The artist Don Henley played “hundreds of times”
(Image credit: Alamy)
Every artist has to do their homework before they even think about going on stage. No matter how many hours they spend listening to their favorite songs, trying to pack as much emotion into a song as possible is a whole different matter when it’s time to put it in front of the crowd. Don Henley has often spoken about trying to give every Eagles song that emotional heart, but he admitted that he almost knew working with Linda Ronstadt better than the band did.
By the time Henley moved to California, he had already developed his own version of the country rock sound. Gram Parsons may have helped found the genre with the Byrds’ later material, but by the early 1970s, artists were starting to add a little more Western twang to the music, and Henley was even discovered by Kenny Rogers.
Although the anti-commercial song title “Simply Little Down Home Rock and Roll Love Song For Rosie” didn’t exactly serve Henley well in his old band Shiloh, it was much better suited to playing behind Ronstadt. Her voice was slowly becoming one of the most powerful voices on the scene and she seemed to light up the room every time she took the stage at the Troubadour.
Although Henley had an affinity for Ronstadt’s music, he knew every one of her tunes. History of the Eagles, “I was looking for a job. Glenn (Frey) introduced me to (manager) John Boylan, and I auditioned at this house in Laurel Canyon. I had heard their records hundreds of times, so I knew the songs inside and out. I learned a lot from Linda. It was a very formative experience for me.”
It’s one thing to be able to play songs like Hank Williams’ “Lovesick Blues,” but from there, Henley’s options were limited. He had been the bandleader of Shiloh, so becoming a backup singer was another matter entirely. He usually sang in unison with Frey while Ronstadt struggled through songs like “It’s So Easy” and “You’re No Good.”
After too many gigs, however, Henley knew he needed more than just a backup singer. He wanted a band, and Frey would help him get there. Despite being from Texas and Michigan respectively, Henley and Frey were musically inseparable and thought it would be better if they worked on their own material.
While it probably hurts to see an Eagles member leave, Henley remembers Ronstadt having no problem letting her leave the nest. He says, “She was incredibly kind, as was John Boylan. They didn’t hold grudges or anything. In fact, they were supportive.”
The duo ended up recording a few songs, however, and eventually padded out their debut album with tracks like “Nightingale,” which had to be lowered to accommodate Henley’s voice. It would be a few years before the Eagles became a country-rock force, but it’s fair to say that without Ronstadt, they would still have been playing at the Troubadour.
Related topics
Which stock currently offers the better value?
Forget Travis Kelce, here’s who Taylor Swift really needs
Mid-Michigan Entertainment for the Weekend of July 5-7 and Beyond – The Morning Sun
About The Author
