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, 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.

John David “JD” Souther has died. He was a prolific songwriter and musician whose collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s.