Glenn Frey

Glenn Frey

Biographical Sketch

Glenn Lewis Frey (Detroit, MI, USA, November 6, 1948 – New York, NY, USA, January 18, 2016) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of The Eagles. Frey formed The Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt’s backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and released their debut album in 1972. Glenn Frey played guitar with The Eagles as well as piano and keyboards, and shared lead vocals with Don Henley. The Eagles broke up in 1980 after becoming one of the most successful bands of all time. Frey sang lead vocals on many Eagles hits such as Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Tequila Sunrise, Already Gone, Lyin’ Eyes, New Kid in Town, and Heartache Tonight.

After the breakup of The Eagles in 1980, Frey embarked on a successful solo career. He released his debut album in 1982 and went on to record Top 40 hits The One You Love, Smuggler’s Blues, Sexy Girl, The Heat Is On, and You Belong to the City (Smuggler’s Blues and You Belong to the City as part of the soundtrack for the TV series Miami Vice, The Heat Is On for the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack) as well as, inter alia, the closing credits title of the Oscar winning movie Thelma & Louise, Part of You, Part of Me. As a member of The Eagles, Frey won six Grammys, and five American Music Awards. The Eagles have sold over 120 million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. As a solo artist and with The Eagles combined, Frey released 24 Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.

Major Awards and Honors

Hall of Fame Inductions

Rock’n Roll Hall of Fame

1998: Member of The Eagles

Vocal Group Hall of Fame

2001: Member of The Eagles

Songwriters Hall of Fame

2000: Glenn Frey (individually)

Others

Grammies

1975: Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus – “Lyin’ Eyes”
Grammy awarded to: The Eagles (Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner), artist.
1977: Record Of The Year – “Hotel California”
Grammy awarded to: The Eagles (Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Joe Walsh), artist; Bill Szymczyk, producer.
1977: Best Arrangement For Voices – “New Kid In Town”
Grammy awarded to: The Eagles (Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Joe Walsh), arranger.
1979: Best Rock Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group – “Heartache Tonight”
Grammy awarded to: The Eagles (Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit, Joe Walsh), artist.
2007: Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals – “How Long”
Grammy awarded to: The Eagles (Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Timothy B Schmit, Joe Walsh), artist.
2008: Best Pop Instrumental Performance – “I Dreamed There Was No War”
Grammy awarded to: The Eagles (Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Timothy B Schmit, Joe Walsh), artist.

MTV Video Music Awards

1985: Best Concept Video – “Smuggler’s Blues”

American Music Awards

1977: Favorite Pop/Rock Album – The Eagles: “Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)”
1981: Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group – The Eagles
1996: Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group – The Eagles
1996: Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist – The Eagles
1996: Favorite Pop/Rock Album – The Eagles: “Hell Freezes Over”

VH1

100 Greatest Artists of Rock & Roll: #23 – The Eagles

Country Music Awards (American Academy of Country Music)

1975: Top Vocal Group – The Eagles
2007: Top Vocal Group – The Eagles

Silver Clef Awards (Great Britain)

2006: The Eagles

Rolling Stone Magazine

100 Greatest Artists of All Time: #75 – The Eagles
500 Greatest Albums of All Time:
- #37 – The Eagles: “Hotel California”
- #368 – The Eagles: “The Eagles”
500 Greatest Songs of All Time: #49 – The Eagles: “Hotel California”