Don Henley

Artist Image: Don Henley
Attribution
Image Credit: Derek Russell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/184778751@N03/48954483616/in/dateposted-public/), CC BY-SA 2.0

Biography

Donald Hugh "Don" Henley (born July 22, 1947 in Gilmer, Texas) is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up. Henley sings lead vocals on Eagles hits such as "Witchy Woman", "Desperado", "Best of My Love", "One of These Nights", "Hotel California", "Life in the Fast Lane", and "The Long Run". He and Glenn Frey formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships in music history. After the Eagles broke up in 1980, Henley pursued a solo career and released his debut album in 1982. He has released four studio albums, two compilation albums, and one live DVD. His solo hits include "Dirty Laundry", "The Boys of Summer", "All She Wants to Do Is Dance", "The Heart of the Matter", "The Last Worthless Evening", "Sunset Grill", "Not Enough Love in the World", "New York Minute" and "The End of the Innocence". The Eagles have sold over 120 million albums worldwide, won six Grammy Awards, had five #1 singles, 17 Top 40 singles, and six #1 albums. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and are the biggest selling American band in history. As a solo artist, Henley has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, had eight Top 40 singles, won two Grammys and five MTV Video Music Awards. Combined with the Eagles and as a solo artist, Henley has released 25 Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. He has released seven studio albums with the Eagles and four as a solo artist. In 2008, he was ranked the 87th greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. Henley has also played a founding role in several environmental and political causes, most notably the Walden Woods Project. Since 1994, he has divided his musical activities between the Eagles and his solo career.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1970
Number of Albums 8
Record Label
Website donhenley.com
Wikipedia Don Henley on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Folk Rock Pop Rock

Trivia

What is the name of the band he founded?

the Eagles

...nding member of one of the most successful American bands in history, the Eagles . After the Eagles split in 1980, Henley launched a successful solo ca...
When did the Eagles split?

1980

...cessful American bands in history, the Eagles. After the Eagles split in 1980 , Henley launched a successful solo career. He released four studio album...
How many studio albums did Don Henley release?

four

...les split in 1980, Henley launched a successful solo career. He released four studio albums, the most successful among them is 1989s The End of Innoce...
What album went multiplatinum?

The End of Innocence

...ased four studio albums, the most successful among them is 1989s The End of Innocence , which went multiplatinum. From Texas to California American sin...
When did Don move to Los Angeles to start his musical journey?

1970

...in Gilmer, Texas on July 22, 1947. Henley started his musical journey in 1970 when he moved to Los Angeles, California with his own band Shiloh. In LA...
Who produced the Eagles album in LA?

Kenny Rogers

...band Shiloh. In LA, the band recorded an album which was produced by Kenny Rogers , who also hailed from Texas. The Eagles formation and its most succe...
What state did Kenny Rogers hail from?

Texas

...corded an album which was produced by Kenny Rogers, who also hailed from Texas . The Eagles formation and its most successful years Later on Henley, al...
What song did The Eagles release in 1977?

Hotel California

... makers of the 1970s and culminated this with their trademark song Hotel California in 1977. Other 1 hits include Best of My Love, One of These Nights...
What instrument did Henley play in his school band?

trombone

... were both born there. He was a member of the school band, playing the trombone and later, the drums. Rise To Stardom Don Henley formed a band with sc...
In what year did Henley and Glenn Frey move to LA?

1971

...s time, Kenny Rogers heard them and helped them with their move to LA in 1971 . Around this time Henley met Glenn Frey who was signed to the same label...
Who decided to form a band of their own while touring?

Henley and Frey

...h recruited to join Linda Ronstadts backup band, and while touring, Henley and Frey decided to form a band of their own. Career The Eagles first album...
When was the first album of the Eagles released?

1972

... form a band of their own. Career The Eagles first album was released in 1972 and Take It Easy, cowritten by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey was a huge ...
Who co-wrote Take It Easy?

Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey

...st album was released in 1972 and Take It Easy, cowritten by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey was a huge hit. The album also contained Desperado which He...
What album did Henley cowrote with Frey?

Desperado

...Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey was a huge hit. The album also contained Desperado which Henley cowrote with Frey. Henley was the lead vocalist on Hotel...
What was the initial draw to rock and roll for Don Henley?

excitement and money

...science. While the initial draw to rock and roll might have been excitement and money , for Henley it became something more important: a vehicle for ch...
In what year was he born in Linden, Texas?

1947

... commitment became even stronger after the group broke up. Born July 22, 1947 , in Linden, Texas, Henley was an only child, son of an elementary school...
How many years did he play in a band that had formed during high school?

six

...rts salesmanfarmer. He grew up listening to country music and later spent six years playing in a band that had formed during high school. He also play...
What was Henley's first solo album called?

I Can't Stand Still

...tudded with seven awardwinning albums. Henley's first solo album, I Can't Stand Still , features a curious combination of political and personal themes...
How many award winning albums did the Eagles release?

seven

...ley said, and the Eagles did, launching a successful career studded with seven awardwinning albums. Henley's first solo album, I Can't Stand Still, fe...
What is he known for on and off the concert stage?

many accomplishments

... the historic ragtime pianist, Scott Joplin. Henley is known for many accomplishments both on and off the concert stage and recording studio. He is ce...
What Southern California band recorded most of Henley's hits?

The Eagles

...ed hit songs were recorded by his legendary Southern California band, The Eagles , whose roots go back to the early Hollywood music epicenter of Laurel...
What kind of music did Henley listen to as a youngster in Texas?

Americana

.... As a youngster in Texas, Henley was exposed to many forms of musical Americana . With a tiny transistor radio pressed against his ear in bed, Henley ...
What type of radio was pressed against his ear in bed?

transistor

...s, Henley was exposed to many forms of musical Americana. With a tiny transistor radio pressed against his ear in bed, Henley would listen until the w...
What band did Henley form in high school?

The Four Speeds

... Bobby Blue Bland, among many others. In high school, Henley organized his first band, The Four Speeds , with friends Richard Bowden and Jerry Surratt....
What was Don Henley's father's occupation?

auto parts business

...rontman, and coleader. His parents his WWII veteran father ran an auto parts business , his mother taught instilled a love of music into him at an earl...
What did Henley not take to playing as a child?

piano lessons

...led a love of music into him at an early age but despite having some piano lessons , he didn't take to playing music as a child. He spent a year at Ste...
How many semesters at North Texas State before returning home to Linden?

three

...State University, where he was an English literature major. Henley spent three semesters at North Texas State before returning home to Linden to atten...
What was the first number one Billboard hit for On The Border?

Best of My Love

...group its first number one Billboard hit with the Henleysung ballad Best of My Love . One of These Nights was a major hit in 1975, reaching the top of ...
What year was Their Greatest Hits released?

1976

...n' Eyes, and Take It to the Limit. All these early hits were gathered on 1976 's Their Greatest Hits (19711975), a compilation that bought the band tim...
What was the name of the compilation that gave the band time to work on their fifth album?

Their Greatest Hits

...ake It to the Limit. All these early hits were gathered on 1976's Their Greatest Hits (19711975), a compilation that bought the band time as they work...
What is Donald Hugh Henley's nationality?

American

...es Website donhenley.com Donald Hugh Henley (born July 22, 1947) is an American musician and a founding member of the rock band Eagles. After the Eagl...
How many studio albums has he released?

five

...d released his debut album I Can't Stand Still, in 1982. He has released five studio albums, two compilation albums, and one live DVD. His solo hits i...
How many Grammy Awards did Henley win?

two

... has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, had eight top 40 singles, won two Grammy Awards and five MTV Video Music Awards. Combined with the Eagles ...
How many top 40 singles has Henley released on the Billboard Hot 100?

25

...wards. Combined with the Eagles and as a solo artist, Henley has released 25 top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. He has also released seven studi...
What is the name of the environmental and political cause that he has played a founding role in?

Walden Woods Project

...nd five as a solo artist. Henley has also played a founding role in several environmental and political causes, most notably the Walden Woods Project ....
Where was he born?

Gilmer, Texas

...Full name Donald Hugh Henley, he was born in Gilmer, Texas . He celebrated his 74th birthday in 2021. He has Irish, English and Scottish ancestry. At f...
When did he celebrate his 74th birthday?

2021

...Henley, he was born in Gilmer, Texas. He celebrated his 74th birthday in 2021 . He has Irish, English and Scottish ancestry. At first, he planned a car...
What three ancestries does he have?

Irish, English and Scottish

...ilmer, Texas. He celebrated his 74th birthday in 2021. He has Irish, English and Scottish ancestry. At first, he planned a career in American football...
Who suggested that he quit football?

his coach

... he planned a career in American football, but due to his small build, his coach suggested that he quit, so he joined the high school band instead. In...
What label did Glenn Frey sign with?

Amos Records

...rey when they were both signed to the same label (Frey was signed to Amos Records , together with J. D. Souther, as the duo Longbranch Pennywhistle). T...
Who was Glen Frey's duo?

Longbranch Pennywhistle

...signed to Amos Records, together with J. D. Souther, as the duo Longbranch Pennywhistle ). The pair were hired by John Boylan to be members of Linda Ro...
Who was Don Henley's wife in 1975?

Stevie Nicks

... he have children? In 1975, Don Henley started dating Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks , when her relationship with Lindsey Buckingham came to an end....
What band did Henley play in?

Linda Ronstadt s backup band

...me even stronger after the group broke up. He also played in Linda Ronstadt s backup band , out of which, according to some sources, the Eagles arose. ...
Who explores loneliness and longing?

Henley

...ite different from the see ya later mentality the title track suggests. Henley explores loneliness and longing, his treatment of malefemale relationsh...
What year was Building the Perfect Beast released?<extra_id_51>

1985

...lf as much as his personal ones. Building the Perfect Beast, released in 1985 , fared better in the eyes of critics and record buyers. It was The Boys ...
What was the name of the song that garnered him a Grammy?

The Boys of Summer

...85, fared better in the eyes of critics and record buyers. It was The Boys of Summer , described as a romantic song full of nostalgia and vitriol, that...
What was the name of the popular rock band that he cofounded in 1971?

Eagles

...Ronstadts backup band on her 1970 album Silk Purse. They had formed the Eagles by 1971 and secured a record contract within a few months from Asylum R...
When did The Eagles break up?

1982

...s in history, the Eagles, in 1971. After the group initially broke up in 1982 , Henley launched a successful solo career. Born Donald Hugh Henley in Gi...
Where was Donald Hennely raised?

Linden

...Donald Hugh Henley in Gilmer, Texas, on July 22, 1947, he was raised in Linden , northeast of Gilmer, where he formed a number of bands with childhood ...
What was the name of the two bands that he formed with Richard Bowden?

Felicity and Shiloh

...umber of bands with childhood friend Richard Bowden, most notably Felicity and Shiloh . Career and Musical Achievements: Henley moved Shiloh to Los Ang...
Who did Henley and Frey team up with?

Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner

...h Detroit native Glenn Frey. Henley and Frey teamed up with Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner and served as Linda Ronstadts backup band on her 1970 albu...
What album did Linda Ronstadt release in 1970?

Silk Purse

...y Meisner and served as Linda Ronstadts backup band on her 1970 album Silk Purse . They had formed the Eagles by 1971 and secured a record contract wit...
Who started Asylum Records?

David Geffen

...ct within a few months from Asylum Records, the new label started by David Geffen . Primarily influenced with countryrock roots and the emerging West C...
What genre of music did the Eagles combine?

folk, rock, and country

...rock roots and the emerging West Coast sound, the Eagles merged folk, rock, and country music with tight vocal harmonies and intricate musical arrange...