Biography of Don Henley

Don Henley’s success with the Eagles and his own solo career

Don Henley (born Donald Hugh Henley in Gilmer, Texas in 1947) is an American singer-songwriter and drummer. He is famously known as the founding member of one of the most successful American bands in history, the Eagles. With the Eagles, he sang the band’s signature song “Hotel California” as well as other hits such as “Witchy Woman,” “Best Of My Love,” “One of These Nights,” “The Long Run,” “Desperado,” “Life In The Fast Lane” as well as many other Eagles tracks.

After the Eagles split in 1980, Henley launched a successful solo career. He released four studio albums, the most successful among them is 1989’s The End of Innocence, which went multi-platinum. In addition, Henley also released two compilations albums, 28 singles that include the top 40 hits: “Dirty Laundry,” “The Boys Of Summer,” “Sunset Grill,” “All She Wants To Do Is Dance,” “Not Enough Love In The World,” “The End Of The Innocence,” and “The Heart Of The Matter.” Henley has also been active with the Eagles since their 1994 reunion, while also maintaining his solo career as well as his work in environmental and political causes.

When Did He Join The Eagles?

Don Henley and Glenn Frey met in Los Angeles while signed to the same record label (Frey was signed to Amos Records, together with J. D. Souther, as the duo Longbranch Pennywhistle).

John Boylan hired the two to be part of Linda Ronstadt’s support group for her 1971 tour. They started a group after touring with Ronstadt, and Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon, who were formerly in her supporting band, joined them.

Later that year, The Eagles were established, and a year later, they issued their first album.

From Texas to California

American singer-songwriter and musician Don Henley was born Donald Hugh Henley in Gilmer, Texas on July 22, 1947.

Henley started his musical journey in 1970 when he moved to Los Angeles, California with his own band Shiloh. In LA, the band recorded an album which was produced by Kenny Rogers, who also hailed from Texas.

The Eagles’ formation and its most successful years

Later on Henley, along with Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon became part of Linda Ronstadt’s backing band on her tour and also on her self-titled album. After the Ronstadt gig, all four men decided to form a new band called the Eagles, with Henley as its drummer and one of the songwriters.

The Eagles went on to become one of the biggest hit makers of the 1970s and culminated this with their trademark song “Hotel California” in 1977. Other #1 hits include “Best of My Love,” “One of These Nights,” “New Kid in Town,” “Heartache Tonight” as well as many other Top 10 smashes.

Music Styles

Don Henley is most recognized for his work as a rock musician, having performed both as a successful solo artist and as the drummer and co-lead vocalist of the renowned American rock band The Eagles. Henley is known for his captivating melodies, profound words, and well-produced music.

Henley made a significant contribution to The Eagles’ distinctive sound, which fused elements of rock, country, and folk music. The band’s biggest songs, such as “Hotel California,” “Take It to the Limit,” and “Desperado,” all include Henley’s distinctive voice and songwriting.

Henley explored with a variety of musical genres as a solo performer, such as rock, pop, and country. His talent to craft lyrics that tackled difficult themes and issues was frequently on display in his solo work. “Dirty Laundry,” “The Boys of Summer,” and “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” are some of his most well-known solo singles.

Henley has experimented with different kinds of music in addition to his work in rock and pop music, including jazz and blues. Over the course of his career, he has worked with a variety of other musicians, including jazz pianist Stan Getz and country singer Trisha Yearwood.

The Eagles in concert - 2010 Australia image

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeaneeem/5271509381/

Live Performances

Both as a member of The Eagles and as a solo performer, Don Henley is renowned for his captivating and exciting live performances. Henley is a master performer who is renowned for his strong vocals, deft drumming, and engaging stage presence.

Henley was an important factor in The Eagles’ renowned live performances, which were renowned for their upbeat performances and skilled musicianship. Elaborate lighting and stage setups were frequently used by the band during their live performances, providing an unforgettable visual spectacle to go with their music.

Henley has continued to tour and give performances as a solo artist, showing his musical diversity and his capacity to engage audiences. His solo performances frequently include both his greatest successes and more recent songs, as well as versions of timeless tunes by other artists.

Henley is renowned for his dedication to political and environmental causes, and during his live performances, he frequently promotes social justice or the environment. He has advocated for a variety of causes, such as climate change, human rights, and animal welfare, using his position as a singer.

Solo career

The band broke up in 1980 due to internal tensions among the band members. Following the band’s split, Henley immediately forged a solo career. He collaborated with his then-girlfriend Stevie Nicks (of Fleetwood Mac) on a duet she’d written entitled “Leather and Lace.” It became a top ten hit on both pop and adult contemporary singles chart in 1981.

Henley’s first solo album, I Can’t Stand Still, came out in 1982. It was modestly successful, and its first single “Johnny Can’t Read” barely missed the Top 40 (at #42). The album’s follow-up single “Dirty Laundry” became Henley’s first Top 10 hit (and highest-ranking single so far), peaking at #3 on the Hot 100 and topped the rock singles chart. “Dirty Laundry” was written by Henley and his producer Danny Kortchmar, who would also write (or co-write) more of Henley’s material.

Henley’s second solo LP Building the Perfect Beast was released in November 1984. It also coincided with the release of its first single “The Boys of Summer” which was written by Henley and Mike Campbell (of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers). It was a big hit, peaking at #5 on the Billboard pop chart, and #1 once more on the rock singles chart. It also went to #33 on the adult contemporary singles chart, and #12 in the UK.

The music video of “The Boys of Summer” also won the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year in 1985. The song would also be included in the Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs (ranked at #416).

“Sunset Grill,” Beast’s second single, reached at #22 on the pop singles chart. It also peaked at #18 and #7 on the adult contemporary and rock singles charts, respectively.

The album’s third single “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” was written by Kortchmar (who was then credited as “Danny Kootch” in all of Henley’s solo records). It appeared on the charts in early 1985. “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” was another Top 10 hit reaching at #9 on the pop chart. Again, it topped the rock singles chart, and even made its way to the Top 10 of the dance singles chart.

Because of the success of the singles “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” and “The Boys of Summer,” Building the Perfect Beast earned a triple platinum certification.

Henley’s next album was issued in 1989, titled The End of the Innocence. It went on to become more successful than the previous one. The End of the Innocencesold over six million copies in the US (and over two million copies in Canada), thanks largely to the title track, which once again climbed to the Top 10 pop chart at #8. It also earned Henley’s fourth #1 spot on the rock singles chart.

Other singles on The End of the Innocence were two Top 40 hits, “The Last Worthless Evening” and “The Heart of the Matter.” Both of them reached at #21 on the Hot 100.

Lawsuit against Geffen Records

Henley entered into a lawsuit against his label Geffen Records (which also used to be the Eagles’ label). Geffen filed a $30-million suit, claiming that Geffen committed a breach of contract while he still owed the label a couple more studio albums and a greatest hits compilation. Henley filed a counter-suit citing that the label’s founder David Geffen “ostracized” him and stopped his plans to sign with rival label EMI.

Henley spent quite a lot of years in his lawsuit until he and Geffen settled their conflicts in 1994 as the Eagles reunited. He and the band kicked off a worldwide reunion tour, and their live MTV special album Hell Freezes Over went all the way to #1 on the Billboard 200.

Later career and other non-musical projects

After that, the Eagles delved into a hiatus once more, allowing Henley to turn his focus back to his solo work. In 2000, he released his latest studio album to date Inside Job which featured the #1 adult contemporary hit “Taking You Home.”

In 2007, the Eagles reunited once more, and released their latest studio albumLong Road Out of Eden. The album became yet another #1 seller in the US as well as in many other countries.

The Eagles going on their “last” tour

In July 2013, Henley and the Eagles embarked on another new reunion tour which will continue until 2015 (as of this writing). Henley has said that the tour “could very well be our last,” according to Wikipedia.

Henley is also active in political, social and environmental causes. He once became head of the Recording Artists’ Coalition whose aim is to protect the artists’ rights in their legal battle with the major labels. Henley is a staunch Democrat.

Don Henley image

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Flickr

Private Life

Don Henley prefers to keep a low profile outside of his music profession, keeping his personal life mainly hidden from the public view. Nonetheless, some information regarding his private life is public knowledge.

Henley has had two marriages. He had three children with his first wife, Sharon Summerall, whom he wed in 1995. Former model Summerall has done work for companies including Victoria’s Secret and J.Crew. The philanthropic endeavors of Henley and Summerall have included a variety of environmental and health-related causes.

Throughout his career, Henley has also been involved in several legal issues. He filed a high-profile lawsuit in the 1980s against Asylum Records, his former record company, alleging that it had failed to pay him royalties. As the dispute was settled amicably, Henley established his own record company, Waldenwoods.

Henley was detained in 1990 and accused of drug possession as well as aiding a minor’s delinquency. He was given a two-year probationary term and fine after entering a no-contest plea to the charges.

Henley has remained one of the most renowned and significant musicians of his generation despite these legal troubles, and his contributions to rock music have earned him a spot in the pantheon of famous musicians.

Conclusion

Don Henley is a well-known and admired figure in the rock music industry. He contributed to a number of iconic albums and top songs during his time with The Eagles, which served to define the sound of the 1970s and still have an impact on listeners today. Henley has consistently produced intriguing music as a solo artist, experimenting with a variety of genres and styles throughout his career.