JD Souther
A masterful songwriter who helped define the smooth, introspective sound of 1970s California rock behind the scenes.
1945–2024 (age 79)·American singer, songwriter and actor·Birthday: November 2·The Silent Generation
Biography
JD Souther moved from Texas to Los Angeles with dreams of being a folksinger, but his true gift was for crafting impeccably smooth, emotionally resonant songs. He formed a short-lived but influential band, Longbranch Pennywhistle, with a friend named Glenn Frey, forging a creative partnership that would shape the next decade. Souther never sought the blinding spotlight of a frontman; instead, he became the secret weapon in the studios of the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt. His compositions, like 'Best of My Love' and 'New Kid in Town,' provided the harmonic bedrock and lyrical melancholy that became synonymous with the Southern California sound. While his own solo recordings, such as the hit 'You're Only Lonely,' showcased his warm, understated voice, his legacy is etched into the DNA of classic rock radio.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
JD was born in 1945, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When JD Was Born
The biggest hits of 1945
#1 Movie
The Bells of St. Mary's
Best Picture
The Lost Weekend
JD's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1945Born
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1950Started school
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1958Became a teenager
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1961Could drive
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1963Could vote
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1966Turned 21
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1975Turned 30
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 40
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 50
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 60
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 70
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2024Died at 79
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote the Eagles' hits 'Best of My Love,' 'Victim of Love,' 'Heartache Tonight,' and 'New Kid in Town.'
- Wrote Linda Ronstadt's signature songs 'Faithless Love' and 'Prisoner in Disguise.'
- His song 'How Long,' from his 1972 solo album, was later recorded by the Eagles and won a Grammy in 2008.
- Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.
Did You Know?
He was briefly engaged to singer Linda Ronstadt in the 1970s.
He had a recurring acting role as a musician father on the TV series 'Nashville.'
He was a dedicated pilot and owned several aircraft.
The character 'John David Souther' is name-checked in the Jackson Browne song 'The Pretender.'
“I never wanted to be a star. I wanted to be a songwriter.”
