Photo by Francesco Lucarelli
David Crosby died today at the age of 81.
Crosby was a founding member of the bands Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash & Young.
Graham Nash issued the following statement:
“It is with a deep and profound sadness that I learned that my friend David Crosby has passed.
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, the sound we discovered with one another, and the deep friendship we shared over all these many long years.
David was fearless in life and in music. He leaves behind a tremendous void as far as sheer personality and talent in this world. He spoke his mind, his heart, and his passion through his beautiful music and leaves an incredible legacy. These are the things that matter most.
My heart is truly with his wife, Jan, his son, Django, and all of the people he has touched in this world.”
Crosby's wife Jan issued the following statement:
"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."
From Stephen Stills Official:
Crosby, Stills & Nash at the Royal Albert HallSaturday 3rd July, 2010
Photo by (C) Cyril Kieldsen
"I read a quote in this morning’s paper attributed to composer Gustav Mahler that stopped me for a moment: 'Death has, on placid cat’s paws, entered the room.' I shoulda known something was up. 1/3David and I butted heads a lot over time, but they were mostly glancing blows, yet still left us numb skulls. I was happy to be at peace with him. 2/3He was without question a giant of a musician, and his harmonic sensibilities were nothing short of genius. The glue that held us together as our vocals soared, like Icarus, towards the sun. I am deeply saddened at his passing and shall miss him beyond measure.” 3/3
Neil Young & David Crosby
From Neil Young Archives | Times-Contrarian:
1-20-23David is gone, but his music lives on.
The soul of CSNY, David’s voice and energy were at the heart of our band. His great songs stood for what we believed in and it was always fun and exciting when we got to play together. ‘Almost Cut My Hair’ ‘Dejavu’, and so many other great songs he wrote were wonderful to jam on and Stills and I had a blast as he kept us going on and on. His singing with Graham was so memorable, their duo spot a highlight of so many of our shows.
We had so many great times, especially in the early years. Crosby was a very supportive friend in my early life, as we bit off big pieces of our experience together. David was the catalyst of many things.
My heart goes out to Jan and Django, his wife and son. Lots of love to you. Thanks David for your spirit and songs, Love you man. I remember the best times!
neil
From INTERVIEW: David Crosby - 'Serve The Song,' Not The Self:
"If I have songs, then I want to be recording them.
It's not as if I sit there with the songs and say, 'This is a Crosby, Stills & Nash song,' or 'I gotta save this until I can work on it with Neil,' or 'I'm saving this for myself; this is too good for those guys' — I do what comes naturally," Crosby says.
"Our job, really, is to serve the song," he adds. "That's really what making records is about. You have to really write a real song that you can sit down and play for somebody and make them feel something. If you don't have that, you shouldn't bother."
(Click photo to enlarge)
From PODCAST: David Crosby Talks Neil Young & More | ‘Freak Flag Flying’, Crosby discusses reuniting with Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash:
David Crosby: “I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Crosby responds.
“The thing to do is be grateful for what there was. There was a period of time there when we really did make some very good music together and I’m grateful for it. I think everybody has to deal with their life as it coms to them and if those guys are stuck where they are, they’re stuck where they are. I’m trying real hard not to be.”
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Photo by Sandi Bachom
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit + David Crosby
Oakland Coliseum, July 14, 1974
Photo by David Zimmer
(Click photo to enlarge)
Photo by Jim Marshall
(See Photo of the Moment)
David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash
DEVELOPING
More on David Crosby @
- INTERVIEW: David Crosby - 'Serve The Song,' Not The Self
- "The American Beatles": Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- PODCAST: David Crosby Talks Neil Young & More | ‘Freak Flag Flying’
- David Crosby: Uncut, Never-Before-Seen Interview | " Inventing David Geffen" | PBS | American Masters
- David Crosby Talks “Ohio”, CSNY and Creativity
- Photo of the Moment: Jerry Garcia, David Crosby, Phil Lesh and Neil Young - 1970
- Crosby, Stills & Nash Perform at the National Christmas Tree Lighting
- David Crosby Talks Neil Young, Marijuana, And His Stunning New Album ‘Sky Trails’
- 2015 Interview with David Crosby | 4WaySite.com
- CONCERT REVIEW: Crosby, Stills & Nash: Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA - August 13, 2005
- Neil Young & David Crosby and their tangled relationship.
(Click photo to enlarge)
RIP to a legend
ReplyDeleteAlways remember to tell a family member or an old friend that you love and appreciate them. You never know when you may never get the chance again.
RIP Croz
ReplyDeleteRIP Croz - a beautiful voice
ReplyDeleteRIP David Crosby.
ReplyDelete-Your Brother Alan in Seattle
Sad day for music.
ReplyDeleteRest easy David
ReplyDeletePeace 🙏
His songs and singing really meant a lot to me, probably listened to 'If Only I Could Remember My Name' a thousand times if heard it once. Played his songs till my fingers wore out, loved the alternative tunings and letting my guitar resonant on its own like it came alive from his music.
ReplyDeleteGlad I saw him in his last days renaissance, as well as his heyday. RIP.
Nash's statement is wonderful. May he finally rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteRIP David. Keep taking it very free and easy, man.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CUp-5iq8ns
RIP Croz. Loved his music, last few albums have been superb. Caught him at Manchester Palace Theatre on his list Euro tour and the magic was still there.
ReplyDelete"You have to really write a real song that you can sit down and play for somebody and make them feel something. If you don't have that, you shouldn't bother."
ReplyDeleteI don't follow much of David's music away from Neil, but I've heard lots of people say that his recent records have been tremendous.
The quote above hints as to why.
It's the attitude of a professional... a caring artist who believes in music as means of *communication*, rather than merely self-expression.
The great thing about this sort of art, of course, is that it still communicates even when the artist himself has moved on.
It brings joy to us until we journey into the next realm, too.
And that's a generous act for an artist to make.
Rest in peace, David.
Scotsman.
For me, one of the pictures that Thrasher posted above sums it up, and that's the one that shows Neil, David, and Jerry Garcia jamming.
ReplyDeleteCrosby was the bridge, a direct link between Neil and Jerry, the two most important musicians of my life.
Treid to listen to music Is Love just now. "Grayed out" because -- well, you know why.
ReplyDeleteA sad day in music
ReplyDeleteNeil's tribute to Crosby follows from his [Neil's] generosity of spirit.
ReplyDeleteCrosby led quite a life. His battle seemed life-long, and always with the most difficult of opponents: himself.
Hopefully death is oblivion and so the struggle is over.
He leaves a heavyweight load of great music along with a ferocious honesty.
South Tahoe. Bridges of course. CSNY2k. Again later LA Duck Pond. The weirdest after a SF Giants game Candlestick. CSN. Stills had a wireless guitar. He walks to the mound soloing. Getting off . So was the leftover crowd. I love what Bob said. David could freak out a city block. RIP David Crosby
ReplyDeletesorry,why MUsic is Love on Spotify is gray?
ReplyDeleteBecause Neil Young co-wrote it. And he is no longer on Spotify, though oddly, Heart of Gold is...
DeleteI love Neil as artist, but i is a very strange Man...
DeleteIn all that sadness I am filled with I’m very happy about Neil’s statement and his declaration of love ! What a great character Neil is !
ReplyDeleteFarewell David and thanks for all the joy !
Music is love !
From the first track enthralled I was by Crosby's seminal work, his first solo album "If I Could Only Remember My Name..." Croz, with his musical roots extending all over California, fused together The San Francisco and California Rock sounds of CSNY, The Airplane, The Dead, Quick Silver Messenger Service and Joni Mitchell into a Diamond of an Album. It's a singular work of the fading sounds of the Summer of Love and the Hippie Dream forever etched in vinyl. The Airplane's Kantner dubbed the amalgam of Bands "The Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra" aka PERRO. PERRO's brilliance didn't end with the albums final track. Over a thirteen year period from 1970 nine albums were released by the "PERRO Orchestra" members, four of which went Gold, all of which are California Gold. A fine Musician has left us. May his music be a blessing.
ReplyDelete