Class of 1966

Glenn Frey

Professional Rock and Roll Composer and Performer

Founder of the Eagles Band

Grammy Awards Winner

Glenn Frey graduated from Dondero High School in 1966. While at Dondero he played trumpet in the Dondero Marching Band and studied keyboard with concert pianist John Harrison. While in high school he formed a band, The Subteraneans with classmates Doug Edwards, Bob Wilson, Doug Gunsch and Bill Barns. 

The first professional recording experiences for Glenn Frey included providing acoustic guitar and background vocals for Bob Seger and Linda Ronstandt.

In 1971 Glenn Frey and his friend, Don Henley, formed a rock band known as the Eagles. The group had many successful hits before breaking up in 1980. Frey wrote or co-wrote many of the songs sung by the Eagles, including Take it Easy, Tequila Sunrise, Lyin'Eyes and Heartache Tonight. The group reunited in 1994 and began another tour in 2008.

In the 1980's Glenn Frey had twelve songs that made the top 100 list. His hits as a solo act included the sound tracks songs, The Heat in On for the show Beverly Hills Cops and You Belong to the City from the TV series Miami Vice.

Glenn Frey also has been known to act in movies and TV series, model clothing in magazines, and compose music for commercials.

As a member of the Eagles, Frey has won six Grammys and five American Music Awards. The Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Glenn Frey was inducted into the Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame in 1996.

Two months after his death in January 2016, the street outside of Royal Oak Middle School (formerly Frey's alma mater Dondero High School) was named in his honor--Glenn Frey Drive (Oakland Press March 2016 article link).