Rock legend David Crosby, founder of legendary sixties bands such as The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash, has died this Thursday at the age of 81.
“It is with great sadness, after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away. He was surrounded by love for his wife and soul mate, Jan, and their son Django,” the musician’s wife wrote in a statement published by the media.
“David Crosby, Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash Co-Founder, Dies at 81https://t.co/s7sNXpN4Jn“
—Variety (@Variety) January 19, 2023
In the note, the family has stressed that Crosby’s musical legacy “will live on through his legendary music.”
The singer-songwriter, born in California (United States), was the son of filmmaker Floyd Crosby.
He began his musical career in childhood with his brother, to later develop his professional career with singer Roger McGuinn.
In 1964 Crosby and McGuinn formed The Byrds with musicians Gene Clark and Chris Hillman.
The group achieved great recognition a year later when they presented their version of Bob Dylan’s classic “Mr. Tambourine Man”, which gave their debut album its name, with songs like “Turn Turn Turn”.
His affair with The Byrds culminated in his expulsion in 1967.
Crosby was romantically involved with Canadian folk singer Joni Mitchell, who put him in touch with Neil Young and Stephen Stills.
His affair with The Byrds culminated in his expulsion from the group in 1967.
Later, Crosby founded with Stills and Graham Nash the folk rock band Crosby, Stills & Nash, which was later joined by Canadian singer Neil Young.
The group gave their first concert as a trio at the Woodstock festival in 1969.
Although Young’s accession meant the band’s commercial success, with albums like Deja vuwith great hits like “Woodstock” and “Teach Your Children”, the group dissolved due to differences in egos.
Addiction problems with alcohol and drugs for years
Both bands were a key part of the development of folk rock and country rock that originated in California and became popular in the 1970s.
Crosby continued as a soloist and the last album he presented was in 2021 under the name of For Free.
On a personal level, the musician had addiction problems with alcohol and drugs for years.
In fact, in 1982 he was arrested in Dallas (Texas) for possession of drugs and weapons, something for which he received a five-year prison sentence, although he only served five months behind bars.
In 1994 he had a liver transplant that was paid for by the musician Phil Collins, after being diagnosed with hepatitis C.
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