Eagles co-founder, guitarist and singer Glenn Frey would have turned 75 today.
Born in Detroit in 1948, he played in local bands in the late '60s, one of which was the The Mushrooms for who Bob Seger wrote their first single and made television appearances to promote them.
Frey's first professional recording experience came in 1968, playing acoustic guitar and singing background vocals on Seger's "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man." It was Seger who told Frey that the way to make it in the music industry was to write your own songs, advice that Frey took to heart.
In 1969, Frey set out to Los Angeles, where he and songwriter J.D. Souther formed the duo Longbranch Pennywhistle. During this time, he met Jackson Browne and all three lived in the same apartment building.
The following year, Frey met Don Henley and they went on to back Linda Ronstadt along with Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon. After a tour with her in 1971, they formed the Eagles. Frey wrote and sang many of their hits including "Take It Easy," "Peaceful Easy Feeling," "Tequila Sunrise," "Already Gone," "Lyin' Eyes," "New Kid in Town" and "Heartache Tonight." The Eagles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
When the Eagles went their separate ways in 1980, Frey enjoyed success as a solo artist with such songs as "The One You Love," "Smuggler's Blues," "Sexy Girl,", "The Heat Is On," and "You Belong to the City." He released five albums, with his last one, After Hours, a collection of standards, coming in 2012. He also contributed quite a few songs to movie soundtracks, including Beverly Hills Cop, Ghostbusters II and Thelma & Louise, as well as on TV with Miami Vice. In all, as a member of the Eagles and on his own, Frey had 24 Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
An avid golfer, Frey also tried his hand at acting with TV roles on Miami Vice and South of Sunset, which was canceled after one episode. In the late '90s he guest-starred on Nash Bridges, and in 2002 he played a political candidate on HBO's Arli$$. On the big screen, he had parts on Let's Get Harry and Jerry Maguire.
In November 2015, Frey underwent intestinal surgery, which forced the Eagles to postpone their acceptance of the Kennedy Center Honors in December.
Frey was 67 when he died on January 18th, 2016 due to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia. He left behind his wife Cindy and their three children -- daughter Taylor and sons Deacon and Otis. Deacon went on to join the Eagles when they resumed performing in 2017.