Photo by Tour Bus Live
Last week, we lost another big one. On January 18th, 2023 legendary singer/songwriter/guitarist David Crosby passed away at the age of 81. Crosby’s family made the announcement in a statement saying he died “after a long illness.” However, the news came as a devastating shock to music fans around the world.
David Crosby’s influence on music cannot be overstated. Crosby was a Los Angeles native, born in the city on August 14th, 1941. In the early ’60s, Crosby’s music career began as he dropped out of college and began performing around the town as much as possible. Things finally took off when Crosby co-founded The Byrds with Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke. With their jingly British-Invasion sounding electric guitars fused with traditional acoustic guitars, The Byrds pioneered the genre of folk rock. The use of multiple harmonies, with Crosby’s soaring the highest, also made the folk rock band stand out from the rest.
Crosby left The Byrds in 1968 because of the different direction he wanted to take with the band. Fate would provide for Crosby when he linked up with The Hollies’ Graham Nash and Buffalo Springfield’s Stephen Stills. The first time the trio sang together casually at a party, destiny was set. Crosby, Stills & Nash released their debut self-titled album in 1969, and folk rock was officially changed forever. The angelic harmonies that the three musicians created together hit the world hard with chills. Things continued to progress when Neil Young joined the group (now called Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) in 1969 and released the record Déjà Vu, which peaked at no.1 on the charts.
Crosby wrote some of the most significant folk rock songs of all time including Almost Cut My Hair, Guinnevere, Long Time Gone, and Delta. While the past 50 years have seen many coming and goings of CSN/CSNY, Crosby never stopped playing music despite many hardships he endured. He released a multitude of solo albums, including the iconic If I Could Only Remember My Name. He sang so passionately with a voice that reached the heavens, and he poured his heart and soul into every one of his songs, making them relatable to everyone listening. The world has a huge hole in it without David Crosby. He will be so missed.
KLOS sends our love and thoughts to all of David’s family, friends, fans, and loved ones.
To celebrate David Crosby’s life, watch this chilling performance of Crosby singing his penned song Almost Cut My Hair with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young live in 1974 here:
