Glenn Frey 1948-2016
A look back at the career of Glenn Frey, best known as a founding member of the rock band the Eagles, who died January 18, 2016 at the age of 67 in New York City. Frey was a singer and songwriter who played both guitar and keyboards.
An Eagles greatest hits collection from the mid-1970s, the first album to be certified platinum, and "Hotel California" are among the best-selling albums in history. The band sold more albums in the Seventies than any other American band.
In this photo, Frey performs at the 12th Annual Starkey Hearing Foundation "So The World May Hear" Gala on August 4, 2012 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Glenn Frey
The Eagles' Glenn Frey, left, and band mate Don Henley, right, talk with 60 Minutes' Steve Kroft in Dan Tana's Restaurant in West Hollywood, where the two creative forces first met before forming the legendary band in 1971.
Frey was born in Detroit and raised in its suburbs. He played in local bands before moving to Los Angeles with his then-girlfriend, Joan Sliwin, to pursue their music careers.
Once Frey and drummer Henley connected, they joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band in the summer of 1971. It was shortly after that the two teamed up with Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon to form the Eagles, releasing their first studio album, "Eagles," in 1972. Frey and Henley wrote many of the band's lyrics including hits, like "Take it Easy" and "Hotel California." The band won six Grammys.
The Eagles
The band members in 1977: Don Henly, drums; Joe Walsh, guitar; Randy Meisner, bass; Glenn Frey, guitar; and Don Felder, guitar. Leadon left the band in 1975 and was replaced by Walsh, who made his debut on the album "Hotel California."
Between 1975 and 1979 the band had four consecutive number one albums: "One of These Nights," "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975," "Hotel California" and "The Long Run." All told, those four albums topped the charts for 27 weeks.
The Eagles
The Eagles, from left: Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley and Glenn Frey in an undated file photo. Meisner left the band in 1977 and was replaced by Schmit.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website says the band began "as wide-eyed country-rockers on the fertile Los Angeles music scene and evolved into purveyors of grandiose, dark-themed albums about excess and seduction.
Emblematic of the darker side was "Life in the Fast Lane" on their Hotel California album, which went to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Schmit & Glenn Frey
Schmit, left, and Frey of the perform at Hong Kong Stadium during their Final 1 world tour on Oct. 20, 2004.
The band's most famous song "Hotel California" was a worldwide hit.
The Eagles
From left, Schmit, Henley, Frey and Walsh of the Eagles perform at the new Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, Oct. 18, 2007.
The Eagles reunited in 1994 and released an album in 2007, called "Long Road Out of Eden," which opened at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and went platinum. The new band was made up of Frey, Henley, Schmit, Walsh, Felder plus Scott Crago, John Corey, Timothy Drury and Al Garth.
The Eagles
From left to right, Schmit, Frey, Henley and Walsh of the "Eagles" perform at the 42nd Annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn, Nov. 12, 2008.
When "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft asked Frey the secret to the band's staying power, he answered, "Take It Easy, Witchy Woman, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Desperado, Tequila Sunrise, Already Gone, Best of My Love, One of These Nights, Lying Eyes, Take It to the Limit, Hotel California, Life in the Fast Lane, New Kid in Town, I Can't Tell You Why, The Long Run, Heartache Tonight."
The Eagles
Schmit of the Eagles, Henley of the Eagles, Prince Albert II, Charlene Wittstock, Walsh and Frey of the Eagles pose prior to the band's concert at Louis II Stadium to celebrate the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Charlene Wittstock on June 30, 2011 in Monaco.
Glenn Frey
Henley, left, and Frey of the Eagles perform at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 8, 2013 in New York City.
Bandmate Henley said of Frey, "He was like a brother to me ... We were two young men who made the pilgrimage to Los Angeles with the same dream: to make our mark in the music industry -- and with perseverance, a deep love of music, our alliance with other great musicians and our manager, Irving Azoff, we built something that has lasted longer than anyone could have dreamed. But, Glenn was the one who started it all. He was the spark plug, the man with the plan. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and a work ethic that wouldn't quit."
The Eagles
From left, Schmit, Henley, Frey and Walsh of the Eagles take part in a Q&A session with reporters at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 19, 2013, in Park City, Utah.
"History Of The Eagles Part One" was screened at the festival. The documentary was a two-part one about the band which aired on Showtime.
The Eagles
(L-R) Henley, Frey, Walsh and Schmit of the Eagles attend "History Of The Eagles Part One" screening during the Sundance London Film And Music Festival 2013 at Sky Superscreen O2 on April 25, 2013.
The first of the two-part documentary covers the band through the 70s while the second part covers the band's reunion.
Glenn Frey
Frey is awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music at the Berklee College of Music Commencement in Boston, May 12, 2012.
Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey speaks at the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on April, 10, 2014 in New York City.
In addition to six Grammys, the band won five American Music Awards. The Eagles had five number-one singles and six number one albums. With more than 150 million records sold, the Eagles are one of the world's best-selling bands ever.
Glenn Frey
Musician Glenn Frey poses for pictures during the 29th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York in April 10, 2014.
After the Eagles went their separate ways in 1980, Frey embarked on a solo career, releasing "No Fun Aloud" in 1982. His hits include the easily recognizable "The Heat Is On," which can be heard in Eddie Murphy's movie "Beverly Hills Cop," and "Smuggler's Blues."
Glenn Frey
Honorees Glenn Frey and his wife, Cindy, pose together at the 10th Annual Lupus LA Orange Ball in Beverly Hills, May 6, 2010. The two married in 1990 and had three children. Frey's first wife was Janie Beggs.
The Eagles
Members of the Eagles (L-R) Walsh, Frey, and Schmit wave to the audience as they attend the Berklee College of Music Commencement Concert in Boston, May 11, 2012.
Frey died January 18, 2016 of "complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia" according to his family. His family released a statement on the Eagles' website and posted the lyrics to the Eagles song "It's Your World Now," co-written by Frey. The lyrics include, "It's your world now. Use your time. Be part of something good. Leave something good behind."
"The curtain falls. I take my bow."