by André Depienne

Glen Frey grew up in Detroit, Michigan in the North-East of the United States, not, as it is commonly assumed in California. Inspired by the city's Motown Sound and by Rock 'n' Roll, Glen Frey started making music.

He learned to play the piano when he was 5 years old, switched to the guitar as a teenager and by the 60s, had made a name for himself in Detroit’s rock scene. One of the first bands Glen played with were The Subterraneans.

After many twists and turns in the local music scene, he got to know Bob Seger, who helped him and his band, The Mushrooms, to get a record deal also writing their first single Such A Lovely Child.

During the late 60s, Glen would join Seger on several of his songs, including Against The Wind, playing the acoustic guitar and singing background vocals.

When Glen met Joan Swilin, member of the girl group The Mama Cats (later to become Honey Ltd.), he followed her and her band to Los Angeles to pursue his music career in California.

There, Joan's sister Alexandra Swilin introduced him to John David Souther, with whom he shortly after formed the duo Longbranch Pennywhistle. In 1969 they released an album, simply named after the band.

During that time, Glen and David lived in the same house as fellow musician Jackson Browne, who, according to Glen, taught him a lot about composing songs.

1970 was probably the most important year for Glen, as he got to know Don Henley, when the two of them were signed by the same record label. The two spent a lot of time at the Troubadour nightclub in West Hollywood.

When Linda Ronstadt was looking for musicians to accompany her on her forthcoming tour, her manager John Boylan hired Glen and Don as well as Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon. But the only concert they would play in this line-up would be Linda Ronstadt's performance in Disneyland.

Whilst touring with her, Don and Glen set in motion starting their own band. It was the birth of one of the most successful bands of music history: The Eagles. The band's members were Don Henley, Glen Frey, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. For the next decade, they would produce hit after hit, writing classics like “Take It Easy”, “Tequila Sunrise”, “One Of These Nights”, “Take It To The Limit”, “New Kid In Town”, “Hotel California”, “Heartache Tonight” and “I Can't Tell You Why”.

After The Eagles split up in 1980, Glen began a solo career, enjoying success with hits like “The Heat Is On”, from the movie Beverly Hills Cop and “You Belong To The City” from the TV series Miami Vice. Besides his musical career, Glen would also act in one episode of Miami Vice and next to Tom Cruise in the movie Jerry McGuire.

In 1994 The Eagles reunited for a big tour and released the very successful album Hell Freezes Over. In 2007 their last album Long Road Out Of Eden came out and they toured for the last time between 2013 and 2015.

Frey died on January 18, 2016 at the age of 67 from complications of rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia, while recovering from gastrointestinal tract-surgery.

Solo hits: “The Heat Is On”, “You Belong To the City” & “Part Of Me, Part Of You”.