Glenn Frey - Early Life

Early Life

Frey was born in Detroit, Michigan. Growing up in Royal Oak, Michigan, he studied keyboard with concert pianist John Harrison and became part of the mid-1960s Detroit rock scene. One of his earliest bands was called the Subterraneans and included fellow Dondero High School Class of '66 students Doug Edwards (later replaced by Lenny Mintz) on drums, Doug Gunsch and Bill Barnes on guitar and Jeff Hodge on bass.

His first professional recording experience was performing acoustic guitar and background vocals on Bob Seger's Ramblin' Gamblin' Man in 1968. Frey and Seger remained friends and occasional songwriting partners in later years.

Frey then moved to Los Angeles to follow a girlfriend who was an aspiring singer. His first recording as a musical writer was while fronting Longbranch Pennywhistle, a duo with J. D. Souther, in 1969. Frey also met Jackson Browne there, with whom he subsequently wrote songs. The three lived in the same apartment building for a short time.