Donald Hugh "Don" Henley was born on July 22, 1947, in Gilmer, Texas, and spent most of his childhood in Linden, Cass County. His father, a World War II veteran, later started a vehicle parts business. Henley was given piano lessons by his mother during childhood, but he showed little interest in the instrument at the time. Initially more drawn to sports, Don joined his high school football team. However, after an injury, he shifted focus to music and joined the school band, where he discovered his natural talent for drumming and quickly excelled.
Don began performing with his friend Richard Bowden, who played guitar for a local band called the Four Speeds. The group eventually changed its name to Shiloh and remained active through Henley’s high school years. After graduating, Henley enrolled in college to study English literature, putting music on hold temporarily. In 1968, Shiloh caught the attention of singer Kenny Rogers, who encouraged them to continue performing after hearing one of their songs.
Motivated by this endorsement, Shiloh moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music more seriously. In 1970, the band recorded an album under the Amos Records label. Although Shiloh did not achieve long-term success, the move to Los Angeles proved pivotal for Henley.
While in Los Angeles, Henley met guitarist Glenn Frey, a fellow musician recently relocated from Michigan. Frey invited Henley to join a new band that included bassist Randy Meisner and guitarist Bernie Leadon. This group would become the Eagles, one of the most iconic rock bands of the 1970s.
The Eagles quickly rose in popularity, breaking into the Billboard Top 20 album charts and scoring two top 10 singles: "Take It Easy" and "Witchy Woman." The band's 1973 album, Desperado, further established their success, followed by On the Border in 1974. In 1975, they released One of These Nights, another commercial triumph.
| Birth Date: | 22 Jul, 1947 |
| Age: | 72 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Gilmer |
| Education: | University of North Texas Stephen F. Austin State University |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American singer, lyricist, producer and drummer |
| Net Worth 2021: | 200 million |
