JD Souther

In 1984 singer-songwriter JD Souther followed the chart-topping successes of “You’re Only Lonely” and the James Taylor duet “Her Town Too” with Home by Dawn, an album that Rolling Stone declared his best. And then, in 1985, after a brief tour in support of the album, JD Souther disappeared.

One of the principal architects of the Southern California country-rock sound, Mr. Souther played a key role in the formation of the Eagles and cowrote the band’s hits “Heartache Tonight,” “Victim of Love,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Best of My Love,” as well as writing Linda Ronstadt’s classics “Faithless Love,” “Simple Man, Simple Dream,” and “Prisoner in Dis- guise.” A highly sought-after songwriter and session man, Mr. Souther also released three critically acclaimed solo albums– John David Souther (1972), Black Rose (1976), and You’re Only Lonely (1979)–and two albums as a member of the Souther Hillman Furay Band, the supergroup that united him with Poco’s Richie Furay and the Byrds’ Chris Hillman.