Irving Azoff, the legendary music manager who worked with The Eagles for roughly 40 years, stepped forward to mourn the death of founding member and guitarist Glenn Frey at age 67.
“I wouldn’t have been the success that I’ve been without Glenn Frey teaching me, leading me and supporting me for over 40 years,” Azoff told TheWrap.
“He was a passionate family man, a great father, a great humanitarian, and he’s gone way too soon.”
Frey died due to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia. He was the co-writer of classic songs like “Hotel California” and “Take It Easy.”
“Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia,” the band said in a statement on its official website, which crashed Monday shortly after news was announced.
Frey is a six-time Grammy winner and enjoyed solo success with songs like “The Heat Is On,” from Eddie Murphy‘s 1984 classic “Beverly Hills Cop.”
The Eagles broke up in 1980, reuniting briefly in 1994 for the successful “Hell Freezes Over” tour.
The band was set to for recognition at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors alongside the likes of Carole King, but pushed the honor back a year due to Frey’s health issues.