The Eagles’ Glenn Frey Has Died at 67

The Eagles' founding member succumbed to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia. 

Only a week after the sudden news of the passing of rock legend David Bowie, a surprise announcement comes from The Eagles that Glenn Frey has died.

Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia. The Frey family would like to thank everyone who joined Glenn to fight this fight and hoped and prayed for his recovery. Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community and millions of fans worldwide.

-eagles.com

This one hits close to home.

The Eagles embodied the California sound but one of its principal singers and songwriters was from Michigan.

Glenn Frey was born in Detroit and grew up in Royal Oak, Michigan. Bob Seger was his mentor. In fact, Glenn sang backup on "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man."

The rest of the story is well known: He meets Don Henley, they play backup for Linda Ronstadt until they strike out on their own. Worldwide success is followed by a nasty breakup. A solo career and a recurring role on Miami Vice for Glenn before Hell froze over and the band got back together.

Now considered a classic rock band, The Eagles' were obviously influenced by Country music and I have long argued that if they were a new band, we would be more likely to play them on Kalamazoo's Country 102.5 than down the hall on 107.7 RKR.

During The Eagles' heyday, radio was not as segregated as it is now. Hearing "New Kid In Town" takes me right back to 1977; eating breakfast and waiting to hear the school lunch menus on am 1450 WHTC.

Don Henley says "New Kid In Town" is about "the fleeting, fickle nature of love and romance. It's also about the fleeting nature of fame, especially in the music business. We were basically saying, 'Look, we know we're red hot right now but we also know that somebody's going to come along and replace us — both in music and in love.'"

No one will replace Glenn Frey.