David Crosby, folk-rock pioneer and two-time Hall of Famer, dies aged 81
DAVID CROSBY, one of the most influential rock singers of the 1960s, has died at the age of 81.
The singer-songwriter, a founding member of two of the biggest bands of the decade, The Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash – passed away at his home in California yesterday.
His career saw him achieve the rare feat of being inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
“It is with great sadness after a long illness that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away,” his wife Jan Dance said in a statement, adding that he was surrounded by family, including his 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.”
Born in Los Angeles in 1941, Crosby joined The Byrds in 1964 – a folk-rock group that scored its first hit with a cover of Bob Dylan’s Tambourine Man.
He later formed the musical trio Crosby, Stills & Nash with the Hollies’ Graham Nash and Buffalo Springfield’s Stephen Stills, with the group’s 1969 debut album going multi-platinum.
The group eventually added Neil Young into the fold, and were called Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, before parting ways in the 1970s.
He grappled with addiction for many years. He was arrested in Texas in the early 1980s on drug and weapons charges that led to a five-month prison sentence. Wracked by years of cocaine and alcohol abuse, he underwent liver transplant surgery in 1994.
His final studio album, For Free, was released in 2021. It was followed by a 50th anniversary expanded version of If I Could Only Remember My Name, which contained remastered songs and demos from original recording sessions.
In one of his last interviews earlier this year, Crosby said he was done performing live, declaring: “I’m too old to do it anymore. I don’t have the stamina; I don’t have the strength. I’ve been making records at a startling rate. Now I’m 80 years old so I’m going to die fairly soon. That’s how that works. And so I’m trying really hard to crank out as much music as I possibly can.”
Friends and fans paid tribute yesterday. Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys, said: “I don’t know what to say other than I’m heartbroken to hear about David Crosby. David was an unbelievable talent – such a great singer and songwriter. And a wonderful person. I just am at a loss for words.”