Los Angeles has a certain vibe that attracts visitors. Something about the city draws aspiring stars. They are curious about their chances of becoming the next big thing. This allure persists despite the innumerable horror stories of celebrities being gnawed up and spat out by the fame machine. Don Henley, who became famous with the Eagles, is proof of this attraction. He travelled out west alone, relying only on his music for direction.
When Henley first took to the drum kit, rock and roll had been around for a while. However, old Elvis Presley records didn’t necessarily draw him in. Growing up in a small town in the heart of Texas, they frequently played country music alongside rock and roll.
Henley realised that he had found his life’s work when he saw The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show. After forming his first band, Shiloh, Henley gained experience in his hometown music scene. He then settled in Memphis, a city seen as the final destination for all successful musicians.
Even though Henley was well-known as one of the driving forces behind California music, he spent some time in the world’s soul capital. He did this to try and land a country deal. Even though the Eagles had their tender moments, it only took Henley two records to begin to believe. The sunshine of Los Angeles was where he was meant to be.
Henley stated, “The music we were gravitating towards was coming from Los Angeles,” recalling how musicians like Jesse Winchester and The Flyin’ Burrito Brothers lit a fire under him during his speech at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Although country music raised us, we also enjoyed rock music. I bought the first Flyin’ Burrito Brothers album and listened to it nonstop, as well as Jesse Winchester’s album. This is a masterpiece in my opinion. Going out West therefore seemed like the right course of action.
Although The Byrds provided the foundation for The Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons was the one who brought the genre closer to country music. He achieved this by fusing uptempo rockers with heartbreaking ballads that could break your heart more than once. After Henley got the Eagles going, he even had a lucky break, catching former Burrito Brother Bernie Leadon.
However, it’s difficult to characterise the Eagles as a strictly country rock group. They possessed the characteristics of both of those genres. However, they took great delight in performing a wide range of music that they enjoyed. This included assembling a classic hard rock song like “Life in the Fast Lane,” as well as delivering a soul-focused set like “I Can’t Tell You Why” and “Wasted Time.”
Even though they did not enjoyed getting pigeonholed, the Eagles’ contributions to rock and country music still resonate today. Whatever you say about their accomplishments in any genre, you can’t help but think of the Eagles whenever you hear that distinctive guitar twang these days.
