Joseph Fidler Walsh, born Joseph Woodward Fidler on November 20, 1947, is a prominent American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is widely recognized as a key member of the iconic rock band Eagles, with a musical journey spanning over five decades. Aside from his contributions to Eagles, Walsh has made significant strides in his solo career and also collaborated with various bands such as James Gang, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, and New Zealand’s Herbs. His versatility as a musician has earned him a place in the supergroup The Best and established him as a sought-after session artist, known for his appearances on numerous recordings. In a testament to his talent, Rolling Stone honored him by ranking him 54th on the esteemed ‘100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time’ list.
Following his time at Kent State University in the mid-1960s, Walsh began his musical journey with local Ohio bands before achieving national recognition with the James Gang. The band’s hit ‘Funk #49’ was a showcase of Walsh’s exceptional skills, leading to their signing with BPI in Cleveland under Roger Abramson. Subsequently, Walsh embarked on a new chapter by forming Barnstorm alongside Joe Vitale and Kenny Passarelli after parting ways with the James Gang in 1972. Despite the band releasing three albums, their work was predominantly perceived as Walsh’s solo endeavors, with the album ‘So What’ (1974) notably featuring substantial contributions from Eagles members.