David Crosby, a singer-songwriter-guitarist who was a founding member of the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (later Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), two very successful and influential 1960s rock bands, has passed away. Age-wise, he was 81.
Variety, “It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django. Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music. Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly. At this time, we respectfully and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve and try to deal with our profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers.”
David Crosby is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who was a member of the 1960s folk-rock group The Byrds and the 1970s rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He is known for his work as a solo artist and his contributions to the Laurel Canyon music scene in Los Angeles during the 1960s and 1970s.
Crosby began his career
Crosby began his musical career in the early 1960s as a member of the folk rock group The Byrds. He joined the band in 1964 and contributed to several of their early hit songs, including “Turn! Turn! Turn!”, “Eight Miles High” and “Why.” He also co-wrote several songs for the band, including “Everybody’s Been Burned.”
In 1968, Crosby left The Byrds and formed the band Crosby, Stills & Nash with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash. The band’s debut album, Crosby, Stills & Nash, was released in 1969 and featured hit songs such as “Marrakesh Express” and “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.” The band’s next album, Déjà Vu, was released in 1970 and featured the hit song “Woodstock” and “Teach your children” and many other songs.
Throughout his career, Crosby has also released several solo albums and collaborated with a wide range of musicians. He has been considered as one of the most influential artist of his generation and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, as a member of both The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
David Crosby important rock figure
Being a member of The Byrds, one of the most influential and successful folk-rock groups of the 1960s. The Byrds were one of the first groups to blend traditional folk music with rock and roll, and their music had a significant impact on the development of folk rock and country rock.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young are considered one of the most iconic and influential rock bands of the 1970s, they were known for their intricate vocal harmonies and politically charged songwriting. Their albums, such as “Déjà Vu” and “So Far” are considered as classics of the rock genre and still listened widely and admired today.
And David has also been recognized for his contributions as a solo artist and collaborator. His solo albums, such as “If I Could Only Remember My Name” and “Lighthouse” have been widely acclaimed, and his collaborations with other musicians has been celebrated, including his work with Phil Collins and Roger McGuinn.
Finally, Crosby has been a political and social activist throughout his career, using his platform to raise awareness about various issues, including the environment and human rights.
David Crosby has written and performed a variety of songs throughout his career. Some of his most popular and well-known songs include:
- “Turn! Turn! Turn!” – This song was written by Pete Seeger and popularized by The Byrds, of which Crosby was a member. It reached number one on the Billboard charts in 1965.
- “Eight Miles High” – This song was written by Crosby, Gene Clark, and Roger McGuinn and recorded by The Byrds. It was released as a single in 1966 and reached number 14 on the Billboard charts.
- “Woodstock” – This song was written by Joni Mitchell and recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. It was included on their 1970 album “Déjà Vu” and became one of the band’s most popular songs.
- “Teach Your Children” – This song was written by Graham Nash and recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. It was included on their 1970 album “Déjà Vu” and became a hit single.
- “Almost Cut My Hair” – Thissong was written by David Crosby and recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. It was included on their 1970 album “Déjà Vu”
- “Guinnevere” – This song was written by David Crosby and recorded by Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was included on their 1969 debut album “Crosby, Stills & Nash”
- “Laughing” – This song was written by David Crosby and recorded by The Byrds. It was included on their 1968 album “The Notorious Byrd Brothers”
- “Long Time Gone” – Thissong was written by David Crosby and Stephen Stills and recorded by Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was included on their 1969 debut album “Crosby, Stills & Nash”
David Crosby has had a number of legal charges throughout his career, some of the most notable include:
- Possession of drugs: In 1982, he was arrested for possession of cocaine and heroin in Texas. He was sentenced to five years probation.
- Drunk driving: In 1985, he was arrested for drunk driving in California and sentenced to probation.
- Illegal gun possession: In 1985, he was arrested for possession of a firearm by a felon and sentenced to five years probation.
- Possession of drugs: In 1986, he was arrested for possession of drugs in California and sentenced to six months in jail.
- Reckless driving: In 2004, he was arrested for reckless driving in California and sentenced to probation.
- Possession of drugs: In 2014, he was arrested for possession of drugs in New York and sentenced to probation.
- Crosby has had a history of drug and alcohol abuse and has been in and out of rehab multiple times. He has been open about his struggles with addiction and has spoken publicly about the impact it has had on his life and career.
Finally, David Crosby did his final “Croz,” which was his most recent solo effort, which was released in 2014.
