The bombastic musician David Crosby, who rocked the world for more than 60 years, died at the age of 81. According to unnamed reports, Bob Dylan, the co-founder of the “Byrds” and “Crosby, Stills, & Nash,” who gained notoriety in 1965 with a cover of “Mr. Tambourine Man,” passed away after a protracted illness. Continue reading to discover more about his legacy.
David Crosby: A Colorful and Unpredictable Character
In his 2004 autobiography, “Chronicles: Volume 1,” Bob Dylan praised David Crosby as a “architect of harmony,” a “colourful and unpredictable figure” who “wore a Mandrake the Magician cloak, didn’t get along with too many people, and had a lovely voice.” Sadly, the outspoken musician who revolutionised rock music with the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (later Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) has died at age 81.
His sister-in-law learned of his passing and confirmed it to The New York Times on Wednesday night, January 18, according to the news source. Fans who followed David on Twitter, where he was active until Wednesday, were shocked to learn of his passing. In one of his last tweets, he made a lighthearted remark about paradise, writing, “I heard the place is overrated… foggy.”
If you didn’t know, Crosby had a liver transplant in 1994 after abusing drugs for many years. He also overcame diabetes, hepatitis C, and heart surgery while he was in his 70s. Crosby told his supporters last year that he was done performing live and that “I’m going to die fairly soon”: “I can’t do it anymore; I’m too old. I lack the power and stamina necessary. At an astonishing rate, I’ve been producing records. I’m 80 years old now, therefore my death is imminent. That is how it operates.
“So I’m trying extremely hard to put out as much music as I can, as long as it’s really fantastic,” he concluded. I already have another one sitting in the can. Later, Crosby reversed his decision to stop giving live performances, announcing in mid-December that he’d changed his mind: “Dare I say it? I believe I’m forming yet another band and returning to the stage to perform live.
A Controversial Rocstar…
From Stephen:
“I read a quote in this morning’s paper attributed to composer Gustav Mahler that stopped me for a moment:
‘Death has, on placid cat’s paws, entered the room.’
I shoulda known something was up. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/eikZ47Kmso
With his two rock bands, the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash, David Crosby provided the world with a number of hits (later Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young). In the late 1960s Laurel Canyon environment in Los Angeles, Crosby met Graham Nash of the Hollies and Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield. Together, they formed CS&N, whose multi-platinum 1968 debut laid the groundwork for the rock era of supergroups.
With their renditions of Pete Seeger’s “Turn! Turn! Turn!” and Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” and the stormy classic “Eight Miles High,” the ensemble scored two No. 1 hits. Crosby contributed to its writing. In addition, he is credited with penning several of the Byrds’ most enduring songs, including “Lady Friend.” From a baby-faced harmony vocalist with the Byrds to a hippie superstar with CSNY, the man actually underwent an evolution.
His controversy-provoking 1982 Texas arrest on drug and firearm charges resulted in a five-month prison sentence in 1986. He needs a liver transplant because of his long history of cocaine and alcohol misuse, which requires surgery in 1994. His long-term relationship with Nash ended, despite the success of his solo career.
Being the son of Floyd Crosby, Crosby grew up in affluence and was offended by Graham Nash’s 2013 autobiography “Wild Tales,” which sparked a public spat. A renowned band disbanded as a result of this. However, Crosby continued to tour and record in the 2000s while doing so. As a member of the Byrds (1991) and Crosby, Stills & Nash (1994), he was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1997).
Graham Nash, a former bandmate of Crosby’s but still a close friend, paid homage to the singer upon his passing. I recently learnt of my buddy David Crosby’s passing, and it fills me with a deep and profound sadness,” Nash wrote. “I know people focus on how tumultuous our relationship has been at times, but what has always mattered to David and me more than anything was the pure joy of the music we created together, the sound we discovered with one another, and the deep friendship we shared over all these many, many years,” says David.
Well, given his worsening health and medical issues, Crosby really survived longer than anyone could have predicted. He didn’t simply survive; up until his passing, he kept up the world-shaking momentum. The Cameron Crowe-produced documentary “David Crosby: Remember My Name” featured David Crosby in 2019. David leaves a lasting legacy despite his passing.
