David Crosby, the singer-songwriter and musician who was an architect of ’60s-era counterculture with his work in the Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, has died at the age of 81. In a statement to Variety, Crosby’s wife confirmed that his death was due to a “long illness†and he was surrounded by his loved ones at the time of his passing. “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,†the statement reads. “Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him.â€
Emerging as a stalwart of the Laurel Canyon sound in 1964 as a co-founder of the Byrds, Crosby’s musicianship favored a blend of folk, rock, and pop elements reliant on harmonies, which is exemplified in Byrds songs such as “Turn! Turn! Turn!†and “Mr. Tambourine Man.†This vocal-driven formula continued with the co-founding of Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1968 alongside Stephen Stills and Graham Nash — popularizing the idea of a supergroup — and they added Neil Young as a member one year later. Their jangly grandeur was secured at Woodstock like a four-way braid, where the set list included some of their most defining hits: “Marrakesh Express,†“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,†“Guinnevere,†and “Helplessly Hoping.â€
Crosby worked relentlessly in the ensuing decades, often by financial necessity, and recovered from a drug addiction that led him to serve a brief jail sentence in the mid-’80s. In recent years, Crosby enjoyed a surge of popularity thanks to his engaging Twitter presence and a 2019 documentary directed by Cameron Crowe. Despite well-documented frissons with his previous bandmates, he often maintained a good sense of humor — and perhaps a better sense of cannabis — in interviews while reflecting on his life. He also is one of the few musicians to have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice. “I’m fuckin’ lucky,†Crosby told Rolling Stone in 2021. “I don’t know if I have two weeks left of life or 10 years, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is what you do with the time. If you sit there on your butt and worry about dying, then you fucking wasted it. I haven’t been wasting it. I’m having a really good time, and feeling wonderfully about it.â€