Tributes pour in after death of Eagles’ Glenn Frey

Glenn Frey was the cofounder of the Eagles and with Don Henley became one of history’s most successful songwriting teams with such hits as “Hotel California” and “Life in the Fast Lane”, has died. Critics often dismissed them as slick and unadventurous, but their blend of mellow ballads and macho rockers, and of pop, folk and country, gave them broad appeal.

Perhaps no other artist’s reaction was more poignant than EAGLES co-founder and lifelong friend DON HENLEY, who shared his thoughts via FACEBOOK yesterday (1/18).

Bette Midler said Frey’s songs perfectly captured the days of 1970s Los Angeles and country’s Tim McGraw said Frey’s music was “personally inspirational” and he leaves a timeless legacy.

Frey had success as a solo artist, with songs including “The One You Love” and “You Belong to the City”, and careers in movies and television.

Eagles manager Irving Azoff believes that the medicine that Glenn Frey was taking to manage his rheumatoid arthritis contributed to the musician’s death.

Frey won six Grammy awards with the Eagles, playing guitar, piano and providing vocals on several classic Eagles songs including Tequila Sunrise, Lyin’ Eyes, Heartache Tonight and Take it Easy.

It had four consecutive No. 1 albums, five No. 1 singles and its Greatest Hits 1971-1975 album alone sold upwards of 26 million copies. “Think of all the unbelievable albums that have ever been released, and that album has outsold them and “Hotel California’ isn’t that far behind”.

Founding bassist Randy Meisner clashed with Frey during a show in 1977 and soon quit, succeeded by Timothy B. Schmit. He also took up acting, appearing in “Miami Vice” and “Jerry Maguire”. His illness forced the Eagles to pull out of their Kennedy Center Honors appearance in December. “He was the leader and everybody looked up to him”, Felder said Tuesday of Frey, who died Monday at age 67 after battling a variety of health problems.

The band included the lyrics of the song It’s Your World Now from the Long Road Out of Eden album along with the announcement. Which is to say, where the Beach Boys forged new sounds, the Eagles gathered up what was already there – country rock – and made it their home.

He also met Henley, and the two of them toured with Ronstadt’s band. He was the spark plug, the man with the plan, ‘ Henley wrote in a statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter.