David Crosby, legendary singer-songwriter and founding member of Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, has died, a source close to the musician confirmed on Thursday. He was 81 years old.
Crosby, a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, has died after a long illness, his wife said in a statement to Variety.
“He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soul mate Jan and his son Django,” she told the outlet. “Although he is no longer with us, his humanity and good humor will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will live on through his legendary music.”
In a Facebook post, former band member Graham Nash recalled the focus on their sometimes-volatile relationship – Crosby blasted him publicly just two years ago in an interview with The Guardian – but he said that the “pure joy” of making music with Crosby was what mattered most.
“David was fearless in life and in music,” Nash said. “He leaves behind a huge void in terms of personality and talent in this world. He expressed his mind, his heart and his passion through his beautiful music and leaves an incredible legacy. These are the things that matter most. “
Another former bandmate, Stephen Stills, also recalled the times he and Crosby butted heads, saying in a statement from his manager that such a clash left them with “numb skulls”.
“I was happy to be at peace with him,” he said. “He was undoubtedly a giant of a musician, and his harmonic sensibilities were nothing short of genius.”
Crosby’s latest release, “Live at the Capitol Theater,” was released last month. In an interview with ultimateclassicrock.com, he described the performance captured in the recording as “magical”.
Crosby, who was born in Los Angeles, joined the Byrds in 1964. They scored their first hit with Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man.”
Crosby, Stills & Nash – later known as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young when Neil Young joined – was founded in 1968, the year after Crosby left the Byrds. The band then released a series of hits with “Marrakesh Express”, “Just a Song Before I Go”, “Woodstock” and others.
The group’s album “Looking Forward” was released in 1999.
Crosby was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice – once in 1991 with the Byrds and again six years later with Crosby, Stills & Nash.
In last month’s interview, he said he was no longer on tour due to tendonitis in both hands.
Crosby underwent a liver transplant in 1994 after decades of drug abuse and survived diabetes, hepatitis C and heart surgery in his 70s.
Previous drug use left him bloated, broke and alienated. He ended addiction in 1985 and 1986 while serving a year in prison in Texas for drug and arms trafficking. The conviction was eventually overturned.
“I always said I took the guitar as a shortcut to sex and after my first joint I was sure if everyone smoked dope the war would be over,” Crosby said in his autobiography. from 1988, “Long Time Gone”, co-written with Carl Gottlieb. “I was right about the sex. I was wrong about the drugs.”
He lived years longer than he expected, and in his 70s he experienced a creative renaissance, releasing several solo albums while collaborating with others, including his son James Raymond, who became a favorite songwriting partner.
“Most guys my age would have done a cover record or duets on old material,” he told Rolling Stone in 2013, shortly before “Croz” was released. “It’s not going to be a huge hit. It’ll probably sell nineteen copies. I don’t think the kids are going to love it, but I’m not doing it for them. I’m doing it for me. I have that stuff I need to get out of my chest.”
Crosby married longtime girlfriend Jan Dance in 1987. The couple had a son, Django, in 1995. Crosby also had a daughter, Donovan, with Debbie Donovan. Shortly after undergoing the liver transplant, Crosby reunited with Raymond, who had been placed for adoption in 1961. Raymond, Crosby and Jeff Pevar then performed together in a band called CPR.
“I regretted losing him many times,” Crosby told The Associated Press of Raymond in 1998. “I was too immature to parent anyone, and too irresponsible.”
In 2000, Melissa Etheridge revealed that Crosby was the father of two children she shared with then-partner Julie Cypher. Cypher carried the children Crosby fathered through artificial insemination, Etheridge told Rolling Stone. A son, Beckett, died in 2020.
Crosby did not help raise the children. “If, you know, in due time, remotely, they’re proud of who their genetic father is, that’s great,” he said.
