David Crosby, folk-rock pioneer and one of the founding members of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, has died, his family announced Thursday.
he was 81 years old.
“Our beloved David[Croz]Crosby passed away after a long illness. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jean and son Django,” said Crosby. The family said in a statement. family representative. “Although he is no longer with us, his humanity and kind soul continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy lives on through his legendary music.”
A representative for Crosby had no comment when contacted by CNN.
Crosby was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Byrds in 1991 and again with Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1997, along with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash.
“Peace, love and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched,” the statement added. “We miss him.”
beginning and success
A native of California and the son of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Floyd Crosby, Crosby moved from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles in 1960 with the intention of becoming an actor.
But music called his name, and in 1963 he formed rock group The Byrds with Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark.
The band was nominated for the 1965 Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
Among other hits, The Byrds released the 1965 song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” It became popular again in the mid-90s thanks to the 1994 feature film Forrest Gump.
Crosby won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1970 as part of Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Crosby, Stills & Nash played Woodstock in 1969. This was his second time the two performed live together, and it catapulted them to mainstream success.
The band’s first album, 1969’s Crosby, Stills & Nash, was an immediate success, featuring the hits “Marrakech Express” and “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.”
In 1970, with the addition of Neil Young, the group became known as Crosby, Still, Nash & Young and released “Deja Vu”, which included the hit “Woodstock”.
In addition to solo albums, Crosby has collaborated with other music greats throughout his career, including Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann, Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh, Carole King, and Joni Mitchell.
Crosby is credited with discovering Mitchell, whom he also dated.
Rocker spent most of his life battling addiction and spent five months in prison on drug and weapons charges. He was released in 1986 and credits his time in prison with helping him stop drinking.
“They put me in a box and I quit drugs. Believe me, it completely changes you,” he told The Guardian in 2021. He killed himself, took care of his family again, became a decent man and made music. ”
Crosby has been open about his health issues, especially in recent years.
In 1994, he underwent a liver transplant. He has also had multiple heart surgeries and is open about managing his diabetes.
Crosby told NME in 2021 that continuing to make music is what keeps him “alive”.
“My life has two centers: family and music,” he added. “It’s just a miracle that at this advanced age I still have the opportunity to make more music.”
Married Yang Dance in 1987. The pair shared one son, Django.
“He gave me a family gift.”
Upon learning of Crosby’s death, musician Melissa Etheridge, who used Crosby as a sperm donor to have two children with ex-partner Julie Cypher, wrote on Instagram, “I lost my friend. I am saddened by this,” he wrote.
“He gave me a family gift,” she wrote.
In a Facebook tribute, Crosby’s former bandmate Nash addressed their sometimes “fickle” relationship, stating, “For David and I, the most important thing was that we were together. It was the pure joy of music that I made for myself,” he wrote.
“David was fearless in life and in music. You left behind an incredible legacy, and these are the most important things.”
Carole King, who joined Crosby and Nash on stage to perform “You’ve Got a Friend” in 1994, responded to the Facebook news by saying, “My old friend David is gone, but he’s got words and music.” He left me, and his beautiful voice.”
Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson Social media “I’m heartbroken,” he said.
“David was an incredible talent, a great singer-songwriter, and a great person,” he wrote.
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