Singer-songwriter David Crosby, who was a founding member of L.A. folk-rock band The Byrds and rock supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash, has died, his family confirmed on Thursday. He was 81 years old.
Crosby's Wife Jan Dance gave a statement to Variety confirming his death.
"It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django. Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music. Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly. At this time, we respectfully and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve and try to deal with our profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers."
Crosby first rose to prominence in the mid-1960s when he and bandmates Roger McGuinn (then known as Jim McGuinn), Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke formed The Byrds in 1964.
The Byrds made a name for themselves by combining the influence of British Invasion bands like the Beatles with contemporary and traditional folk music. As the band progressed through the 1960s, they became one of the primary innovators of the psychedelic rock and raga rock sub-genres.
Their first major hit, a cover of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" reached #1 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart just three weeks after its April 1965 release. It was the first folk rock song to become a breakthrough on a mainstream level. While Dylan recorded his first version of "Mr. Tambourine Man" before the Byrds, the version by the Byrds was released first and five days before Dylan recorded what would become his final version.
Their first major hit, a cover of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" reached #1 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart just three weeks after its April 1965 release. It was the first folk rock song to become a breakthrough on a mainstream level. While Dylan recorded his first version of "Mr. Tambourine Man" before the Byrds, the version by the Byrds was released first and five days before Dylan recorded what would become his final version.
Crosby, Stills and Nash are pictured in performance in an undated photo. From left: Stephen Stills, David Crosby and Graham Nash.
© AP Photo / JLS
Crosby left the Byrds in 1967 and formed Crosby, Stills & Nash the following year after establishing friendship with Stephen Stills, of Buffalo Springfield, and The Hollies' Graham Nash.
Later, the group would add Neil Young, adding more star power to the already stacked group and changing the name to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Their second album, and first with Young, Déjà Vu, really launched the band into the mainstream consciousness, topping the pop charts and generating three Top 40 singles.
But, as would become a trend with supergroups, the large personalities and egos of the members ultimately became the band's downfall. During a tour in 1970, the band fired Stills before rehiring him to complete the tour. Immediately after the tour's conclusion the group broke up again.
Multiple attempts to reform the band happened throughout the decades, resulting in tours and new releases but they never stayed together for long. Multiple iterations of the group continued in different permutations but it wasn't until 1979 that all four major members performed together again in a reunion tour.
The group collaborated multiple times from the late 1980s through 2016, a stretch interrupted by Crosby serving jail time, but in 2016 the band broke up for its last time due to an estrangement between Crosby and Nash.
Crosby expressed an interest in bringing the band back together in 2019, but it never happened.
"I want to work with all four of us. That’s what I want to do," Crosby said in an interview in January of that year. "I’ll take more blame than anybody for being a s—head to my friends in that group."
While Crosby was never the lead singer or songwriter for the Byrds or Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, he was an integral part of both bands' success, playing a critical role in their sound and creative direction.
FILE - In this Nov. 8, 2011 file photo, singers David Crosby, left, and Graham Nash perform at the Occupy Wall Street encampment at Zuccotti Park in New York. Music is woven into the fabric of Occupy Wall Street, much like when civil rights protesters sang "We Shall Overcome" or 1960s demonstrators heard "Blowin' in the Wind" or "Give Peace a Chance." Crosby and Nash's manager sent an email to Occupy Wall Street's website asking if the musicians could perform.
© AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
Crosby struggled with addiction through much of his life, culminating in a 1982 arrest in Texas on gun and drug charges. He served five months in prison in 1985 for the charge.
In 1994, Crosby received a liver transplant that was needed because of his multiple years of drug and alcohol addiction. Fellow musician Phil Collins paid for the transplant.
Crosby, like bandmate Young was consistently involved with politics. In 1967, while performing with the Byrds at the Monterey Festival, Crosby questioned the validity of the Warren Commission that investigated the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy while on stage.
The musician was also a well-known opponent of the Vietnam war and during Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 2006 Freedom of Speech tour, the band performed songs from Young's antiwar album Living With War.
Even in his last days, Crosby continued his political advocacy. His last tweets, posted Tuesday, praised climate activist Greta Thunberg.
"I don’t know what to say other than I’m heartbroken to hear about David Crosby. David was an unbelievable talent," Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson said on Twitter after Crosby's death was announced. "Such a great singer and songwriter. And a wonderful person. I just am at a loss for words. Love & Mercy to David’s family and friends. Love, Brian"
Crosby is survived by his wife Jan Dance, their son Django and several children from previous relationships including his son James Raymond and two daughters Erika and Donovan Crosby.