The Definitive Don Henley Biography Doesn't Exist. Yet.

The Window Is Closing

It was 7 p.m. on February 9, 1964, in Linden, Texas. Sixteen-year-old Don Henley watched The Beatles perform "All My Loving" on TV. In that moment, music became his destiny.

That journey — from small-town Texas to stages around the world — has been told only in fragments. No one has pulled it all together into a single, authoritative narrative.

Maverick: Don Henley From Linden to Legend changes that.

This is the story of deliberate transformation. How one of the 20th century's most undervalued singer-songwriters purposefully stepped out from behind the drums—transforming himself from backing musician to frontman, from ensemble player to solo superstar who reshaped American rock and roll.

But time is running out. The people who knew Henley in the early days—who witnessed his transformation from poverty in East Texas to rock immortality—are still here to tell their stories. That window won't stay open forever.

What You'll Discover

This isn't a fan tribute. It's a serious, deeply researched biography:

• The East Texas roots and the poverty that shaped him, including never-before-seen moments from Linden living rooms where Henley and his Shiloh bandmates first jammed

• The pre-Eagles grind, from obscure bands to the earliest rehearsals

• Personal loss and scandal laid bare: his arrest in 1980, witnessing his best friend’s gruesome accident, his father's heart attack in 1972

• The creative explosion of the 1980s, when he became a solo superstar—including the true origins of "The Boys of Summer" and how the Eagles made "Desperado" a nationwide classic

• His evolution from rock star to environmental activist and family man, and the personal costs of decades in the spotlight

You'll hear from music historians and journalists, childhood friends, former bandmates, and more—over 100 interviews conducted and counting.

Why I'm Writing This

I grew up surrounded by my parents' CD collection after they opened a shop with lottery winnings. Don Henley's music was part of my life from the start—his solo work, then the Eagles. I saw him live in 2003, and that connection never left.

I'm the author of Culture of Excellence, an Amazon best-selling leadership book built around stories from the New York Yankees. I bring a decade of research experience and three years as a freelance writer with The Charlotte Observer. I know how to find people, ask the right questions, and tell a story that holds up.

I'm independently publishing because traditional publishing wants platforms over passion. I'm betting on the work itself—and on the community of Henley fans who want this story told right.

What Your Support Funds

Goal: $20,000

Every dollar goes directly into:

• Travel to Texas, Los Angeles, and anywhere else the story leads

• Interviews with people who knew Henley before and after fame

• Archival access to newspapers, recordings, and documents

• Professional editing and design worthy of this story

Help Me Tell This Story

Every contribution—at any level—helps fund the travel, interviews, archival research, and professional production this book deserves.

• Sign up below for exclusive excerpts, behind-the-scenes visuals, and progress reports throughout 2026.

• You can track progress on this page or follow along on social media.

• Sharing this page goes a long way.

Don Henley's full story deserves to be told. Let's make it happen together.

Target publication: July 2027

This campaign runs January 1 - December 31, 2026.