In High School he played on the golf team and performed bluegrass in the
band Mountain Smoke
He debuted on the national scene with the country rock band Pure Prairie
League in 1979
He once invited him to join Dire Straits, but he declined the offer, he did join the
Eagles, alongside Deacon Frey, following the death of Glenn Frey.
In 2007 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
