The Eagles paid tribute to J.D. Souther throughout their Sphere debut efficiency on Friday evening, honoring the songwriter and collaborator previous to their rendition of “Heartache Tonight.”

“I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge a couple of people,” Don Henley declared in the course of the present, first mentioning Jimmy Buffett earlier than turning his consideration to Souther, who helped write a number of of the Eagles greatest hits, together with “Heartache Tonight.”

“I want to acknowledge the co-writer of that song who we lost three days ago, Mr. J.D. Souther,” Henley introduced. “J.D. is someone you may know played a pivotal role in the Eagles. He wasn’t in the band but he certainly co-wrote some of our biggest hits.”

“Sing it so they can hear you,” Henley instructed the group, who responded with emphatic applause.

Watch Eagles Perform ‘Heartache Tonight’ During Their Sphere Debut

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J.D. Souther’s Eagles History

Souther was throughout the Eagles’ orbit earlier than the band was even established. He and band co-founder Glenn Frey have been songwriting companions and launched an album underneath the identify Longbranch Pennywhistle in 1970. A yr later, the Eagles have been fashioned and Souther was initially invited to be a member. However, throughout a efficiency for the group’s administration workforce, Souther rapidly realized the match wasn’t proper.

“To be frank, they didn’t need me. They were a perfectly well-rounded, self-contained band,” he recalled in 2018. “I figured we were going to keep writing together anyway, so I think we all got the best of that situation.”

Souther would go on to collaborate on many well-known Eagles tracks, together with “Best of My Love,” “James Dean,” “New Kid in Town” and “Heartache Tonight.” He additionally wrote a number of hit songs for his former girlfriend, Linda Ronstadt. Souther’s solo profession featured a pair of hits: “You’re Only Lonely” (1979) and “Her Town Too” (1981), the latter of which was a duet with James Taylor.

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