The Eagles’ Glenn Frey Dead at 67

Man! We've barely started 2016 and all the entertainer deaths are almost too much to take. I thought David Bowie's death was devastating and here we are a week later, and Glenn Frey is gone.

One of the first things I learned to do on my own was operate the family record player. And we had plenty of Eagles albums and 45's. In my baby book, "Lyin' Eyes" is listed as one of the songs I, uh, didn't like. Hey, I was 2 or 3, give me a break! I don't think there was a day that went by without hearing the Eagles on the record player or on the radio.

Glenn Frey was born in Detroit, which is home to a vast musical landscape including Motown and the home of another rock legend and Eagles' contemporary, Bob Seger. Frey's first professional gig at 19 was playing acoustic guitar and singing background vocals on Seger's "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man. He soon made the move to Los Angeles where he was introduced to singer/songwriter J.D. Souther and not long after, Don Henley. Linda Ronstadt hired Frey, Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner as her back up band, and those four would branch out on their own to form the Eagles. What followed was a slow start, then a string of massive hits including the songs Frey sang lead on and co-wrote, "Take It Easy", "Peaceful Easy Feeling", "Tequila Sunrise", the aforementioned "Lyin' Eyes", "New Kid in Town" and "Heartache Tonight".

When the Eagles broke up in the early 80's, Frey embarked on a successful solo career with hits "The Heat is On", "You Belong to the City", "Smuggler's Blues", "True Love", and "Soul Seachin'". The Eagles got back together in 1994 to record new music and to go back on the road with 'Hell Freezes Over'. The Eagles released one more record, 'Long Road out of Eden' in 2007 and would go on to tour for the next couple of years. In 2013, the release of the documentary 'History of the Eagles' (it's still on Netflix, go watch it!) would persuade the band to go one more round on the road.  The tour ended last year.

Frey is the first member of the Eagles, past or present, including later members Joe Walsh and Don Felder, to pass away. Here is Don Henley's statement on his late band mate, collaborator, and friend.