David Crosby, a rock icon who rose to fame in the 1960s as a founding member of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash (later known as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young). He was 81.
Crosby’s wife Jan Dance announced his death in a statement Thursday Variety. Sources close to Crosby confirmed the news Rolling Stone and board. Dance’s sister Patricia said The New York Times He died on Wednesday.
“It is with great sadness that our beloved David (Crose) Crosby has passed away after a long illness,” the statement read. “He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django. Although he is no longer with us, his humanity and kind spirit will continue to guide and inspire us.
“His legacy will live on through his legendary music. Peace, love and harmony to David and all he touched. We will miss him very much.”
She thanked fans for their love and asked for privacy “as we grieve and try to deal with our profound loss.”
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Born David Van Cortlandt Crosby in Los Angeles on August 14, 1941, he honed his musical skills in coffeehouses, clubs and colleges as a teenager.
“I took a job washing dishes and setting tables at a coffeehouse so I could be there, and ask permission to sing friendly with the guy on stage,” the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer told PBS in 2004. “It was the first time I got on stage in front of people. Of course, I didn’t get paid, but for me, It was big time.”
Crosby briefly studied drama at Santa Barbara City College, but music was his calling. By the early ’60s, he was drifting from city to city, performing and learning from other musicians, when he crossed paths with folk singer Roger McGuinn. The two began collaborating, electronically amplifying folk music to create a style that would eventually be defined as folk-rock.
They teamed up with Gene Clark, Chris Hillman and Michael Clark to form The Byrds, famous for its impressive sound. The band’s first single, a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” hit the Top 10 in 1965, spawning such hits as “Eight Mile High,” “All I Really Want to Do” and “Turn! Turn! (Pete Seeger by).
Although known for harmony, The Birds were plagued by controversy. Crosby had an unsavory habit of interrupting live performances with political rants, and the rest of the band kicked him out in 1968.
After parting ways with The Byrds, Crosby began jamming with Stephen Steele of Buffalo Springfield. Graham Nash of the Hollies formed the supergroup Crosby, Steele and Nash. Their 1969 self-titled debut album led the group to a Best New Artist Grammy.
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The trio became Crosby, Steele, Nash and Young when Neil Young joined the group. CSNY claimed their place in music history with their performance at Woodstock. In the 1970s, their songs “Ohio” (a protest song about the Kent State shooting) and “Teach Your Children” demonstrated their anti-war activism.
In July 2021, Crosby spoke to USA Today about the release of his solo album “Free”.
“80 is not a number you celebrate, honey,” Crosby joked. “Getting old is not something to celebrate in general.”
Crosby, instantly recognizable for his signature mane and walrus mustache, also reflected on addressing mortality on the album’s closing track. Her son James Raymond, whom she reunited with in the 1990s after putting her up for adoption in 1962, wrote it.
“It’s a beautiful song, isn’t it? I’ve had a lot of friends call me crying (after hearing it),” he said. “He was a good (songwriter) when I met him, and we started writing together. But he’s at least as good as me, if not better.”
Crosby had an extremely illustrious career: 12 studio albums with The Byrds; eight with CSN&Y, Crosby & Nash; and eight as a solo artist (starting with 1971’s “If I Could Only Remember My Name”).
He also participated in side projects such as CPR – Crosby, guitarist Jeff Paver and son James Raymond – which existed from 1996 to 2004. His life, he often said, was spent mainly on the streets.
Although he withdrew from any major touring in the past two years due to his health problems, Crosby remained active in recording music.
“I miss the road because I did it for 50 years, but I don’t think I’ll do it again,” he told USA Today in 2021. “I have tendonitis in both hands … I’m 85% of what I used to do, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Crosby battled a series of health challenges, including three heart attacks, a liver transplant and diabetes.
He famously served as a sperm donor to Melissa Etheridge and his former partner Julie Cypher. One of their two children, son Beckett Cypher, Died in 2020 at the age of 21 from opioid addiction.
His illustrious career often coincided with a chaotic personal life, detailed in his 2018 documentary “Remember My Name,” directed by Cameron Crowe. In the 80s and 90s, Crosby experienced drug addiction, weapons offenses and prison time.
In recent years, Crosby has publicly feuded with his CSNY bandmates, particularly Nash, for reasons he has never disclosed. In his 2021 USA TODAY interview, Crosby worried about the reality of ever repairing that relationship.
“Graham and I don’t like each other very much,” he said. “People don’t grow up on parallel paths. It’s not what people think is the reason we can’t play together, but I can’t tell you what it is. I’m not worried about it. I’m busy. Like hell.”
Despite his failing health, Crosby still remained involved in music and social issues.
A regular presence on Twitter, Crosby often interacted with fans, tweeting about topics including the arrest of climate activist Greta Thunberg on Wednesday and his favorite Beatles song (“Eleanor Rigby”).
On Thursday, singer Pink told USA Today that she had just talked to Crosby, a California neighbor, last week about wanting to play for her.
“He was a really deep spiritual person. My heart goes out,” she said. “We just lost so many great people. It’s really heartbreaking.”
Contributing: Christine McGrath, USA TODAY
