David Crosby died this week at the age of 81. The world was saddened to hear of the passing of one of the truly iconic representatives of a generation. He was a member of many 1960’s iconic bands including the Yardbirds and a prominent fixture in the Laurel Canyon rock and folk scene in California when new bands and sounds were breaking ground in the music world. Crosby was a founding member of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. The band was known for it’s beautiful harmonies between members and it’s sometimes controversial political statments in music about the turmoil of the 1960’s and early 1970’s changes America was facing during the Vietnam war and the volitale political climate surrounding it.
Crosby was one of those amazing artists with staying power. He began his career in the late 1950’s and it lasted right up until his death this week. He reinvented himself many times despite in later years serious health problems, including multiple heart attacks, diabetes and hepatitis C, for which he had a liver transplant in 1994. He added five solo albums to his catalog between 2014 and 2021, and toured frequently with two sets of collaborators, the Lighthouse Band and the Sky Trails Band, featuring his son, James Raymond, on keyboards.
Crosby remained relevant well into his senior years and continued to tour despite his health problems. I saw him on stage in concert not too long ago and he played wonderfully and put on a truly enjoyable concert with a mix of his classic songs that CSN was know for as well as new music he continued to write and produce.
Crosby is survived by his wife Jan Dance and family.
This true icon of a generation will be remembered and missed well into the future for his contributions to our lives and the background of many who grew up with his music as the soundtrack of our lives.
I was speaking with friends and all had a favorite song or two that stuck a cord to them. Some said “Our House” or “Teach You Children” and how it reflected their feelings of their own family. Others had more political favorites like the haunting “Ohio” or the ocean themed “Wooden Ships” and “Southern Cross.”
Because of his love for sailing and his schooner “Mayan,” which he owned for 46 years. During that time he sailed her and restored her basically keeping her alive until she was purchased by current owners who will keep her sailing well into the future and his treasured schooner on the seas for others to have the pleasure of seeing out there on the water.
CSNY unintentionally became the voice of many of a generation and as that generation ages we will all remember fondly the contributions David Crosby made to the background music of our lives and his and his fellow musician’s music will live well into the future because of its staying power and well written lyrics that never age.
