David Crosby has passed away at the age of 81, his representative has announced. In the 1960s, he helped form two prominent groups: The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. His guitar skills and vocal harmonies were renowned.
Throughout his career, he accomplished the unique achievement of being inducted twice into the esteemed Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Despite their often “volatile” relationship, former bandmate Graham Nash expressed “deep sadness” upon hearing the news of Lennon’s death.
His wife told the entertainment website Variety that he passed away “after a protracted illness” surrounded by relatives.
Her statement continued,
“His legacy will live on via his great music.”
Crosby was born on August 14, 1941, in California, as the son of Oscar-winning Hollywood cinematographer Floyd Crosby.
In 1964, he joined The Byrds, a folk-rock band whose first hit was a rendition of Tambourine Man by Bob Dylan.
His turbulent stint, which included a brief relationship with vocalist Joni Mitchell, concluded in his dismissal from the group three years later.
Soon after, Crosby, Stills, and Nash created a supergroup and performed at the famed Woodstock concert in 1969.
Later, Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young joined them. This band, too, disbanded after a few years due to internal strife, although it has sporadically reassembled for concerts since then.
During his tenure with the band, Crosby penned the hippy anthems Almost Cut My Hair and Deja Vu.
In addition to his musical talent, he became well-known for his countercultural politics and signature mustache. 2021 saw the release of his final album, For Free, which capped a six-decade career.
On the record, he collaborated with one of his children, James Raymond, who was placed for adoption shortly after birth and did not see his biological father until thirty years later.
Offstage, Crosby had numerous run-ins with US law authorities, including an arrest on drug and weapon charges in 1982.
As a young man, his substance consumption reportedly worsened after the death of a lover in a vehicle accident.
Thereafter came periods of poor health, and in 1994, a liver transplant. Rolling Stone magazine deemed Crosby “rock’s most improbable survivor” twenty years later due to his reputation for a hedonistic lifestyle.
In 2019, Crosby told the Los Angeles Times that he was “ashamed” of his addictions and altercations with co-stars.
Graham Nash remarked on social media following the musician’s passing that his late collaborator was “fearless in life and in music” and left behind a “huge vacuum.”
He recognized that their relationship was “volatile” but stated that “what has always mattered most to David and me was the pure joy of the music we made together.”
Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys remarked on Twitter that he was “heartbroken” by the news, as his fellow celebrity had been an “unbelievable talent” and “great person.”
The day before his death was revealed, Crosby sent tweets from his own account, including one noting that Eleanor Rigby was his favorite Beatles song to play on a wet day.
The precise cause of his death was not established immediately.
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