JD Souther Returns: ALT perfect setting for hometown show

Touring to Amarillo always is a welcome homecoming for JD Souther.

The country-rock musician was born in Detroit, Mich., where his father was a big band singer, and where as a child he met many of the jazz world's great singers and bands who passed through his family's home.

After his father made the transition from performer to musical agent so as to spend more time with the family, they moved from Detroit to Wellington to Dallas and on to Amarillo, where Souther grew up.

He says that he learned to play violin at seven, the clarinet at 10, a tenor saxophone at 11, and then he started drumming at 12. Next came the piano. After graduating from Tascosa High School he spent two years studying at Amarillo College before heading west, to Los Angeles, where after a few years of carpentry and odd jobs his musical career was born.

Looking back, "I was a jazz kid my whole life," Souther says in an interview on his website. "Then, when I went to California, someone left an acoustic guitar in the apartment and I didn't know how to play it, and I had already been writing poetry, so I decided to pick it up and give it a try and everything just seemed to work."

And work out, it did. This week he returns to Amarillo for a special concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at Amarillo Little Theatre, 2019 Civic Circle.

"I'm also so happy to land in Amarillo," the 70-year-old singer-songwriter said last week. "It's a place with many beautiful memories for me."

When he left Amarillo for the west coast world of sunshine and entertainment in Los Angeles, Souther joined up with a Texas road band, which in retrospect he says didn't work out all that well. But then in 1969 he discovered open microphone night at the now-famous Troubadour nightclub. A couple of the other guys who were taking the stage to try out songs were Glenn Frey and Jackson Browne, and Souther says that things started to go a little better.

Back then he was known as John David Souther, and as he tells it he learned how to be a "real songwriter" at the Troubadour by watching and listening and learning from the constant stream of musicians who weekly passed through the club during those rarefied years. Nightly the singer-songwriters who captivated the Troubadour's regular crowd included Kris Kristofferson, Randy Newman, Elton John, James Taylor, Carole King, Ricky Nelson, and Waylon Jennings. Superstars now, but all young and upcoming newcomers back then.

In 1971, Souther says he "found himself" as a songwriter. Soon after that Browne took him to recording executive David Geffen's house to "audition" and Souther says that after he played two songs, Geffen remarked, "Go make a record."

That same year John David Souther became JD, inspired, he said, by seeing the musical credit line of J.S. Bach. In 1976 his solo record "Black Rose" established Souther's legacy as a songwriter and then, in 1979, came his biggest solo hit, "You're Only Lonely."

By then the Eagles, as well as Linda Ronstadt, were regularly charting hits written by Souther. Ronstadt had 10 penned by Souther just by herself.

When Souther comes to Amarillo this week, his appearance is part of his latest tour, and outing of solo performances.

"It's definitely an intimate evening," Souther said. "Especially at Amarillo Little Theatre, it's a perfect size and setting for the music."

Souther's most recent solo album, "Tenderness," was released in May 2015.

"This album has such a rich score with beautiful arrangements," Souther said.

He also recently celebrated the re-release of three previous solo albums: His first and second albums and the 1984 project, "Home By Dawn."

The re-releases include several un-released songs hand-picked by Souther.

"It will be me, a guitar and grand piano, and some songs and stories," said Souther, who usually tours with a trio.

And, most importantly, Souther said the Amarillo crowd can anticipate an enjoyable evening.

"We're certainly going to have fun," he said.

For information about the concert, call 806-355-9991 or visit www

.amarillolittletheatre.org.