Don Felder, the Hall of Fame guitarist born in Florida 79 years ago, joined the Eagles in the mid-1970s and co-wrote the music for "Hotel California," the band's most iconic song. His arrival proved pivotal to the Eagles' commercial success, with his first album as an official member becoming their breakthrough chart-topper. Felder's contributions to rock music extend beyond the Eagles, including solo albums and film soundtrack work, though his relationship with the band ultimately soured over financial disputes.

Felder was born in Gainesville, Florida on 21 September 1947 and began his music career in East Coast bands before relocating to California in 1973. He joined the Eagles in 1974 and featured on their 1975 album "One of These Nights," their debut number-one release. Whilst he co-wrote several songs with the band, "Hotel California" (with lyrics by Don Henley and Glenn Frey) remained his most celebrated work. After the band's hiatus in 1980, Felder reunited with them in 1994 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. However, disputes over pay distribution—particularly following the 1994 reunion when Henley and Frey sought a larger share—led to his departure in 2001. Since leaving the Eagles, Felder has released multiple solo albums, beginning with "Airborne" in 1983, and contributed to classic film soundtracks.