Jackson Browne is sort of the quintessential sensitive L.A. singer/songwriter.
If you’ve ever seen “The History of the Eagles” documentary, you know that Browne was pals with the Eagles; he was a key figure in a whole Laurel Canyon cohort of musicians, music-biz bigwigs and songwriters, everybody hanging out, swapping tunes, helping each other finish choruses, exchanging backing bands and cementing contracts.
There aren’t many songwriters who can navigate a zone between the tender soul of Percy Sledge and the poetic storytelling of Bruce Springsteen, sliding in bits of mariachi or gospel or doo-wop or country as needed in quite the way Browne has.
Browne was the subject of a two-CD tribute record in 2014 that hinted at the scope of his influence. Browne wrote songs that were covered by the Byrds, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt and loads of others. As the Boss said when he helped induct him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Browne wrote the songs that the Eagles wished they had written.
But Browne’s songs — melodic and mellow as they might be — always had a deeper sadness than what radio listeners of the ’70s were generally seeking.
Jackson Browne performs a solo acoustic show at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre, 95 S. Turnpike Road, Wallingford, on Saturday, June 11, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $48 to $65. 203-265-1501, livenation.com.
