J.D. Souther

J.D. Souther left his strongest mark on country-rock from behind the scenes and in supporting roles for major pop figures of the 1970s, yet he also issued a run of well-received solo albums that later faded from listeners’ attention. Detroit-born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, he developed early stylistic ties to both country and rock. During high school he performed with the band John David & the Senders, later known as the Cinders, before moving to Los Angeles.

There he began session work, crossed paths with Glenn Frey, and eventually shared a house with him; the pair signed to Amos Records as Longbranch Pennywhistle and cut an album together. Those ties with Frey later yielded songwriting credits on several Eagles hits, including “Best of My Love,” “Heartache Tonight,” and “New Kid in Town.” Because Frey had previously played in Linda Ronstadt’s band, Souther’s connection to her developed into an extended partnership. He produced her 1973 album Don’t Cry Now and supplied background vocals on the project; from that point forward her records regularly included his compositions, and he frequently sang on them as well.

At David Geffen’s urging, Souther joined Chris Hillman and Richie Furay in the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, which released two albums before breaking up in 1975. His own country-rock approach appeared on four critically praised though modestly selling solo sets: the 1972 self-titled debut, 1976’s Black Rose, 1979’s You’re Only Lonely, and 1984’s Home by Dawn. Repeated label shifts hampered promotion of his work. In between his own projects he contributed as a session musician to recordings by Don Henley and Danny Kortchmar and co-wrote “Her Town Too” with James Taylor for the latter’s 1981 album.

Acting opportunities occupied much of the late 1980s, including a recurring part on thirtysomething plus roles in the independent films To Cross the Rubicon and How to Make the Cruelest Month. Souther resurfaced in 2008 with If the World Was You on Slow Curve Records. His 2011 collection Natural History returned to earlier material—“Best of My Love,” “New Kid in Town,” “Prisoner in Disguise,” “Faithless Love,” “You’re Only Lonely,” and others—presented in stripped-down, understated settings that evoke a landscape of longing. He also resumed acting, portraying songwriter Watty White in a recurring capacity during the first three seasons.

Early in 2015 he appeared at the inaugural Tucson Jazz Festival alongside pianist Billy Childs, who arranged the strings and horns for the May release Tenderness. Produced by Larry Klein, the album featured Souther on guitar and vocals, supported by pianist Chris Walters, saxophonist Jeff Coffin, vocalist Lizz Wright, and trumpeter Till Brönner. On September 17, 2024, Souther passed away at his Sandia Park, New Mexico residence at age 78, just a week before a planned tour.