Early Life and Education of Joe Walsh: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Joe Walsh. A timeline of key moments.

Joe Walsh is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter renowned for his versatile career spanning five decades. He gained prominence as a member of the Eagles but also contributed to bands like the James Gang and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. Beyond his band affiliations, Walsh has thrived as a solo artist, a prolific session musician collaborating with numerous artists, and a participant in the supergroup The Best. His guitar skills have earned him recognition, including a place on Rolling Stone's list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

November 20, 1947: Joe Walsh Born

On November 20, 1947, Joseph Fidler Walsh, also known as Joe Walsh, was born in Wichita, Kansas. He is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

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July 22, 1949: Father's Death

On July 22, 1949, Joe Walsh's father, Lt. Robert Newton Fidler, a pilot in the United States Air Force, died in a mid-air collision during maneuvers over Okinawa. He was flying a Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star.

1959: Acquired the 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul

In 1959, Joe Walsh acquired a 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul.

1959: Gretsch 6120 Made

The 1959 Gretsch 6120 was manufactured in 1959.

1969: Sells Guitar to Jimmy Page

In 1969, Joe Walsh sold his 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul guitar to Jimmy Page, who named it his "Number 1".

1970: Gives Guitar to Pete Townshend

In 1970, Joe Walsh gave a 1959 Gretsch 6120 guitar to Pete Townshend of The Who, who used it to record tracks on albums such as Who's Next and Quadrophenia.

1970: Kent State Massacre

In 1970, Joe Walsh was present during the Kent State massacre, which profoundly affected him and contributed to his decision to leave college.

April 29, 1971: Birth of Daughter Emma Kristen

On April 29, 1971, Joe Walsh's eldest daughter, Emma Kristen, was born.

Others born on this day/year

1971: Marriage to Stefany Rhodes

In 1971, Joe Walsh married Stefany Rhodes.

April 1, 1974: Death of Daughter Emma Kristen

On April 1, 1974, Joe Walsh's daughter Emma Kristen died from injuries sustained in a car accident. This tragedy inspired the track "Song for Emma" on his album So What.

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1977: Eagles Begin Work on The Long Run

In 1977, The Eagles began working on their next album, 'The Long Run'.

1978: Divorce from Stefany Rhodes

In 1978, Joe Walsh divorced Stefany Rhodes.

July 1980: Eagles Breakup and Solo Career Continuation

Following the breakup of the Eagles in July 1980, Joe Walsh continued to release solo albums throughout the 1980s, but sales did not match his earlier success.

1980: Mock Presidential Campaign

In 1980, Joe Walsh announced a mock presidential campaign promising to make "Life's Been Good" the new national anthem, and ran on a platform of "Free Gas For Everyone".

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1980: Marriage to Juanita Boyer

In 1980, Joe Walsh married Juanita Boyer.

1984: Touring with Stevie Nicks

While touring with Stevie Nicks in 1984, Joe Walsh took Nicks to the North Boulder Park fountain dedicated to his late daughter, inspiring her song "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?".

1985: Stevie Nicks Releases "Rock A Little"

In 1985, Stevie Nicks released her album Rock A Little, which included the song "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?", inspired by Joe Walsh's memorial to his daughter.

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1988: Divorce from Juanita Boyer

In 1988, Joe Walsh divorced Juanita Boyer.

1989: Epiphany at Otatara Pa

In 1989, Joe Walsh experienced an epiphany during a visit to Otatara Pa while touring with the New Zealand band Herbs.

1989: Return to Australia and Tour with The Party Boys

In 1989, after the commercial disappointment of the album 'Got Any Gum?', Joe Walsh decided to return to Australia to tour with another incarnation of The Party Boys.

1991: Blackout on Airplane to Paris

In 1991, Joe Walsh blacked out on an airplane to Paris, which he cites as another turning point in his recovery.

1992: Mock Vice Presidential Campaign

In 1992, Joe Walsh ran for vice president with Rev. Goat Carson under the slogan "We Want Our Money Back!".

1993: Release of Eagles Tribute Album and Reunion

In 1993, an Eagles country tribute album titled 'Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles' was released. Subsequently, after years of speculation, the band formally reunited, comprising Frey, Henley, Walsh, Felder, and Schmit.

1993: Begins Recovery from Addiction

Joe Walsh has been in recovery from alcohol and drug addictions since 1993.

April 1994: Eagles Reunion and Tour Announcement

In April 1994, the Eagles announced their reunion with their first live performance, stating they had taken a '14-year vacation'.

September 1994: Interruption of Eagles Tour

In September 1994, the Eagles' reunion tour was interrupted due to a recurrence of Glenn Frey's diverticulitis.

1995: Resumption of Eagles Tour

The Eagles' interrupted tour resumed in 1995 and continued into 1996.

1996: Sister-in-Law Susan Walsh Missing

Since 1996, Joe Walsh's sister-in-law, Susan Walsh, has been a missing person.

1996: Continuation of Eagles Tour

The Eagles reunion tour which had been interrupted in September 1994 due to Glenn Frey's diverticulitis, continued into 1996.

1999: Marriage to Denise Driscoll

In 1999, Joe Walsh married Denise Driscoll.

December 2001: Honorary Degree from Kent State University

In December 2001, Kent State University awarded Joe Walsh an honorary degree in music.

October 2004: Speaking Engagements in New Zealand

In October 2004, Joe Walsh gave speaking engagements in New Zealand to warn against substance abuse. He cited a previous visit to Otatara Pa in 1989 as the beginning of his journey to good health.

2004: Return Visit to New Zealand

In 2004, during a return visit to New Zealand, Joe Walsh described his 1989 experience at Otatara Pa and hailed it as the beginning of his recovery.

2006: Divorce from Denise Driscoll

In 2006, Joe Walsh divorced Denise Driscoll.

2006: Donates Guitar to ARRL Charity Auction

In 2006, Joe Walsh donated an autographed guitar to the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) for its charity auction.

2007: Lucy Walsh Releases Debut Album

In 2007, Joe Walsh's daughter Lucy Walsh, released her debut solo album, Lost in the Lights.

2007: Stevie Nicks Reflects on Relationship with Walsh

In 2007, Stevie Nicks said that Joe Walsh had been "the great love of my life" and attributed their breakup to cocaine use.

December 13, 2008: Marriage to Marjorie Bach

On December 13, 2008, Joe Walsh married Marjorie Bach in Los Angeles.

2008: Funds Kent State University Scholarship

In 2008, Joe Walsh funded the first talent-based scholarship at Kent State University.

2011: Theme Song for Ham Nation Podcast

In 2011, Joe Walsh provided the theme song for the TWiT podcast Ham Nation and appeared as a guest in the first podcast.

May 2012: Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music

In May 2012, the Berklee College of Music awarded Joe Walsh, along with other members of the Eagles, an honorary doctorate for his accomplishments in the field of music.