Don Henley Turns 80 in July 2027. There's Still No Biography.
He's a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, a founding member of the Eagles, and one of the most influential American songwriters of the last fifty years. The Eagles are performing at The Sphere in Las Vegas. His music is everywhere.
And there's no comprehensive biography of his life.
That's why I'm writing it.
In February 1964, a teenager in Linden, Texas, watched the Beatles on television. Don Henley has said that moment changed everything.
What followed—East Texas to stages around the world—has been told in pieces, never as one sustained story. Maverick: Don Henley From Linden to Legend is that story.
This is about deliberate transformation: how a backing musician became a frontman, how an ensemble player became a solo artist who reshaped American rock. It's never been fully examined.
The people who knew him first—who saw him rise from poverty in East Texas—are still here and still talking. That won't last forever.
The Window Is Closing
What You're Funding
This is a serious, deeply researched unauthorized biography.
The East Texas years. The poverty that shaped him. Linden living rooms where Henley and Shiloh first jammed. The roots of everything that followed.
The climb before the Eagles. Obscure bands, early rehearsals, the grind before anyone knew his name.
The documented record. Contemporary press coverage, including his 1980 arrest, examined with primary sources and corroborating testimony. Disputed matters will be identified as such.
The solo breakthrough. The 1980s, when he became a superstar. The documented origins of "The Boys of Summer" and how "Desperado" became a classic.
The later years. His evolution from rock star to environmental activist and family man, and the personal cost of decades in the spotlight.
More than 100 interviews have been conducted with music historians, journalists, childhood friends, and former bandmates. Additional reporting is underway.
Don Henley's music was the soundtrack of my childhood. My parents opened a shop with lottery winnings, and their CD collection—his solo work, the Eagles—was always playing. I saw him live in 2003, and it stuck with me.
I'm the author of Culture of Excellence, an Amazon bestseller about leadership and the New York Yankees. I bring a decade of research and interview experience, plus three years of freelance writing with The Charlotte Observer. I know how to find people, ask the right questions, and tell stories that hold 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.
Why I'm Writing This
Goal: $20,000
Every dollar funds travel to Texas, Los Angeles, and anywhere else the story leads. It covers archival access to newspapers, recordings, and documents. It ensures professional editing and design worthy of this story. It also covers the legal expenses that come with unauthorized biography—manuscript review, E&O insurance, and fact-checking.
The Ask
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Target publication: July 2027. Publication timing and final scope are subject to sourcing, licensing, and legal review.
This campaign runs January 1 - December 31, 2026.
This is an unauthorized biography. This project is independently produced and is not endorsed, sponsored, or approved by Don Henley or the Eagles. All contributions support research and production; publication timing and final content are subject to sourcing, licensing, and legal review. Contributors receive no rights in the manuscript, cover design, or intellectual property.