Who is Don Henley : The Voice of a Generation

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Ranked #5,236 in Music, #134,801 overall

I Admire Him For His Lyrical Talent

When I was in my 20's, I began hanging out with a group of guys who had a garage band in Ft Lauderdale, FL. I had been a member of my H.S. band and had always loved being a "musician". It was at this time in my life when I discovered that I had a knack for writing. One of the people that I tried to emulate was Don Henley. The lyrics in his songs struck a chord with my worldview. His solo career was a joy to follow. I was already a fan of the Eagles. So, I eagerly bought up his solo work, as well.

Don Henley at a Glance 

Donald Hugh "Don" Henley (born July 22, 1947, Gilmer, Texas) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful seven time Grammy Award-winning solo career. His solo hits include "The Boys of Summer", "Dirty Laundry" and "The End of the Innocence". In 2008, he was ranked the 87th greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.

Henley has also played a founding role in several environmental and political causes, most notably the "Walden Woods Project". Since 1994, he has divided his musical activities between the Eagles and his solo career.

Three Songs by Don Henley that Touched my Soul 

(too melodramatic?)

"A Month Of Sundays"

"The Last Worthless Evening"

"The Heart Of The Matter"

Don't Know Those Songs? Amazon has them... 

Building the Perfect Beast

"A Month Of Sundays" is on this one...

Release Date: 10/25/1990

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The End of the Innocence

"The Last Worthless Evening" & "The Heart Of The Matter" are on this one...

Release Date: 06/19/1989

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Henley's Solo Career 

Following the breakup of Eagles, Don embarked on a productive solo career, the most commercially successful of any of the Eagles. His first solo release, 1982's I Can't Stand Still, was a moderate seller. "Dirty Laundry", a denunciation of local TV news, received the most airplay. Henley and his erstwhile lover, Stevie Nicks, would duet on her Billboard Hot 100 No. 6 hit "Leather and Lace" that same year.

This was followed in 1984 by Building the Perfect Beast, which featured layered synthesizers and was a marked departure from the Eagles' country-rock sound. The single, "The Boys of Summer", reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's haunting rhythms and lyrics of loss and aging, capped by seeing "a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac," immediately connected with a certain age group. The music video for the song was a striking, evocative, black-and-white, French New Wave-influenced masterpiece directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino that won several MTV Video Music Awards including Best Video of the Year. Henley also won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for the song. The album's "All She Wants to Do Is Dance," (No. 9 on Hot 100), "Sunset Grill," and "Not Enough Love in the World" also received considerable airplay.

Henley's next album, 1989's The End of the Innocence, was even more successful. The title track, a collaboration with Bruce Hornsby, is a melancholy, piano-driven tale of finding happiness in a corrupt world, and reached No. 8 as a single. The End of the Innocence was dedicated to all the farmers who were losing their farms because of the terrible loan conditions brought about by the Savings and Loan crises of the late 1980s. The lyrics called out then-President Ronald Reagan for pouring money into such defense projects as the missile defense shield rather than helping the struggling American farmer: "Oh Beautiful, for Spacious Skies but now those skies are threatening. Beating plowshares into swords for the this tired old man that we elected King." The hit follow-up, "The Heart of the Matter," is an emotive chance remembrance of a lost love. Both songs use the effective technique of varying the words in the chorus each time it is sung, to advance the song's narrative. The album's "The Last Worthless Evening" and "New York Minute" were among other songs that got radio airplay. Henley again won the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance Grammy for the album.

Wikipedia Article

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Don Henley Videos 


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Are you in the Don Henley Fan Club? 

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  • Reply
    ginocchio ginocchio Jun 21, 2009 @ 1:05 pm
    Don's music is great and so is his heart. He located and donated back the antique original bar from the Ginocchio Hotel built in 1896 in Marshall, Texas. The Ginocchio is the last remaining hotel on a railroad line in the U.S. and a registered historic building. Don's east Texas values remain today. Thanks Don. We love your music and your passion to perserve history.
  • Reply
    tinaded tinaded Jun 5, 2008 @ 10:37 am
    I love Don Henley and the Eagles but their recent concert ticket prices are outrageous ! $265 without all the fees. These concerts are only for the elite. Sorry guys I love you but not $300 worth!
  • Reply
    NAIZA NAIZA Nov 9, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
    I grow up listening to his songs though rock songs quite not popular here in Asia way back a few years ago. I must say that Don Henley contributed a lot in a rock n' roll scene. Definitely, a 5 stars for you!
  • Reply
    kellfinder kellfinder Oct 7, 2007 @ 8:04 pm
    He is my favorite male vocalist ever! I am a HUGE Eagle's fan but also loved his solo work. Don Henley's voice is the one I would like to sing me to sleep at night. Probably my favorite song from him (apart from the Eagles) is The End Of The Innocence.
  • Reply
    sara08852 sara08852 Sep 25, 2007 @ 6:32 am
    I didn't know much about Don Henley but now I do, thanks to your lens.
    Sara
  • Reply
    Lady_Gotrocks Lady_Gotrocks Sep 20, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
    Love Don Henley! Great lens! Welcome to Squidoo!
  • Reply
    dadolo dadolo Sep 11, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
    Don Henley the classic "story teller" his lyrics painted a picture of life and its emotional journey.

Don Henley on Flickr 

Me and Don Henley by Andrew Baron

Me and Don Henley

Etwas Hoeheres by Wolfgang Wildner by Wolfgang Wildner

Etwas Hoeheres by Wo...

Don Henley by justalexanders

Don Henley

Don Henley by justalexanders

Don Henley

Don Henley by justalexanders

Don Henley

Schmit and Henley by justalexanders

Schmit and Henley

Don Henley and Steuart Smith by justalexanders

Don Henley and Steua...

Don Henley by justalexanders

Don Henley

Don Henley by justalexanders

Don Henley

Schmit, Henley and Frey by justalexanders

Schmit, Henley and F...

Frey, Henley and Walsh by justalexanders

Frey, Henley and Wal...

Schmit, Walsh and Frey by justalexanders

Schmit, Walsh and Fr...

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Websites about Don Henley 

Don Henley Official Website
Latest Tour info, etc...
Don Henley Fans
A fan site devoted to Don Henley. Up to date news and tour dates as well as interesting and unique content.
Don Henley's other Official Website
Confused? So was I. This is Don Henley's home at Warner Brothers Records...

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