Julie Freeman, assistant to Timothy B. Schmit, says the longtime Eagles bassist and vocalist has been diagnosed with throat and neck cancer. He’s already reportedly undergone surgery, and is recovering.
Freeman, in note to supporters via EaglesFans.com, said doctors pinpointed the problem in October, and Schmit flew to New York for surgery after a November 17, 2012 performance in Las Vegas.
She says Schmit spent three days in the hospital, and emerged cancer free — in both the throat and neck. No radiation or chemotherapy treatments are apparently planned.
The Sacramento-bred country-rock star first rose to fame in 1969 as a member of Poco, a Southern California group that rose from the remnants of Buffalo Springfield. Schmit replaced Randy Meisner, who eventually would join the Eagles. After a period with Poco marked by more critical than commercial success (“Keep on Tryin'” could only get into the Top 50 in 1975), Schmit again replaced Meisner — this time in the Eagles, just as the group was coming off a tour in support of Hotel California. Their subsequent album The Long Run included Schmit’s Top 10 smash “I Can’t Tell You Why.”
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Of course, the Eagles then proceeded to breakup. Schmit primarily worked as an ace sessions contributor for years, sitting in with Steely Dan, Toto, Boz Scaggs, Firefall, Bob Seger, Richard Marx, and Crosby Stills and Nash. He then rejoined in time for the Eagles’ 1994 reunion project Hell Freezes Over, which included the Schmit-sung “Love Will Keep Us Alive,” as well. Since, they’ve toured regularly, while issuing 2007’s long-awaited studio effort Long Road out of Eden.
Meanwhile, Schmit’s 2009 release Expando was reissued last year in time for a series of separate solo appearances. Freeman, in the note to fans, said that as of yesterday (Thursday, November 20, 2012) he still planned to perform as part of the Eagles planned December 30, 2012 show in Las Vegas.
“The good news,” Freeman writes, “is that the surgery was successful and Timothy has received a clean bill of health. The final pathology report stated that he appears to be cancer free, both in his throat and neck. … He doesn’t have his singing voice back yet, but he’s been talking ever since being in the recovery room at the hospital, and the doctors are quite confident he’ll be up and at it again, in a matter of time.”
Freeman invited concerned fans to write to Schmit via his Web site at [email protected], or directly c/o ETC, 1100 Gledon Ave., Suite 2000, Los Angeles, California, 90024. EaglesFans.com has also set up an e-card where supporters can add their get-well messages.
“He says that this has been a life changer in many ways,” Freeman adds, “and that it has only bolstered his resolve to, in the words of Warren Zevon, ‘… enjoy every sandwich.'”
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