(Credits: Far Out / Alamy)
Tue 7 April 2026 19:42, UK
There’s a certain art that comes with being a phenomenal singer.
Even though many artists may rely on their charisma and their ability to work off the crowd every time they go onstage, the best frontmen of all time can channel all of that energy whenever they open their mouths to sing, boasting a fantastic range that no one had thought possible before. Although Don Henley may have amazing standards for his vocal work, he thought that one California rocker had one of the best tones he had ever heard.
That level of admiration isn’t something Henley hands out lightly. Known for his meticulous approach to both songwriting and performance, it takes a truly exceptional voice to stand out to someone so attuned to the finer details of vocal delivery.
In Ronstadt, he recognised a rare combination of technical precision and emotional depth. Ronstadt didn’t just hit the right notes; she inhabited them, delivering something that would leave a lasting impression on Henley as he developed his own style.
Before he became synonymous with all things California, though, Henley had been brought up listening to all kinds of music in his native Texas. Primarily known for its country music, Henley was brought up on different radio programs that his family would play, eventually getting his first taste of rock and roll when hearing Elvis Presley for the first time.
(Credits: Far Out / Linda Ronstadt)
While Henley may not have had any idea of him becoming a singer during this period, he eventually took his spot behind the mic behind the drumkit in his first group Shiloh. By the time the band got their first big break by moving to LA, though, Henley was quickly discovering the fantastic competition that was happening up and down the Sunset Strip.
At the legendary Troubadour Club, various bands were honing their skills as performers, often working off of whoever would be hanging around the bars during the week. Although amazing artists like Elton John would see their biggest first gigs at the club, Henley was shell-shocked when he heard Linda Ronstadt sing for the first time.
Despite being known for her California sound, Ronstadt had an innate ability to switch between rock and roll bombast on ‘You’re No Good’, and a delicate croon on ‘It Doesn’t Matter Anymore’, all while being able to sing country ballads like ‘Lovesick Blues’. When talking about the artists that he had worked with, Henley thought that Ronstadt couldn’t be outdone.
When talking about his audition to join her band, Henley remembered how taken he was with the sound of her music, remarking in History of the Eagles, “She still has one of my favourite voices in the business. I had listened to her records hundreds of times, so I knew the songs backwards and forwards. I guess I passed the audition because I got the job”.
Even though Henley would become the backbone of Ronstadt’s band for a while, she would help set the stage for the next phase of his career when rhythm guitarist Glenn Frey joined the fold. Although the duo loved playing together, they felt their time would be better served going independent, eventually breaking the news to Ronstadt that they were leaving to form the Eagles.
Rather than resenting her bandmates for leaving, Henley remembered that Ronstadt couldn’t have been more accommodating, recommending that they get Bernie Leadon to play lead guitar and even cutting her version of their song ‘Desperado’ years later. The rest of the band would also pay their respects to Ronstadt on record, eventually performing on various tracks on the album Heart Like a Wheel. Although Henley may have gotten his chops up working opposite Ronstadt, he admitted that his singing will always live in the shadows of one of the queens of country rock.
