American music legend, David Crosby has died aged 81, after long battle with undisclosed illness.
In a statement to Variety, his widow Jan Dance said: “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.”
The two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer – known as much for his alternative guitar tunings, lush harmonies and abstract lyrics as for his pacifist activism, brutal honesty and living dangerously – remained a prolific artist throughout his life.
Over the course of six decades in the music industry, the vocalist, guitarist and composer at the forefront of countercultural rock penned a rich array of heartfelt ballads and knife-edged bangers.
In a tribute shared on Instagram, Crosby’s former bandmate Graham Nash wrote of his “profound sadness” to hear the news.
“I know people tend to focus on how volatile 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,” Nash wrote. “He leaves behind a tremendous void.”
The son of Oscar-winning cinematographer Floyd Crosby, David Crosby pursued a career in music after flunking school in Los Angeles.
Crosby joined the Byrds in 1964, but was dismissed from the band three years later.
In 2019, documentary Remember My Name, Byrds member Roger McGuinn described Crosby and his on-stage political rants as “insufferable”, with fellow band member Chris Hillman saying he had a superiority complex.
The singer, guitarist and songwriter was part of the original lineup of the Byrds and appeared on their first five albums, including the 1965 hit cover of Bob Dylan’s Mr Tambourine Man.
He also co-founded the folk rock supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash along with fellow musicians Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, selling millions of copies of their first two albums: their self-titled debut in 1969, and – joined by Canadian singer Neil Young – Déjà Vu the following year.
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young disbanded in 2016 after years of rivalry and tension. In a 2021 interview with the Guardian, Crosby described Graham Nash as “definitely my enemy” and Neil Young as “the most self-centred, self-obsessed, selfish person I know”.
Crosby discovered Joni Mitchell playing in a Florida club in 1967, helping her get a record deal and producing her first album, Song to a Seagull. The pair were romantically involved. He recently described Mitchell as “the best singer-songwriter…. I don’t think anybody comes close”.
For decades Crosby struggled with drug addiction and myriad health problems, but eventually got clean and got a liver transplant — keeping only his penchant for weed.
He found a creative renaissance working with younger artists, including his son James.
“Normally, as you get older, you sort of peter out. You write less,” he told AFP during an interview in 2021.
But writing with peers “extended my life as a writer tremendously,” he said. “I just love making music.”
Jason Isbell, who the artist collaborated with in his final decade, also voiced his sadness: “Grateful for the time we had with David Crosby. We’ll miss him a lot.”
Crosby also helped Melissa Etheridge, the rocker who found fame in the 1990s, and her partner conceive their children via sperm donation.
“He gave me the gift of family,” Etheridge tweeted upon news of Crosby’s death. “His music and legacy will inspire many generations to come. A true treasure.”
In his twilight years Crosby became an avid tweeter, delighting fans with frenetic, often humorous missives, including reviews of their joints.
He loved answering fan questions, proclaiming his political opinions and skewering posts he thought were particularly dumb.
On his last day active on the platform, January 18, Crosby responded to one user’s tweet sorting out who’s allowed into heaven.
“I heard the place is overrated….cloudy,” Crosby quipped.
