Singer-songwriter J D Souther has died at the age of 78.
The Detroit-born musical artist, J D Souther who wrote country-rock songs for popular acts such as the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, passed away at his New Mexico home, a rep for the Eagles told the Los Angeles Times.
Souther’s cause and date of death was not immediately clear, according to the outlet.
J D Souther, who penned Eagles staples such as 1976’s New Kid in Town and 1979’s Heartache Tonight, and Ronstadt’s 1974 track Faithless Love, had been slated to begin touring next week in Phoenix.
J D Souther, who had a hit of his own with 1979’s You’re Only Lonely, also had penned songs for artists such as the Dixie Chicks, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt and George Strait.
Souther had also worked as an actor, appearing on shows such as Nashville and Thirtysomething, as well as motion pictures such as Postcards From the Edge and My Girl 2.
J D Souther took to the stage earlier this year during a January concert at the Kia Forum located in Inglewood, California.
At the show, according to the paper, Souther had been lauded by Don Henley as one of the ‘tightknit community of songwriters and singers.’
Henley said he and late bandmate Glenn Frey relied on during the 1970s during creative lulls ‘when we would get stuck on a song or we’d try to start some new material.’
Henley credited Souther as having been involved in the production of three of the band’s number one singles.
Souther had been born in Detroit and was raised in Amarillo, Texas, the newspaper reported.
After getting his start in music as a jazz drummer, Souther began playing guitar, eventually relocating to Los Angeles in the late 1960s.
There he met Frye, and the tandem began performing under the moniker Longbranch Pennywhistle, releasing a self-titled 1969 record prior to splitting up in 1970.
Souther began performing as a solo artist and dating Ronstadt, who Frey was a backup-singer for.
Ronstadt’s band would add future Eagles members Henley, guitar player Bernie Leadon and bassist Randy Meisner, with the quarter breaking off and forming the group.
Souther had remained active professionally in his final years, as he had been slated to perform on a dozen of concert dates through next April, according to his website.
He had a show slated for Tuesday in Phoenix with singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff, 72, and other shows throughout California, Washington, Oklahoma, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Texas.
Social media was flooded with memorials for the late musician-actor as news of his passing spread.
Stephen Bishop, a two-time Grammy nominee, posted to X/Twitter, ‘I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing of my friend JD Souther. JD and I shared many memories, but one that stands out is when we wrote a song together called For Love back in the 1980s.
Bishop continued, ‘Though we never finished the song, we did a demo, and I’ll forever cherish that collaboration. JD was a remarkable talent, and his contributions to music are immeasurable. He will be sorely missed, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.’
He wrapped up in saying, ‘Rest in peace, my friend.’
Another user wrote, ‘RIP J D Souther while not officially a member of the Eagles. His impact on the success of the Eagles was immeasurable. A true legend that few people realize!’
Said one user, ‘J.D. Souther has passed. R.I.P., Sir. Your music will live on beyond us.’
Another user said, ‘Oh, man! JD Souther has died. Oh my goodness. Among his many songs that had my generation singing along is Faithless Love on Linda Ronstadt’s Heart Like A Wheel album. Gorgeous. His harmonies. Ooof!’