The Eagles have been one of the most prominent acts of the last five decades, and with good reason. The band, started by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, became known for their genre-bending songs and concerts. With numerous songs like "Take It Easy" a "Lyin' Eyes," "Love Will Keep Us Alive" and more, the Eagles have seamlessly forged country and rock music.
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Further proof that their music did not need any boundary lines: the inclusion of Vince Gill. In 2017, Gill joined the Eagles after the passing of Frey.
"My favorite comment Don made about me was they asked him, 'Why'd you get the country guy to be in your band?'" Gill remembers (via Ultimate Guitar). "He goes, 'He knows how to be in a band.' That was a great compliment."
It's a fusion that might not have ever happened, if not for three bands who inspired the Eagles that they didn't have to pick a genre.
"In our small town in Texas, we'd read about The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Poco and bought their albums ... We thought, 'Why not combine the two like these guys? Henley previously told Uncut (via Far Out).
The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers might not be as well known as the other two bands, but their influences are just as far reaching. The California-based band shattered walls with their freshman album, The Gilded Palace of Sin, released in 1969. Their refusal to cater to a specific genre or type of music remains their lasting legacy, and was an early indicator to the Eagles of what they could do with their music.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band got started several years before the Eagles. The band, led by founding member Jeff Hanna, seamlessly found success on both pop and country charts. Their songs like "Fishin' In The Dark" and "Mr. Bojangles," the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band proved they didn't need to pick a genre, so neither did the Eagles.
Poco
Poco never claimed to be anything but a rock band, which is likely why the Eagles drew such inspiration from them. Starting in the late '60s, Poco's acoustic-driven sound, paired with songs like "Crazy Love" and "Shoot For The Moon" didn't cater to one sound other than their own. The Eagles followed suit, creating one of the most lasting careers of any band in the history of music.
The Eagles are spending the first part of the year performing in Las Vegas. Find dates here.
