July 22: Don Henley was born in 1947

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.

We saw Eagles a few weeks ago in Lucca, Italy, and they were very, very good, and so much better than those latest DVD releases tells us. Eagles in Lucca were playful and fun, they had a good time and so did we. Don Henley ages with grace.

The Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner.

With five number one singles, six Grammys, five American Music Awards, and six number one albums, the Eagles were one of the most successful musical acts of the 1970s. At the end of the 20th century, two of their albums, Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) and Hotel California, ranked among the 20 best-selling albums in the U.S. according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Hotel California is ranked 37th in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and the band was ranked #75 on the magazine’s 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Awards:

• Eagles have won six Grammy Awards:
  • (1975) Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus: “Lyin’ Eyes”
  • (1977) Record of the Year: “Hotel California” (single)
  • (1977) Best Arrangement for Voices: “New Kid in Town”
  • (1979) Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group: “Heartache Tonight”
  • (2008) Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: “How Long”
  • (2009) Best Pop Instrumental Performance: “I Dreamed There Was No War”
• The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
• On December 7, 1999 the Recording Industry of America honored the group with the Best Selling Album of the Century for Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975).
• Eagles were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
• The group ranked number 34 on Country Music Television’s 40 Greatest Men of Country Music in 2003. They were one of four artists who were either a duo or a group on the list with the others being Alabama at number eleven, Flatt & Scruggs at number 24, and Brooks & Dunn at number 25.

Album of the day, The End of innocence:

– Hallgeir & Egil