J.D. Souther at his induction into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.
Singer-songwriter J.D. Souther passed away last week. No cause of death was given but it appears to have been sudden and unexpected. Souther was set to start a tour with Karla Bonoff in Phoenix on September 24th.
Some may be a little familiar with his name but I was an aware fan and appreciated J.D.’s work. He co-wrote hits for the Eagles like “Best of my Love”, “Heartache Tonight”, “How Long”, the rocking romp “James Dean” and “New Kid in Town” which was reportedly written about the slowly rising star of Bruce Springsteen as he started to perform shows in L.A. J.D. also penned the James Taylor song “Her Town Too” and co-wrote with Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and other stars.
Regarding the Eagles success with Souther’s songwriting, this quote covers it all. “There was definitely a period of time where people would occasionally say to me, ‘Doesn’t it piss you off that the Eagles have these big hits off your songs?’ I would usually start saying, ‘Would you like to see the checks?’” Souther said in an interview with the Creative Independent. “Pissed off? How could I be pissed off? Even Glenn Frey once said — and he was kind of joking because he knows how the royalty thing works — but he said, ‘One of the reasons JD didn’t have a bigger solo career is because he gave us or Linda Ronstadt most of his best songs.’ And that’s sort of true.
J.D. Souther in the early 1970’s.
Souther’s 1979 top 10 pop hit “You’re Only Lonely” is a killer cut that gets to me anytime I hear it. It has that Roy Orbison feel to it and evokes the emotions of deep hurt and comfort at the same time. I mean just the opening line, “When the world is ready to fall on your little shoulders and when you’re feeling lonely and small, you need somebody there to hold you, you can call out my name, when you’re only lonely.” Wow! Just amazing and universal…
Souther’s 1979 hit song “You’re Only Lonely.”
J.D. also collaborated with Don Henley and Mike Campbell on the great Henley song “The Heart of the Matter.” I’ve written before how that track pulled me out of a deep funk after my first major adult romance slowly crashed and burned. Don said that song took many years to experience and five minutes to record. My gut tells me of all the Henley solo songs, that one has to be the one he gets the most personal thanks for.
J.D. was born in Detroit like his one-time duo partner Glenn Frey but grew up in Amarillo, Texas.. The two of them met up in L.A. in the late 60’s and wrote, recorded and toured as “Longbranch- Pennywhistle.” Frey would go on to be in Linda Ronstadt’s backing band with Henley, Bernie Leadon and bassist Randy Meisner. While this was happening, JD. Souther was living with Linda. From what I’ve read about the Eagles lore and stories from the California sound of the 1970’s, J.D. was quite the ladies man who landed the most beautiful women that his music mates could only lust for.
With Souther gone, 8 plus years after his one time duo partner Glenn Frey left us, maybe heaven has re-born music from Longbranch-Pennywhistle.
The album released by J.D. and Glenn Frey as they worked as Longbranch-Pennywhistle.
I think a year or two ago J.D. Souther played a couple of shows at Chicago’s City Winery. I now regret not going out to one of those concerts. I bet those were very special nights of great music in an intimate setting. Damn!
Earlier this year, J.D. joined the current Eagles line-up onstage in L.A. and Don Henley introduced him as part of the “tightknit community of songwriters and singers” that he and the Eagles’ Glenn Frey would turn to in the ’70s “when we would get stuck on a song or we’d try to start some new material.”
To be included into the tight Eagles inner circle of music making which Henley and Frey ruled over, that speaks volumes of the respect Souther had from them and others. J.D. was also a member of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.
Souther also acted in movies like “Always”, “Postcards from the Edge” and “My Girl 2” along with a recurring role on TV’s “Thirty-Something.” The guy was multi-faceted, no doubt.
Besides his music itself, another reason I appreciated J.D. Souther was because he was in the shadows of music giants but still had their respect and he helped them climb to higher heights. Another such songwriter (who also wrote for the Eagles) is Jack Tempchin. Jack has the same respect that Souther has. The good news is Tempchin is still alive and performing.
I have often equated my 20 year radio career as producer and sometime on air guy to J.D. Souther and Jack Tempchin’s work in music. I wasn’t THE star but I worked alongside and contributed much to some very big names and shows in Chicago radio. That fits me and suits me just fine.
So, rest in peace John David Souther. With you gone, the world is only lonely. But your music lives on and it keeps us company.
J.D. Souther performing at a Jimmy Buffett tribute just 5 months ago.
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