JD Souther, a songwriter whose collaborations with The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor helped define the Laurel Canyon-Southern California country-tinged rock sound of the 1970s, has died. He was 78.

A central figure in the Southern California rock scene of the 1970s, he later had a regular role on the TV show “Nashville.”

JD Souther, the songwriting legend behind some of Linda Ronstadt's and the Eagles' best work, has died a week before his tour with Karla Bonoff.