His family made the announcement on Thursday that David Crosby, a pioneer in the folk rock genre and one of the founding members of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, had passed away.
After a long illness, our beloved David (Croz) Crosby died. “He was joyfully hugged by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django,” a Crosby family spokesman told CNN. “Even though he’s gone, his wonderful nature and caring humanity will inspire us.” His legendary tunes will endure on forever.
When CNN attempted to contact David Crosby representatives for comment, they declined to do so.
Beginnings and achievements both
In 1960, Crosby, a native Californian and son of Oscar-winning cinematographer Floyd Crosby, moved to Los Angeles from Santa Barbara to become an actor. Oscar-winning Crosby’s father.
He joined Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark to form The Byrds in 1963, his main passion.
The band was a 1965 Grammy nominee for “best new act.”
In 1994’s “Forrest Gump,” The Byrds’ 1965 song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” became popular again. Other Byrds songs:
Bing Crosby won the 1970 Grammy for “Best New Artist” with Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
Woodstock 1969 included David Crosby , Stills, and Nash. It launched them into the mainstream despite being their second public performance.
The first studio album released by the band, “Crosby, Stills & Nash,” was an instant smash the moment it was released in 1969. The album included the hit singles “Marrakesh Express” and “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.”
The band changed their name to Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young in 1970 with the inclusion of Neil Young. That same year, they produced the album “Déjà Vu,” which included the successful song “Woodstock.”
During the course of his career, in addition to the solo albums he released, Crosby worked on projects with other well-known musicians, such as Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann, and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead, Carole King, and Joni Mitchell.
“Extremely pleased to be alive”
The rock star spent five months for drug and handgun offences. He recognized that his experience in prison helped him rehabilitate from drug usage after his 1986 release.
“They locked me in a cage and I got off drugs, and believe me, it changes you entirely,” he told the Guardian in 2021. “You go from not wanting to live to being incredibly glad of life because you’re no longer killing yourself, taking care of your family again, being a decent person, and producing music,” she added.
“You go from not wanting to live to being able to live with no regrets.”
In recent years, in particular, David Crosby has not been bashful in discussing the health issues he has been experiencing.
A liver transplant was performed on him in the year 1994. Additionally, he has spoken up about the management of his diabetes and has had many cardiac surgeries.
He continued by saying, “My family and the music are the two things that really matter to me in life.” “That I can still have a chance to compose more music at this senior age is absolutely a freaking miracle,” he said. “That I can still make music at this advanced age.”
In 1987, he tied the knot with Jan Dance. Django was the couple’s only child together.
“He bestowed upon me the blessing of a family”
After learning of David Crosby passing , artist Melissa Etheridge said on Instagram that she is “grieving the loss of my buddy.” Etheridge conceived two children with her ex-partner Julie Cypher using Crosby as a sperm donor. Crosby was also the father of Etheridge’s children.
She added in her letter, “He gave me the gift of family.”
Stills, the other member of Crosby, Stills & Nash, released a message on Facebook in which he said, “it is only the memory of such a distinctive and rich life so well lived that must carry us through this moment of terrible sadness.” Nash passed away on August 3rd.
The letter said that “his music will live on through us all” and that David “lived a life of great and enduring appreciation.”
Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys tweeted that he was “heartbroken.”
“David was such an incredible vocalist and lyricist; he had a skill that was unfathomable.” And an absolutely beautiful human being,” he wrote.
