David Crosby - Photo by Getty Images
David Crosby former member of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young has passed away at the age of 81.
His family made the announcement Thursday stating “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,” the Crosby family said in a statement, obtained by CNN through a family spokesperson. “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”
David Crosby is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who first rose to fame in the 1960s as a member of the folk rock group The Byrds. He was born in Los Angeles, California in 1941 and began playing music at a young age. In the early 1960s, he formed a band called The Jet Set, which eventually evolved into The Byrds. The group released their debut album, “Mr. Tambourine Man,” in 1965, which featured the title track, a cover of a Bob Dylan song that became a hit.
The Byrds were known for their unique blend of folk, rock, and country music, and they released several successful albums throughout the 1960s, including “Turn! Turn! Turn!”, “Fifth Dimension”, and “Younger Than Yesterday”. Crosby wrote and sang lead vocals on several of the group’s most popular songs, including “Eight Miles High” and “Why”. He also played guitar on most of their recordings.
In 1968, Crosby left The Byrds and formed the band Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash. The group’s debut album, “Crosby, Stills & Nash,” was released in 1969 and featured the hit single “Marrakesh Express.” The band’s follow-up album, “Deja Vu,” was released in 1970 and featured the hit songs “Carry On” and “Teach Your Children.” Both albums were commercial and critical successes, and the band became known for their tight harmonies and guitar work.
Throughout the 1970s, CSN released several more albums, including “4 Way Street” and “CSN.” They also had several hit songs, including “Just a Song Before I Go” and “Wasted on the Way.” In 1977, the band broke up, but Crosby continued to perform and record music as a solo artist. He released several albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including “If I Could Only Remember My Name,” “Thousand Roads,” and “Croz.”
David Crosby is also known for his activism and advocacy for various political and social causes. He has been arrested multiple times for his activism, including protesting the Vietnam War, advocating for the environment, and supporting Native American rights. He also been open about his struggles with drug addiction and has been arrested multiple times on drug-related charges.
Throughout his career, David Crosby has become known for his songwriting, guitar playing and harmony singing. Some of his most famous songs include “Wooden Ships”, “Long Time Gone” and “Almost Cut My Hair”. His solo albums and the albums he recorded with Crosby Stills Nash & Young are still considered as classics of the folk rock genre.
Crosby was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Byrds in 1991 and again with Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1997, alongside Stephen Stills and Graham Nash.
