Don Felder: The Man Behind "Hotel California" And His Remarkable Journey

How Much Is Don Felder Worth?

Here's the scoop on Don Felder's fortune. As of now, this legendary musician and songwriter has amassed a net worth of $60 million. Don Felder is best known as the lead guitarist for the iconic American rock band the Eagles, where he played from 1974 to 2001. But wait, there's more. Felder wasn’t just a guitarist—he penned one of the band's biggest hits, "Hotel California." Beyond his time with the Eagles, Felder has released several solo albums and even collaborated with other music legends, adding to his impressive legacy.

Don Felder's Early Days

Let’s rewind to where it all began. Don Felder was born on September 21, 1947, in Gainesville, Florida. His love for music started early—he picked up the guitar while still in elementary school. By high school, he had already formed his first band, The Continentals. Growing up in a Southern Baptist household, Felder was first inspired by music when he saw Elvis Presley perform live on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Despite the financial constraints that prevented him from taking formal lessons, Felder taught himself by listening to tape recordings and playing them back at half speed. While working at a music school in high school, Felder soaked up knowledge from a Berklee graduate, learning music theory and other skills. After graduating from Gainesville High School, he taught guitar lessons at a local music shop, where one of his students was none other than the young Tom Petty.

Felder's Musical Journey

Don Felder’s career path was anything but ordinary. He first played with future Eagles bandmate Bernie Leadon in a Florida band, and then he found success with the Maundy Quintet. This group recorded a single in 1967 that got some airplay in north-central Florida. But when the band dissolved in the late '60s, Felder didn’t miss a beat. He moved to New York, where he joined the improvisational rock group Flow, which released an album in 1970. Felder eventually relocated to Boston to work at a recording studio before heading to Los Angeles in 1973. There, he was hired as a guitarist for David Blue’s tour, where he met some big names like Crosby and Nash. During this time, Felder would occasionally jam with the Eagles in their rehearsal space, and that’s where his destiny began to take shape.

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Through Bernie Leadon, Felder met the members of the Eagles, and in 1974, he was invited to contribute slide guitar to their track "Good Day in Hell." That gig quickly turned into a full-time position with the band. As the Eagles evolved from their country-rock roots to a more rock-oriented sound, Felder became an integral part of the group. On their fourth album, "One of These Nights," Felder not only contributed a memorable guitar solo but also sang lead vocals on "Visions," the only song where he took the lead. When Bernie Leadon left the band, Joe Walsh came aboard, and the dynamic duo of Felder and Walsh became one of the most iconic guitar partnerships in rock history.

The Eagles' next album, "Hotel California," became a massive hit and cemented their place in music history. Felder wrote the iconic title track, which remains one of the band's most celebrated songs. However, the pressure of success and the band's drug-fueled lifestyle began to take its toll. After the "Hotel California" tour, tensions reached a boiling point during the recording of "The Long Run." By 1980, the band had reached its breaking point, and during a concert in Long Beach, California, Felder famously smashed Glenn Frey's guitar in a fit of rage. This marked the end of the Eagles' original run.

Life After the Eagles

After the breakup, Felder took a step back to focus on his family but soon returned to the music scene with a solo career. He first worked with the Bee Gees on their 1981 album "Living Eyes" as a session guitarist. Felder then collaborated with other artists like Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, and Stevie Nicks. In 1983, he released his debut solo album, "Airborne," which featured the single "Never Surrender," co-written with Kenny Loggins. Though he turned down a lucrative offer to tour with Don Henley in 1985, Felder continued to release music, including "Road to Forever" in 2012 and "American Rock and Roll" in 2019. Despite not participating in the Eagles' "History of the Eagles Tour" in the 2010s, Felder stayed active in the music world, touring with bands like REO Speedwagon and Styx in 2017.

Don Felder's Personal Life

On the personal front, Felder has been married twice. His first marriage was to Susan Harris Pickersgill, with whom he had four children. Their daughter, Leah Felder, is married to Brandon Jenner, the son of Caitlyn Jenner and actress Linda Thompson. Brandon’s stepmother is none other than Kris Kardashian. Felder's life has been a fascinating blend of rock 'n' roll adventure and family devotion.