J. D. Souther
Encyclopedia
John David Souther is an American musician, singer-songwriter
, and actor. He has written and co-written numerous hits songs recorded by artists such as Linda Ronstadt
and Glenn Frey
of the Eagles.
, and raised in Amarillo, Texas
. As a musician and songwriter, he was greatly influenced in his formative years by fellow Texas rock and roll
icon, Roy Orbison
. After moving to Los Angeles, California
, in the late 1960s, he met Detroit musician and songwriter, Glenn Frey
, and the two became roommates and musical collaborators; 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 teamed up with Chris Hillman
and Richie Furay
to form the Souther Hillman Furay Band 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
". "How Long", which appears on the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden
, was written by Souther and originally recorded on his first solo album in 1972. He also produced Linda Ronstadt
's Don't Cry Now
album, and 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 "Hasten Down 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
.
Souther has also contributed as a singer in works written by other artists, including backing vocals with Don Henley
in "The Light Is On" by Christopher Cross
on his eponymous debut album
.
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
.
On October 14, 2008 Souther released If the World Was You
, his first new release in 25 years. In the fall of 2009, Souther released a follow up live CD entitled Rain - Live at the Belcourt Theatre, featuring a blend of old and new material.
, 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. He was also Jeffrey Pommeroy in "My Girl 2". Souther also appears in the 2012 mystery thriller, Deadline
, playing the father of Matt Harper (Steve Talley
).
, California to Nashville, Tennessee
. JD continues to write, record, and tour.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, and actor. He has written and co-written numerous hits songs recorded by artists such as Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
and Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey
Glenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
of the Eagles.
Singing career
Souther was born in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, and raised in Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
. As a musician and songwriter, he was greatly influenced in his formative years by fellow Texas rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
icon, Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
. After moving to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, in the late 1960s, he met Detroit musician and songwriter, Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey
Glenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
, and the two became roommates and musical collaborators; their downstairs neighbor was Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
with whom both Souther and Frey would collaborate on numerous projects.
Shortly after meeting, Souther and Frey formed a folk duo called Longbranch Pennywhistle
Longbranch Pennywhistle
Longbranch Pennywhistle was a country rock/folk music group consisting of Glenn Frey and John David Souther.They played as a duo in the late sixties at Doug Weston's Troubadour Nightclub in West Hollywood, Calif. They released a self-titled album in 1969 under the Amos Records label. However, the...
. Their lone album, released in 1970 on Jimmy Bowen
Jimmy Bowen
Jimmy Bowen is an American record producer and former pop music performer.Bowen was born in Santa Rita, New Mexico. He began as a teenage recording star in 1957 with "I'm Stickin' With You," originally the flip side of the hit record "Party Doll" by Buddy Knox, but ultimately a Top 20 recording...
's Amos Records, featured significant contributions from guitarists James Burton
James Burton
James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
and Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder
Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
, fiddler Doug Kershaw
Doug Kershaw
Doug Kershaw, born January 24, 1936, is an American fiddle player, singer and songwriter from Louisiana. Active since 1949, Kershaw has recorded fifteen albums and charted on the Hot Country Songs charts.- Early life :...
, drummer Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon (musician)
James Beck "Jim" Gordon is an American recording artist, musician and songwriter. The Grammy Award winner was one of the most requested session drummers in the late 1960s and 1970s, recording albums with many well-known musicians of the time, and was the drummer in the blues-rock supergroup Derek...
, pianist Larry Knechtel
Larry Knechtel
Lawrence William "Larry" Knechtel was an American keyboard player and bassist, best known for his work as a session musician with such artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & the Papas, The Partridge Family, The Doors, and Elvis Presley, and as a member of the 1970s...
and bassist Joe Osborn
Joe Osborn
Joe Osborn is an American bass guitar virtuoso, notable for his work as a session musician in Los Angeles and Nashville during the period from the 1960s through the 1980s. Osborn's work is widely admired by fellow musicians.Osborn began his career working in local clubs, then played on a hit...
.
After recording an eponymous solo album in 1972, persuaded by David Geffen
David Geffen
David Geffen is an American record executive, film producer, theatrical producer and philanthropist. Geffen is noted for creating Asylum Records in 1970, Geffen Records in 1980, and DGC Records in 1990...
, Souther teamed up with Chris Hillman
Chris Hillman
Christopher Hillman was one of the original members of The Byrds which in 1965 included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, and Michael Clarke....
and Richie Furay
Richie Furay
Richie Furay is an American singer, songwriter, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member who is best known for forming the bands Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin, and Poco with Jim Messina, Rusty Young, George Grantham and Randy Meisner...
to form the Souther Hillman Furay Band 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
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
) 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
New Kid in Town
"New Kid in Town", written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and J.D. Souther, is a song by the Eagles, from their 1976 album Hotel California. Released as the first single from the album, the song became a #1 hit in the USA, and #20 in the UK. The single version has an earlier fade-out than the album...
". "How Long", which appears on the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden
Long Road Out of Eden
Long Road Out of Eden is the seventh studio album by American rock band Eagles, released in 2007 on Lost Highway Records. Nearly six years in production, Long Road Out of Eden is the first studio album from the Eagles since 1979's The Long Run, and along with the four original tracks on 1994 Hell...
, was written by Souther and originally recorded on his first solo album in 1972. He also produced Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
's Don't Cry Now
Don't Cry Now
Don't Cry Now is Linda Ronstadt's fourth solo LP and the first of her studio releases for Asylum Records, following six albums recorded for and released on Capitol Records...
album, and wrote songs for several of Ronstadt's multi-platinum albums, including "Faithless Love" from Heart Like a Wheel
Heart Like a Wheel
Heart Like a Wheel is Linda Ronstadt's fifth solo album release and the last-ever of her studio projects for Capitol Records, released in late 1974. It is universally considered to be Ronstadt's all-time high watermark masterpiece recording and a pioneering blueprint of Country Rock...
and "White Rhythm and Blues" included in her Living in the USA
Living in the USA
Living In The USA is a 1978 album by American singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt. The album was Ronstadt's third No. 1 on the Billboard album chart and was the first album in history to ship Double Platinum...
album. He also recorded several notable duets with Ronstadt, including "Hasten Down 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
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
.
Souther has also contributed as a singer in works written by other artists, including backing vocals with Don Henley
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
in "The Light Is On" by Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross is an American singer-songwriter from San Antonio, Texas. His debut album earned him five Grammys. He is perhaps best known for his Top Ten hit songs, "Sailing", "Ride Like the Wind", and "Arthur's Theme ", the last of which he performed for the film Arthur starring Dudley Moore...
on his eponymous debut album
Christopher Cross (album)
Christopher Cross is the self-titled debut album by Christopher Cross, released in 1979 . In 1981, it won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year...
.
His biggest hit as a solo artist was his 1979 Orbison-influenced song "You're Only Lonely
You're Only Lonely (song)
"You're Only Lonely" is a 1979 single by J. D. Souther from his album of the same name. The single peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, Souther's only top ten pop hit, and spent five weeks at number one on the Adult Contemporary chart....
" from the album of the same name
You're Only Lonely
You're Only Lonely is the third album by American singer-songwriter J. D. Souther, released in 1979 .-Track listing:#"You're Only Lonely" – 3:48#"If You Don't Want My Love" – 4:22...
, which reached number 7 on the Billboard charts. A collaboration with James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
called "Her Town Too" from Taylor's Dad Loves His Work
Dad Loves His Work
-Track listing:All songs by James Taylor unless otherwise noted.#"Hard Times" – 3:13#"Her Town Too" – 4:34#"Hour That the Morning Comes" – 2:56#"I Will Follow" – 4:19#"Believe It or Not" – 3:53...
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
Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night
Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night is a 1988 Cinemax television special originally broadcast on January 3, 1988 starring Hall of Fame singer/songwriter Roy Orbison. The special was filmed entirely in black and white...
1987 concert and video, sang The Platters
The Platters
The Platters were a vocal group of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound was a bridge between the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the burgeoning new genre...
' "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" in the 1989 movie Always and sang the theme song to the 1989-1992 sitcom Anything But Love
Anything but Love
Anything But Love was an American television sitcom, which aired on ABC from March 7, 1989 to June 3, 1992, spanning four seasons and 56 episodes. The show starred Richard Lewis as Marty Gold and Jamie Lee Curtis as Hannah Miller, coworkers at a Chicago magazine with a mutual romantic attraction to...
.
On October 14, 2008 Souther released If the World Was You
If the World Was You
If the World Was You is an album by J.D. Souther, released in 2008. It was his first studio release in 24 years, recorded live with a five piece jazz ensemble.- Track listing :All the song written by J.D...
, his first new release in 25 years. In the fall of 2009, Souther released a follow up live CD entitled Rain - Live at the Belcourt Theatre, featuring a blend of old and new material.
Acting career
As an actorActor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, 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
Postcards from the Edge (film)
Postcards from the Edge is a 1990 American comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols. The screenplay by Carrie Fisher is based on her 1987 semi-autobiographical novel of the same title.-Plot:...
(1990). He also performs in the audio book
Audio book
An audiobook or audio book is a recording of a text being read. It is not necessarily an exact audio version of a book or magazine.Spoken audio has been available in schools and public libraries and to a lesser extent in music shops since the 1930s. Many spoken word albums were made prior to the...
genre including the recent Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
sequel to Tales from Margaritaville
Tales from Margaritaville
Tales from Margaritaville is a collection of short stories by singer Jimmy Buffett, published in 1989, 230 pages long.The book is broken up into an introduction and three sections, each containing several short stories....
, A Salty Piece of Land
A Salty Piece of Land
A Salty Piece of Land is a 2004 novel by bestselling author and songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It is about a fictional American westerner, Tully Mars, who goes to work repairing an island lighthouse. Buffett first introduced the character Tully Mars in his earlier work, Tales from Margaritaville...
.
He played Jesse James in the Television movie "Purgatory" in 1999. He was also Jeffrey Pommeroy in "My Girl 2". Souther also appears in the 2012 mystery thriller, Deadline
Deadline (2012 film)
Deadline is a 2012 American mystery drama film directed by Curt Hahn with a screenplay by former Charlotte Observer managing editor Mark Ethridge, based upon his novel Grievances which was inspired by actual events. The film stars Steve Talley and Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts...
, playing the father of Matt Harper (Steve Talley
Steve Talley
Steve Talley is an American actor who played Dwight Stifler in later films of the American Pie film series.-Career:...
).
Personal life
In December 2002, Souther moved from the Hollywood HillsHollywood Hills
The Hollywood Hills is an affluent and exclusive neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, in the southeastern Santa Monica Mountains. It is bound by Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west, Vermont Avenue to the east, Mulholland Drive to the north, and Sunset Boulevard to the south.-Hollywood Hills...
, California to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. JD continues to write, record, and tour.
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
CAN | |||
| 1972 | John David Souther John David Souther (album) John David Souther is the self-titled debut album by American singer-songwriter J.D. Souther, released in 1972 . The song "How Long" was recorded in 2007 by the Eagles on their album Long Road Out of Eden, from which it was released as a single.Souther joined with Chris Hillman and Richie Furay to... |
206 | - | Elektra |
| 1976 | Black Rose | 85 | - | |
| 1979 | You're Only Lonely You're Only Lonely You're Only Lonely is the third album by American singer-songwriter J. D. Souther, released in 1979 .-Track listing:#"You're Only Lonely" – 3:48#"If You Don't Want My Love" – 4:22... |
41 | 68 | Columbia |
| 1984 | Home by Dawn Home by Dawn Home by Dawn is the fourth album by American singer-songwriter J.D. Souther, released in 1984 . The album was re-issued in 2002 by Wounded Bird Records with a slightly different track order.-Track listing:... |
203 | - | Warner Bros. |
| 2008 | If the World Was You If the World Was You If the World Was You is an album by J.D. Souther, released in 2008. It was his first studio release in 24 years, recorded live with a five piece jazz ensemble.- Track listing :All the song written by J.D... |
- | - | Slow Curve |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US AC Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Country | CAN AC | CAN Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
CAN Country | |||
| 1979 | "You're Only Lonely You're Only Lonely (song) "You're Only Lonely" is a 1979 single by J. D. Souther from his album of the same name. The single peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, Souther's only top ten pop hit, and spent five weeks at number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.... " |
1 | 7 | 60 | 2 | 18 | 12 | You're Only Lonely |
Guest singles
| Year | Single | Artist | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US AC | US | US Country | CAN AC | CAN | |||||
| 1981 | "Her Town Too" | James Taylor James Taylor James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.... |
5 | 11 | - | 5 | 19 | Dad Loves His Work Dad Loves His Work -Track listing:All songs by James Taylor unless otherwise noted.#"Hard Times" – 3:13#"Her Town Too" – 4:34#"Hour That the Morning Comes" – 2:56#"I Will Follow" – 4:19#"Believe It or Not" – 3:53... |
|
| 1982 | "Sometimes You Just Can't Win" | Linda Ronstadt Linda Ronstadt Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden... |
- | - | 27 | - | - | Get Closer Get Closer Get Closer is a Gold-plus, Grammy-nominated album by singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt. It arrived two and a half years after Ronstadt's controversial Punk Rock Mad Love album... |
|
| "-" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||