Story highlights
- Frey formed the Eagles with three other backup musicians for Linda Ronstadt
- The band saw wild success in the 1970s, disbanded in 1980 and reunited in 1994
- Frey's solo hits include "You Belong to the City" and "The Heat Is On"
(CNN)Glenn Frey, a founding member of the rock band the Eagles, has died at 67, a publicist for the band has confirmed.
"Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia," reads a post on the band's official website.
Frey had been suffering from intestinal issues, which caused the postponement of the band's inclusion in the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors.
1 of 119
2 of 119
3 of 119
4 of 119
5 of 119
6 of 119
7 of 119
8 of 119
9 of 119
10 of 119
11 of 119
12 of 119
13 of 119
14 of 119
15 of 119
16 of 119
17 of 119
18 of 119
19 of 119
20 of 119
21 of 119
22 of 119
23 of 119
24 of 119
25 of 119
26 of 119
27 of 119
28 of 119
29 of 119
30 of 119
31 of 119
32 of 119
33 of 119
34 of 119
35 of 119
36 of 119
37 of 119
38 of 119
39 of 119
40 of 119
41 of 119
42 of 119
43 of 119
44 of 119
45 of 119
46 of 119
47 of 119
48 of 119
49 of 119
50 of 119
51 of 119
52 of 119
53 of 119
54 of 119
55 of 119
56 of 119
57 of 119
58 of 119
59 of 119
60 of 119
61 of 119
62 of 119
63 of 119
64 of 119
65 of 119
66 of 119
67 of 119
68 of 119
69 of 119
70 of 119
71 of 119
72 of 119
73 of 119
74 of 119
75 of 119
76 of 119
77 of 119
78 of 119
79 of 119
80 of 119
81 of 119
82 of 119
83 of 119
84 of 119
85 of 119
86 of 119
87 of 119
88 of 119
89 of 119
90 of 119
91 of 119
92 of 119
93 of 119
94 of 119
95 of 119
96 of 119
97 of 119
98 of 119
99 of 119
100 of 119
101 of 119
102 of 119
103 of 119
104 of 119
105 of 119
106 of 119
107 of 119
108 of 119
109 of 119
110 of 119
111 of 119
112 of 119
113 of 119
114 of 119
115 of 119
116 of 119
117 of 119
118 of 119
119 of 119
Frey and the other original members of the Eagles — Don Henley, Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon -- came together to form singer Linda Ronstadt's backup band in the early 1970s.
They were all experienced musicians who forged a laid-back, country-tinged sound that the Eagles would eventually make famous.
Read More
"We are all in a state of shock, disbelief and profound sorrow," Henley said in a statement Monday. "I'm not sure I believe in fate, but I know that crossing paths with Glenn Lewis Frey in 1970 changed my life forever, and it eventually had an impact on the lives of millions of other people all over the planet.
"It will be very strange going forward in a world without him in it," Henley added. "But, I will be grateful, every day, that he was in my life. Rest in peace, my brother. You did what you set out to do, and then some."
Musicians of all stripes, from Carole King to Huey Lewis to Travis Tritt, posted tributes to Frey on Twitter.
R.I. P. Glenn Frey.
Deepest condolences to his family and #Eagles.
— Carole King (@Carole_King) January 18, 2016
In honor of the late Glenn Frey, one of my favorite Eagles songs. RIP my friend! https://t.co/BHajqBkPdL
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) January 18, 2016
Glenn Frey, you will be sorely missed. Thank you for all you gave us.
— Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) January 18, 2016
Glenn Frey. I'm shocked. A brilliant songwriter and a really good guy. Talented, funny, cynical and sweet. - Huey pic.twitter.com/fgFVlZOEnX
— Huey Lewis (@Huey_Lewis_News) January 18, 2016
"It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you."
We love you, #Glenn Frey.
— Rita Wilson (@RitaWilson) January 18, 2016
Throughout the early- to mid-1970s, Frey and the band released hit after hit, leading a renaissance of mellow California singer-songwriters with such artists as Ronstadt and Jackson Browne.
Frey and Henley co-wrote many of the band's biggest songs, including "Best of My Love," "Lyin' Eyes," "One of These Nights" and "Hotel California." Frey also famously helped Browne finish writing the Eagles' first hit, "Take It Easy," contributing the catchy verse, "it's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford / slowing down to take a look at me."
Frey played guitar and keyboard and took lead vocal duties for the band on tunes like "Take it Easy" and "Tequila Sunrise."
With "Hotel California" in 1976, the band reached the pinnacle of its success, selling 16 million copies. They released four number one albums consecutively between 1975 and 1979: "One of These Nights," "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975," "Hotel California" and "The Long Run."
"Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975," was the first album certified platinum and has sold 29 million copies in the United States, second only to Michael Jackson's "Thriller," according to Rolling Stone.
The Eagles have sold more than 100 million records worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. But while public reception was warm, the band had a prickly relationship with many critics.
"Another thing that interests me about the Eagles is that I hate them," wrote rock critic Robert Christgau in 1972, when they first hit it big.
The band succumbed to internal squabbles and broke up in 1980. Frey, Henley and other band members were famously contentious.
With his pop sensibilities and gift for melody, Frey was an ideal songwriting counterbalance to Henley's seriousness and penchant for weighty social statements.
"He was like a brother to me," Henley went on to say Monday. "We were family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction. But, the bond we forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the 14 years that the Eagles were dissolved."
Frey saw solo success with the 1982 release "No Fun Aloud." He hit the top 40 with "The Heat Is On," "You Belong to the City," "True Love," and "Soul Searchin.'"
He also tried his hand at acting with a guest spot on "Miami Vice" and a small role in the 1996 film "Jerry Maguire," among other credits.
The Eagles reunited for 1994's Hell Freezes Over tour, which spawned an MTV special and a live album. They would continue to tour together over the years.
"Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community & millions of fans worldwide," the band said on its website Monday.
CNN's Brandon Griggs contributed to this story.