Music history was made Saturday night in the Crosslake area.
First, one of the biggest names to perform in the area took the stage as Glenn Frey, one of the founding members of the legendary band Eagles, played at Manhattan Beach Lodge.
It was also historic for Frey as his 15-year-old son, Deacon, sang three songs with his dad for the first time on stage.
"It was pretty cool for Glenn's wife (Cindy) to see the father and son perform together," said Rick Born, owner of Manhattan Beach Lodge.
The historic moment almost didn't happen as inclement weather passed through the lakes area just before Frey was scheduled to perform.
"A nasty storm came through and there was a chance that the show would be cancelled," Born said. "Glenn asked me to check (the weather forecast) because he wanted to play. He didn't want to disappoint his friends in Minnesota and he also wanted to play 'Hotel California' with his son."
The weather cleared and a crowd, estimated by Born at more than 2,000, listened as Frey played the music he sang for the Eagles or as a solo performer, like "The Heat is On."
"We don't have a final count, but the crowd was in the 2,400 range," Born said. "It was a cool deal. There really hasn't been anything like this in the Crosslake area.
"Glenn also had a good time. He was here all week with his family and they were busy fishing and doing other things. He loves this area."
Born first met Frey at a charity event 12 years ago in Aspen, Colo. They have mutual friends and have built their own friendship.
"Glenn played a couple times at my (Lake Minnetonka) house in the late 1990s," Born said. "(Eagles member) Joe Walsh also played the second time at my house. That's when the band wasn't as busy."
Did other Eagles band members consider playing on Saturday?
"Most of them want to take time off right now," Born said. "They're pretty much touring every other month, so this is their month off.
"They were in Europe in March and (southern United States) in May where they played four sold-out shows in Atlanta," he said. "They're taking June off and will finish an East Coast trip in July."
Born admitted that it wasn't cheap for Frey to perform Saturday.
"It cost quite a bit, but it was a lot less than booking the Eagles on tour," he said. "I did get the friend discount. But Glenn didn't compromise on production. We spent a lot on production because he wanted it to sound like an Eagles concert."
Born added the concert did benefit a local charity.
"We gave $2.50 per ticket to Music Matters," Born said of a nonprofit charity to raise funds to support the music program in the Brainerd School District. "Glenn even pulled out his checkbook and wrote a $10,000 check (to Music Matters). He wanted to give something back."
Frey, a Detroit native who now lives in Los Angeles, helped form the Eagles in the 1970s playing guitar and keyboards. He wrote or co-wrote many of the group's songs and sang lead vocal on a number of hits like "Take It Easy," "Tequila Sunrise," "Lying Eyes" and "Heartache Tonight." The Eagles broke up in 1980 and reunited in 1994.
Frey also enjoyed solo success in the 1980s with two hit songs "The Heat is On" (used in Beverly Hills Cops) and "You Belong to the City" (used in the Miami Vice series). Frey also appeared on Miami Vice and in the film "Jerry Maguire."
