US Folk Rock Star ‘David Crosby’ Dies at 81

His representative has confirmed that veteran US folk-rock star David Crosby passed away at the age of 81. In the 1960s, he helped establish Crosby, Stills, Nash and The Byrds, two major bands. He was well-known for his vocal harmonies and playing the guitar. He achieved the rare feat of twice being inducted into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during his career.

David Crosby’s former bandmates acknowledged their conflicts while praising his creative abilities. According to the showbiz website Variety, David Crosby’s wife, he passed away after a long illness in the company of his family.

Her statement went on to say that his legendary music will continue to live on his legacy. David Crosby, the son of Oscar-winning Hollywood cinematographer Floyd Crosby, was born on August 14, 1941, in California. In 1964, he joined the folk-rock band The Byrds, which had their first hit with a cover of Bob Dylan’s Tambourine Man.

He was fired from the group three years later after a turbulent tenure that included a brief relationship with singer Joni Mitchell. Soon after, Crosby, Stills, and Nash performed at the storied Woodstock festival in 1969 as a supergroup.

Neil Young, a Canadian songwriter, later joined them. Even though this band was plagued by internal conflict and disbanded after a few years, it has periodically reformed for concerts ever since. During Crosby’s time in the band, he wrote hits like Almost Cut My Hair and Deja Vu, which are all about the hippy movement.

He became well-known for his musicianship as well as his anti-conservative politics and distinctive moustache. His final album, For Free, released in 2021, marked the end of a career that spanned six decades.