J. D. Souther
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| J.D. Souther | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John David Souther |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| Genre(s) | Rock |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Label(s) | Elektra |
| Associated acts | Eagles |
J.D. Souther (born John David Souther, November 2, 1945 in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Amarillo, Texas) is a country rock singer-songwriter and actor, as well as a multi instrumentalist. He is well known both as a performer and as a writer and co-writer of hit songs for other artists, most famously Eagles and Linda Ronstadt.
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[edit] Singing career
Souther was greatly influenced by Texan Roy Orbison, whose sound he tried to emulate. Following his move to Los Angeles in the late 1960s, he met a young guitarist from Detroit named Glenn Frey. They bonded over their Detroit roots and a common love of country and R&B music. In short order, they began working together while sharing a small apartment in Los Angeles' Echo Park area (their downstairs neighbor was Jackson Browne with whom both Souther and Frey would collaborate on numerous projects).
Shortly after meeting, Souther and Frey formed a folk duo called Longbranch Pennywhistle. Their lone album, released in 1970 on Jimmy Bowen's Amos Records, featured significant contributions from guitarists James Burton and Ry Cooder, fiddler Doug Kershaw, drummer Jim Gordon, pianist Larry Knechtel and bassist Joe Osborn.
After recording an eponymous solo album in 1972, persuaded by David Geffen, Souther formed the Souther Hillman Furay Band with Chris Hillman and Richie Furay. The group released two albums, but creative tensions and lack of record sales (not to mention Furay's discomfort with playing secular music following his conversion to Christianity) led to the band's demise.
Souther is probably best known for his well crafted songwriting abilities, especially in the field of country rock. He co-wrote some of the biggest hits for The Eagles, including "Best of My Love", "Victim of Love", "Heartache Tonight", and "New Kid in Town". He also wrote songs for several of Ronstadt's multi-platinum albums, including "Faithless Love" from Heart Like a Wheel and "White Rhythm and Blues" included in her Living in the USA album. He also recorded several notable duets with Ronstadt, including "Hearts Against the Wind," "Prisoner in Disguise," and "Sometimes You Can't Win." He wrote "Run Like a Thief," which appeared on Home Plate by Bonnie Raitt.
His biggest hit as a solo artist was his 1979 Orbison-influenced song "You're Only Lonely" from the album of the same name, which reached number 7 on the Billboard charts. A collaboration with James Taylor called "Her Town Too" from Taylor's Dad Loves His Work album reached number 11 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.
He was a contributor on the Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night 1987 concert and video, sang The Platters' "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" in the 1989 movie Always and sang the theme song to the 1989-1992 sitcom Anything But Love.
[edit] Acting career
As an actor, he has played several roles, including the character of John Dunaway in the (1989–1990) third season of the television drama thirtysomething and Ted in the film Postcards from the Edge (1990). He also performs in the audio book genre including the recent Jimmy Buffett sequel to Tales from Margaritaville, A Salty Piece of Land. He played Jesse James in the Television movie "Purgatory" in 1999.
[edit] Personal life
In December 2002, Souther moved from the Hollywood Hills, California to Nashville, Tennessee. He built a ranch-style house and he lives there with his wife Raylene, one of the Rankin Family sisters, and stepdaughter. In January 2006, he recorded a new CD, which is due to be released in summer 2007 to coincide with a tour of Great Britain in September and October, 2007.
Souther is a Democrat, and in late 2006 performed with Jackson Browne and Michael Stanley at a fundraiser for Democratic candidates in Ohio.
[edit] Discography
- John David Souther (1972)
- Black Rose (1976)
- You're Only Lonely (1979)
- Home by Dawn (1984) (reissued 2002)
In addition to these public releases, there also exists a promotional/not-for-sale CD, 20Songs, which showcases Souther's writing and performing talents. In addition to Souther himself, artists represented on the CD include Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, George Strait and James Taylor.
[edit] References
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