David Crosby

David Crosby: biography

David Crosby was an American musician, singer, and songwriter best known as a founding member of the folk rock band The Byrds and the rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He was known for his distinctive harmonies and songwriting, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.

Childhood and youth

David was born on August 14, 1941 in Los Angeles, California. David Crosby was the son of Floyd Crosby, a renowned cinematographer and Academy Award winner, and his wife, Aliph Van Cortland Whitehead. David's parents divorced when he was young and he was primarily raised by his mother. He told that his parents' separation had a significant impact on him and how it influenced his own life and career.

He did not have a formal education in music, but he taught himself to play guitar at a young age. He attended several schools during his childhood, but he had a hard time fitting in and often got into trouble. He was expelled from several schools and had a difficult time adjusting to the academic environment. He was also a rebellious teenager and was involved in drugs and alcohol from a young age. Despite this, he had a passion for music and began playing folk music in the early 1960s which eventually led to his successful career in the music industry.

Music career

In the early 1960s, Crosby became involved in the folk music scene in Los Angeles, where he met Jim McGuinn (later known as Roger McGuinn) and Chris Hillman. Together, they formed The Byrds, which quickly became one of the most popular and influential bands of the 60s. The band's blend of folk, rock, and country music, as well as their innovative use of the electric 12-string guitar, helped to pave the way for the folk rock and country rock movements of the 1970s.

In 1968, Crosby left The Byrds to form Crosby, Stills, and Nash band, along with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash. The band's debut album, also called Crosby, Stills, and Nash, was released in 1969 and featured the hit songs "Marrakesh Express" and "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes." In 1970, the band added Neil Young to the lineup, becoming Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The band's next album, Déjà Vu, was released in 1970 and featured the hit song "Teach Your Children."

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were known for their powerful harmonies and politically conscious lyrics, and they quickly became one of the most popular and influential bands of the 1970s. However, the band's internal conflicts and drug use often led to tension and turmoil. In 1973, the band released their fourth album, "On the Beach" and the band went on hiatus.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Crosby continued to tour and record music, both as a solo artist and with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He released several solo albums, including "Oh Yes I Can" in 1989, which featured the hit song "Hero" and the album "Thousand Roads" in 1993. He also remained active in political and social causes, particularly environmental and anti-war issues.

In recent years, Crosby continued to tour and perform, and he continues to be active in the music industry. He has also released several albums, including "Croz" in 2014 and "Lighthouse" in 2016.

Throughout his career, David Crosby was known for his powerful and emotive voice, his intricate guitar work, and his politically conscious lyrics. He was a major influence on many musicians and helped to shape the sound of rock music for more than 50 years.

In 2000 Crosby was arrested for drug possession and spent 9 months in jail. In 2002 he was arrested again for drug possession and DUI.

Personal life

David Crosby had a tumultuous personal life, marked by drug and alcohol addiction, as well as brushes with the law. He struggled with drug addiction throughout much of his career, including a period of heavy cocaine use in the 1970s. He was arrested multiple times, including a 1985 arrest for drug possession.

Crosby also had a number of personal relationships, including three marriages to Christine Hinton, Jan Dance, and Melissa Cooke, but none of them lasted. He had children with several of his partners, including a son, James Raymond, who was conceived through artificial insemination. He had a good relationship with his son James Raymond, who became a musician and worked with him in the band CPR. David Crosby had a liver transplant in 1994 and had to take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of his life.

Death

David died on January 18, 2023 aged 81 following a long illness. Crosby's death was confirmed by his family on Twitter, with no cause of death announced. His death was widely mourned by fans and fellow musicians, who remembered him as a talented and influential artist.