R.I.P. Glenn Frey of The Eagles Dead at 67

Founding member of storied California pop group The Eagles has died today in New York City, NY, according to his publicist and The Eagles’ official website. He had been battling for his life over the past few weeks, but ultimately succumbed to Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia.

He teamed up with fellow songwriter Don Henley to make The Eagles one of the biggest groups in the history of rock ‘n roll, penning such hits as “Desperado,” “One of These Nights,” “Lyin’ Eyes” and “Hotel California.” In addition to several Grammy awards, The Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 is one of the biggest-selling albums of all time, a testament to Frey and company’s ability to create lasting hits that impacted a wide range of music fans.

Frey and the rest of the founding members of The Eagles got their start in the early 1970s, becoming the backing band for songstress Linda Ronstadt.

Don Henley gave a statement on his shock and disbelief at losing one of his greatest songwriting partners and friends:

“We are all in a state of shock, disbelief and profound sorrow. I’m not sure I believe in fate, but I know that crossing paths with Glenn Lewis Frey in 1970 changed my life forever, and it eventually had an impact on the lives of millions of other people all over the planet.

In addition to helping write some of The Eagles biggest singles, he also took his turn on the mic, singing lead vocals on tracks like “Lyin’ Eyes” and “Tequila Sunrise” in addition to playing guitar and keyboards. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and has sold upwards of 100 million records. Breaking up in 1980, Frey moved onto a solo career that peaked in 1982 with the release of “No Fun Aloud” and other tracks such as “The Heat is On,” “You Belong to the City,” “True Love” and “Soul Searchin’.” Despite being a commercial success, The Eagles did struggle with critical acceptance, often written off for their radio-ready sound.

In 1994 The Eagles reunited for a tour (perhaps for some fans of The Eagles, the appropriately titled Hell Freezes Over Tour) that eventually spawned a live album. The band has continued to tour together over the last few decades.