Singer-songwriter David Crosby dies at 81
David Crosby, one of the crucial influential rock singers of the Sixties and ’70s with the Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY) has died on the age of 81, Variety reported on Thursday (January 19), citing an announcement from Crosby’s spouse.
“It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away” Variety quoted his spouse, Jan Dance, as saying within the assertion.
Crosby’s UK-based representatives couldn’t instantly be reached for remark by Reuters.
Crosby was a founding member of two revered rock bands: the nation and folk-influenced Byrds, for whom he co-wrote the hit “Eight Miles High,” and CSNY, who outlined the graceful facet of the Woodstock era’s music. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of each teams.
Musically, Crosby stood out for his intricate vocal harmonies, unorthodox open tunings on guitar and incisive songwriting. His work with each the Byrds and CSN/CSNY blended rock and people in new methods and their music turned part of the soundtrack for the hippie period.
Personally, Crosby was the embodiment of the credo “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll,” and a 2014 Rolling Stone journal article tagged him as “rock’s unlikeliest survivor.”
In addition to drug addictions that finally led to a transplant to exchange a liver worn out by many years of extra, his tumultuous life included a severe bike accident, the demise of a girlfriend, and battles towards hepatitis C and diabetes.
He additionally managed to alienate lots of his well-known former bandmates for which he typically expressed regret in recent times.
His drug habits and infrequently abrasive character contributed to the demise of CSNY and the members ultimately stop talking to one another. In the 2019 documentary “David Crosby: Remember My Name,” he made clear he hoped they might work collectively once more however conceded the others “really dislike me, strongly.”
Crosby fathered six kids – two as a sperm donor to rocker Melissa Etheridge’s companion and one other who was positioned for adoption at start and didn’t meet Crosby till he was in his 30s. That son, James Raymond, would ultimately grow to be his musical collaborator.
Crosby was born on Aug. 14, 1941, in Los Angeles. His father was a cinematographer who received a Golden Globe for “High Noon” in 1952 and his mom uncovered him to the folks group the Weavers and to classical music.
