JD Souther, the singer, songwriter and actor, who has died aged 78, crafted a uniquely Californian country rock sound in the 1970s through his work with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt. Although his solo career never reached the heights of the artists he wrote for – he reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 only once,

JD Souther, the singer, songwriter and actor who co-wrote some of the biggest hits of the Eagles, like “New Kid in Town” and “Best of My Love,” and had a long solo career that included the top 10 hit “You’re Only Lonely,

John David “JD” Souther has died. He was a prolific songwriter and musician whose collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s.