Jackson Browne | Artist

Clyde Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician born 1949 in Heidelberg, Germany. Emerging as a precocious teenage songwriter in mid-1960s Los Angeles he went on to influence bands such as The Eagles and, eventually, as a solo artist, sold over 18 million albums in the United States. His first success came writing songs for others. As a 16 year-old, his song "These Days" became a minor hit for the German singer and Andy Warhol protégé Nico. He also wrote several songs for fellow Southern California bands Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (with whom he was briefly a member in 1966) and the Eagles, who had their first Top 40 hit in 1972 with the Browne co-written song "Take it Easy". Another early song "Shadow Dream Song" was recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Tom Rush, Steve Noonan, Gregg Allman, Joan Baez, Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds and Iain Matthews. In 1971, Browne signed with David Geffen's Asylum Records and released his 1972 debut album Jackson Browne (Saturate Before Using), which included the Top Ten hit "Doctor my Eyes". "Rock Me on the Water", "Jamaica Say You Will" and "Song For Adam", from the same album, also helped establish Browne's reputation. Touring to promote the album, he shared the bill with Linda Ronstadt and Joni Mitchell. Browne has gone on to release 15 studio albums to-date, becoming one of the most successful of the US West-Coast singer-songwriters from that period. Browne's first five albums: Jackson Browne, For Everyman, Late For the Sky, The Pretender and Running on Empty, remain classics of the '70s US west-coast soft rock canon. Other standout albums include I'm Alive (1993) and the live Solo Acoustic Volumes 1 & 2. Many of the classic Jackson Browne albums featured the signature slide guitar work of David Lindley, who also worked closely with Ry Cooder. From the late '70s Browne became increasingly involved in political causes, such as the anti-nuclear movement, and founding MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) with Bonnie Raitt and John Hall. In 2004, Browne was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Bruce Springsteen gave the induction speech, commenting to Browne that although the Eagles were inducted first, "You wrote the songs they wished they had written."

Artist Website: jacksonbrowne.com

Featured Albums: Jackson Browne

Related Artists: The Eagles, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, David Lindley

Video Clips: Something Fine, Running on Empty, Rock me on the Water