Something is amazing in drummers who also can sing. They are perceived by us as superhuman.
Anyone who lives and breathes music knows that one of the instruments that require the most coordination is the drums. Moreover, compared to other musical instruments they require more physical fitness and lung endurance. Now add to that proper breathing as well, fall on the right scale in singing and especially in background vocals, and you will understand why this rare breed of musicians is perceived in our eyes as supermen.
One of these supermen is Don Henley - a drummer, singer, and guitarist of the "Eagles" who was born on July 22, 1947.
(Photo: Richard E. Aaron)
On all the superhuman qualities of this special man, you can add the following facts: he is a lead writer and composer in the band, and he is also the lead singer in the best hits, such as: "Witchy Woman", "Desperado", "Best of My Love", "One of These Nights ", "Hotel California ", "Life in the Fast Lane", "The Long Run", "Get Over It" and more.
Henley is also the most successful of the "Eagles" members to break into a solo career after the band disbanded, and he has personally produced quite a few hits as part of his solo career, such as "The Boys of Summer", "New York Minute", "The Heart of the Matter" and "The End of the Innocence".
Along with the Eagles, he sold more than 150 million albums, making the band the best-selling in the United States. In addition, he sold another 10 million copies as part of his solo career.
Henley has a thing with country music. He was a friend of Kenny Rogers who even produced Henley's debut album with his band "Shiloh". Henley was also part of Linda Ronstadt's band, where he met Glenn Frey with whom he later formed the "Eagles", and he even released in 2015 an album in which he returns to his country roots, called "Cass Country".
He was in a relationship with Stevie Nicks in the mid - 1970s. She got pregnant with him and had to have an abortion. She wrote the song "Sara" by Fleetwood Mac out of grief over the loss of both of them. The two also collaborated on the song "Leather and Lace" from Nicks' "Bella Donna" album.
He has an interesting collaboration with Axl Rose, who sings background vocals on the song "I Will Not Go Quietly" taken from Henley's 1989 album "The End of the Innocence". Henley returned a favor by performing the song "Patience" with "Guns N' Roses", at the 1989 Music Awards.
He also collaborated with other artists, such as: "Aerosmith" singing backing vocals on the song "Amazing", Roger Waters on the song "Watching TV", Sheryl Crow on the song "It's So Easy", Elton John, Kenny Rogers, Patty Smyth, Joni Mitchell, Jerry Lee Lewis, Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Cash, Randy Newman and more.
When Henley was asked after the breakup of the "Eagles" in 1980, when the band would return to play together, he replied: "When Hell Freezes over". Apparently, hell did freeze, because in 1994 the band reunited and called the union album "Hell Freezes Over", an album that included new songs alongside acoustic performances of their big hits, including the memorable acoustic rendition of the song "Hotel California".
So here is Henley in a live performance of this timeless song, in a moment that is without a doubt one of the highlights of his musical career:
Now you are welcome to follow the link and listen to a selection of his songs: Here.