You're only lonely

AURAL ROBERT - The least surprising story in music today is the inevitable passing of irreplaceable talent. Tenor saxophonist Benny Golson died at age 95 the day I finished this salute to another fallen star, Southern California singer/songwriter John David "JD" Souther.

- ROBERT BAIRD

Souther was a charter member of the so-called Mellow Mafia. It never ceases to amaze me how much rancor and scorn still gets heaped on Southern California acts from the 1970s. The Eagles" "Hotel California" has been played to death for years at audio shows as an example of stellar recorded sound, yet I cannot count the number of times audiophiles have ranted to me about how The Eagles were "too perfect." And how the whole hippie vibe of drummer Russ Kunkel (who is now bald and wears suits) and bassist Leland Sklar (who admittedly does look like Father Time) creeps them out.

Call me a cheeseball, accuse me of having overly sentimental tastes (though I prefer the term "eclectic"), but count me among those who adore the work of Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, David Lindley, Rosemary Butler, The Eagles, and the guy who started it all, Gram Parsons. But one name that's not as obvious as all those is JD Souther.