It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our comrade, Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, in New York City on Monday, January 18th, 2016.

The band posted a statement on its Facebook page, listing “complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia” as the causes of death. Frey had disclosed the problems back in November, when the band were forced to pull out of attending the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony because he required major surgery.

Born on Nov. 6, 1948, Frey began playing in bands in his native Detroit in the mid-’60s. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Los Angeles in the late-’60s, when he met J.D. Souther and Jackson Browne. When Souther’s then-girlfriend, Linda Ronstadt, needed a new backup band, she hired Frey, drummer Don Henley, bassist Randy Meisner and guitarist Bernie Leadon. The chemistry was so good that, after their 1971 tour, the four of them broke out from under Ronstadt and called themselves the Eagles.

From 1972 to 1979, they released six albums and had 16 Top 40 hits. In addition to “Take It Easy,” Frey sang lead on “Peaceful Easy Feeling”, “Already Gone”, “Lyin’ Eyes”, “New Kid in Town” and “Heartache Tonight.” But by 1980, personality conflicts broke up the band.

Frey moved on to a solo career in the ’80s, which resulted in two No. 2 hits, “The Heat Is On” and “You Belong to the City,” as well as Top 20 placements for “The One You Love,” “Sexy Girl,” “Smuggler’s Blues” and “True Love...”