Glenn Frey: The Eagles rocker who took it to the limit

He was only 67 years old.

Los Angeles Times writer Randy Lewis wrote that the band’s songs were “hits that came to define a quintessential Southern California pop sound in the 1970s”.

Since news broke yesterday of the Eagles guitarist/singer Glenn Frey’s death, country artists have been sharing their memories of the legend and stories of how he inspired their careers.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our comrade, Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, in New York City on Monday, January 18th, 2016”, said the band in a statement on their website. “Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia“.

Glenn Frey of the rock group “The Eagles” performs at a concert in honour of Monaco’s Prince Albert II and his fiancee Charlene Wittstock at the Stade Louis II stadium in Monaco in this June 30, 2011.

Initially formed in 1971 as Linda Ronstadt’s backing band, the group eventually became a standalone rock band called the Eagles. Leadon and Meisner departed after run-ins with Frey.

The music community has been sharing memories and covers of Eagles songs in remembrance of Frey’s long legacy.

The sisters also played a small role in the formation of music’s next big thing – the Eagles.

Because despite the belief that rock “n” roll will keep us forever young, the truth is it doesn’t age well on us.

Eliot added, “Frey grew up in Detroit”. But at night, the three would hang out at the bar of the Troubadour in Hollywood, epicentre of the burgeoning singer-songwriter scene, which is where Frey first saw future Eagles partner Don Henley, drumming and singing with his band Shiloh. Frey met drummer Don Henley in 1970.

When guitarist Joe Walsh joined the outfit, their sound got grittier and they released the iconic album Hotel California, one of the best-selling LPs of all time. “It was a little bit rock, country, R&B, all done with superior songwriting and great musicianship”. “He sang lead on such songs as “Take It Easy”, “Tequila Sunrise”, “Already Gone”, Lyin’ Eyes” and “Heartache Tonight”. It’s one of a handful of chart-toppers that the classic rock group scored before it disbanded in 1980, only to reunite again in 1994.

The band took home six Grammy awards during their time together, before they split in 1980. It had four consecutive No. 1 albums, five No. 1 singles and its “Greatest Hits 1971-1975″ album alone sold upward of 26 million copies.