disguise,” and co-produced her 1973 album Don’t Cry Now.

But lucky for Souther, he wasn’t beset by the obscurity that so many songwriters suffer. When he appeared as a recurring character during the first season of the ABC country music-based drama series Nashville in 2012, folks already recognized the name, and the face. Souther had a hit of his own with 1979’s “You’re Only Lonely.” He had another in 1981 in “Your Town Too” with good friend Jame Taylor.

Born in Detroit, MI, but raised in Amarillo, TX, John David Souther would first get involved in music through a band called The Cinders, who recorded at the famous Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico—the same place Buddy Holly and a young Waylon Jennings would get their start. This project became “John David and the Cinders” who were signed to Warner Brothers Records.

But it was really Souther’s decision to move to Los Angeles in the late 1960s that would put his career on the track of national importance. He befriended Glen Frey and the two became roommates, and later bandmates in the folk duo Longbranch Pennywhistle. By the time he grouped up with Chris Hillman and Richie Furay for the “Souther–Hillman–Furay Band,” in the mid ’70s, Souther was already famous for his contributions to California country.

The California country scene created a lot of incredible music that would withstand the test of time, and influence country and rock across generations, but it was also often quite contentious as creative differences and commercial concerns sometimes got in the way of personal relationships. In a separate reality, JD Souther could have been a member of The Eagles, or perhaps married Ronstadt in a permanent duo. But even through friction and falling outs, performers continued to record the songs of JD Souther because they were just so good.

Along with the aforementioned artists, Souther also wrote songs for Bonnie Raitt, Christopher Cross, and others. Brooks & Dunn covered “Best of My Love,” making it a hit of their own. Souther also released numerous solo albums, and would dabble in acting starting in the late ’80s as part of the cast of the TV drama Thirtysomething. He moved from California to Nashville in the early 2000s where he was considered a songwriting hero, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.

JD Souther and some of his work is currently displayed at the Country Music Hall of Fame as part of their current “Western Edge” exhibit, and he also participated in the Hall’s Poets and Prophet’s series. JD Souther died suddenly at his home just outside of Albuquerque, NM on Tuesday, September 17th. Born on November 2, 1945, Souther was 78 years old.

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