David Crosby, musician and 60's cultural icon, has passed away at 81
January 19, 2023 8:14 PM Subscribe
Musician David Crosby, whose seminal work in the Byrds and Crosby, Stills, and Nash (+ sometimes Young) helped shape the course of American popular music in the 1960s, has passed away at age 81.
A prodigious musical talent whose gifts were sometimes overshadowed by personal issues, Crosby overcame the worst of his demons, though at a cost - following a period of substance abuse, imprisonment, and recovery in the 1980s, his career never again reached the heights it had in the 1960s and '70s. In the wake of his passing, however, remembrances are pouring in from his surviving contemporaries and from musicians of succeeding generations who were influenced or inspired by his life and his personal struggles.
A prodigious musical talent whose gifts were sometimes overshadowed by personal issues, Crosby overcame the worst of his demons, though at a cost - following a period of substance abuse, imprisonment, and recovery in the 1980s, his career never again reached the heights it had in the 1960s and '70s. In the wake of his passing, however, remembrances are pouring in from his surviving contemporaries and from musicians of succeeding generations who were influenced or inspired by his life and his personal struggles.
"And I feel like I've been here before, and you know, it makes me wonder..."
posted by Oyéah at 8:24 PM on January 19, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 8:24 PM on January 19, 2023 [8 favorites]
i think his best statement was "if only i could remember my name" - that's just an album with exceptional atmosphere - it doesn't hurt that the grateful dead are all over it
laughing
this is just a great song - doesn't hurt that joni mitchell is singing on it and jerry garcia is on pedal steel and phil and bill are the rhythm section
search for "david and the dorks" at the matrix - one of the most interesting might have beens of that period
posted by pyramid termite at 8:24 PM on January 19, 2023 [8 favorites]
laughing
this is just a great song - doesn't hurt that joni mitchell is singing on it and jerry garcia is on pedal steel and phil and bill are the rhythm section
search for "david and the dorks" at the matrix - one of the most interesting might have beens of that period
posted by pyramid termite at 8:24 PM on January 19, 2023 [8 favorites]
By the time I started buying records, Crosby's career was already in eclipse - the 80s in particular were not kind to him - but expanding my collection beyond then-contemporary acts that were clearly indebted to the ringing, jangle-pop sound pioneered by the Byrds, I quickly became a fan of that band.
Friction between Crosby and Byrds leader Roger McGuinn reportedly came to a head over McGuinn's refusal of Crosby's song "Triad" (never one of my own favorites, I must admit) leading to Crosby departing, to eventually partner with Stephen Stills (late of Buffalo Springfield) and Graham Nash (lured away from the Hollies) to form CSN, the act which cemented Crosby's status as a household name.
According to Nash:
Friction between Crosby and Byrds leader Roger McGuinn reportedly came to a head over McGuinn's refusal of Crosby's song "Triad" (never one of my own favorites, I must admit) leading to Crosby departing, to eventually partner with Stephen Stills (late of Buffalo Springfield) and Graham Nash (lured away from the Hollies) to form CSN, the act which cemented Crosby's status as a household name.
According to Nash:
"David and I believe that it was in Joni Mitchell's living room that we first sang together. Stephen and David wanted to show me a song that they had worked on in two part harmony. The song was 'You Don't Have to Cry' written by Stephen. They sang it once, I asked them to sing it again, they sang it a second time, I asked for another performance. On the third attempt I put my high harmony on and it sounded awesome. I knew in my heart that this was something I wanted to do for the next few years. The musical, social aspect of combining these three voices with the words that we had come up with was very exciting to all three of us. We knew that we could sing, that the sound was unique and that what we had to say was worth saying."posted by Nerd of the North at 8:30 PM on January 19, 2023 [18 favorites]
Oh damn. I've literally been listening to his music for more than half a century.
posted by octothorpe at 8:32 PM on January 19, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 8:32 PM on January 19, 2023 [6 favorites]
Same. I'm 57 and I grew up in a household where this, on vinyl, was in heavy rotation. My dad has always been crazy about their close harmony. (I can't believe that David Crosby was just four years younger than my father is now.)
posted by virago at 8:38 PM on January 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by virago at 8:38 PM on January 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
The only time I saw him live was at a benefit concert at St. John the Divine in New York playing with Nash. He played a couple of songs with amplification and then said, lets see what the acoustics are like in this place, turned his mike off and belted out a song a cappella so loud that everyone in the room, which is huge, could hear him. I wish I could remember what song it was.
posted by octothorpe at 8:44 PM on January 19, 2023 [14 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 8:44 PM on January 19, 2023 [14 favorites]
Crosby gave Triad to Jefferson Airplane. It is on the Crown Of Creation album.
posted by Oyéah at 8:59 PM on January 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 8:59 PM on January 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
I lived in Philly in the mid eighties. A group of friends and I went out to see the premier of Big, the Tom Hanks movie. The theater was packed, but we had gotten there early and gotten great seats in the center center. At some point as the crowd was settling I recognized the voice behind us as radio DJ Jon DeBella, so I turned around to confirm and lo and behold he was sitting with Graham Nash. We exchanged pleasantries and then the movie began.
After the show the crowd poured out, and we must have still been in close proximity because when we got to the street David Crosby was hanging out by a limo. He turned right to me and said "how was it?" and Graham (who was obviously right over my shoulder) and I said "pretty great" at the same time.
That's really my singular "brush with greatness" from my entire life which is why I remember it still.
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posted by OHenryPacey at 9:02 PM on January 19, 2023 [24 favorites]
After the show the crowd poured out, and we must have still been in close proximity because when we got to the street David Crosby was hanging out by a limo. He turned right to me and said "how was it?" and Graham (who was obviously right over my shoulder) and I said "pretty great" at the same time.
That's really my singular "brush with greatness" from my entire life which is why I remember it still.
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posted by OHenryPacey at 9:02 PM on January 19, 2023 [24 favorites]
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posted by inexorably_forward at 9:21 PM on January 19, 2023
posted by inexorably_forward at 9:21 PM on January 19, 2023
Egad, I'm terrible at celebrity spotting, not that it comes into play much in the places I hang out.
I suspect if you told me someone in a group was Graham Nash that I could then pick him out - however unless cued I doubt I would ever recognize some random moviegoer as Nash. But I feel like I would probably have recognized Crosby if I had ever come across him - his look was consistent and distinctive.
posted by Nerd of the North at 9:22 PM on January 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
I suspect if you told me someone in a group was Graham Nash that I could then pick him out - however unless cued I doubt I would ever recognize some random moviegoer as Nash. But I feel like I would probably have recognized Crosby if I had ever come across him - his look was consistent and distinctive.
posted by Nerd of the North at 9:22 PM on January 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
Friction between Crosby and Byrds leader Roger McGuinn reportedly came to a head over McGuinn's refusal of Crosby's song "Triad" ... and Graham Nash (lured away from the Hollies) to form CSN, the act which cemented Crosby's status as a household name.
Could be wrong but I believe Graham Nash had already quit the Hollies when his harmonizing with Crosby and Stills at a party was so well received everyone said he should join the other two. So he did. But as for the Byrds, Crosby wanted to include 'Triad' on The Notorious Byrd Brothers. (Fantastic album, and that song would've really brought it down.) But as noted, McGuinn said no, and fired Crosby. The cover of the record shows the three remaining Byrds gazing out of windows of a stable, with a horse in the fourth one; and McGuinn has said the horse represents Crosby but in the photo used, it's facing the wrong way.
posted by Rash at 9:27 PM on January 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
Could be wrong but I believe Graham Nash had already quit the Hollies when his harmonizing with Crosby and Stills at a party was so well received everyone said he should join the other two. So he did. But as for the Byrds, Crosby wanted to include 'Triad' on The Notorious Byrd Brothers. (Fantastic album, and that song would've really brought it down.) But as noted, McGuinn said no, and fired Crosby. The cover of the record shows the three remaining Byrds gazing out of windows of a stable, with a horse in the fourth one; and McGuinn has said the horse represents Crosby but in the photo used, it's facing the wrong way.
posted by Rash at 9:27 PM on January 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
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posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:30 PM on January 19, 2023
posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:30 PM on January 19, 2023
Could be wrong but I believe Graham Nash had already quit the Hollies when his harmonizing with Crosby and Stills at a party was so well received everyone said he should join the other two.I could easily be misinformed about that; you're probably right
Crosby wanted to include 'Triad' on The Notorious Byrd Brothers.[clicks wikipedia link..]
Wait.. "Wasn't Born to Follow" was a Goffin/King song? How did I not know that?
Anyway, back to Crosby..
posted by Nerd of the North at 9:38 PM on January 19, 2023
Through a very tenuous social connection I was granted an email introduction to Crosby and got up the nerve to ask him to headline a political fundraiser. He responded immediately (of course I saved the email): "Yes I would very much like to do it ....there that’s simple...." and cc:ed his manager. The event was planned, he showed up, he spoke passionately, and we raised nearly a hundred thousand bucks for a good cause.
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posted by twsf at 9:40 PM on January 19, 2023 [46 favorites]
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posted by twsf at 9:40 PM on January 19, 2023 [46 favorites]
“Wooden ships, on the water, very free and easy…”
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posted by Windopaene at 9:43 PM on January 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
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posted by Windopaene at 9:43 PM on January 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
Inevitable though I suppose it was, this one hits hard. I grew up on a lot of CSN (and sometimes Y).
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posted by armeowda at 10:45 PM on January 19, 2023 [5 favorites]
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posted by armeowda at 10:45 PM on January 19, 2023 [5 favorites]
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posted by monkeymike at 11:25 PM on January 19, 2023
posted by monkeymike at 11:25 PM on January 19, 2023
Crosby overcame the worst of his demons, though at a cost - following a period of substance abuse, imprisonment, and recovery in the 1980s, his career never again reached the heights it had in the 1960s and '70s
By all accounts he became a much better human being though, so there is that.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:36 AM on January 20, 2023 [13 favorites]
By all accounts he became a much better human being though, so there is that.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:36 AM on January 20, 2023 [13 favorites]
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I lost my virginity with CSNY's 4 Way Street playing on vinyl in the background. Crosby always struck me as the kind of guy who'd have been flattered by something like that.
posted by terretu at 1:45 AM on January 20, 2023 [11 favorites]
I lost my virginity with CSNY's 4 Way Street playing on vinyl in the background. Crosby always struck me as the kind of guy who'd have been flattered by something like that.
posted by terretu at 1:45 AM on January 20, 2023 [11 favorites]
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posted by kabong the wiser at 2:40 AM on January 20, 2023
posted by kabong the wiser at 2:40 AM on January 20, 2023
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posted by Silvery Fish at 5:06 AM on January 20, 2023
posted by Silvery Fish at 5:06 AM on January 20, 2023
This did strike me hard, even though he was 81 and had been in poor health. At 64, I am bracing myself to see all the musicians I once loved and looked up to in my teenage years, all those icons from the Sixties, saying their goodbyes to this world one by one. So in memoriam to all those after school afternoons in Christina's smoky, crowded bedroom listening to Deja Vu-- thank you Croz.
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posted by jokeefe at 5:19 AM on January 20, 2023 [14 favorites]
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posted by jokeefe at 5:19 AM on January 20, 2023 [14 favorites]
Some great music with The Byrds and CS&N and sometimes Y. Beautiful melodies and harmonies that are etched onto my musical mind. RIP
posted by DJZouke at 5:26 AM on January 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by DJZouke at 5:26 AM on January 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 5:28 AM on January 20, 2023
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 5:28 AM on January 20, 2023
♪
posted by Gelatin at 5:43 AM on January 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Gelatin at 5:43 AM on January 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
RIP. I have his last studio album and it's gorgeous. I need to seek out the others. I gotta hand it to Croz, a lot of his peers veered into either conservatism or lost their passion for fairness and justice. By everything I'm reading, he never did.
posted by Ber at 5:50 AM on January 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by Ber at 5:50 AM on January 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
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posted by the sobsister at 6:47 AM on January 20, 2023
posted by the sobsister at 6:47 AM on January 20, 2023
But I feel like I would probably have recognized Crosby if I had ever come across him - his look was consistent and distinctive.
Between Crosby and Gallagher, if I had long, wavy hair and a distinctive mustache, I'd be in hiding right about now.
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posted by delfin at 7:06 AM on January 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
Between Crosby and Gallagher, if I had long, wavy hair and a distinctive mustache, I'd be in hiding right about now.
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posted by delfin at 7:06 AM on January 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by The Great Big Mulp at 7:42 AM on January 20, 2023
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 7:42 AM on January 20, 2023
My parents brought me up with CSNY as soundtrack. Still listen to all four of them (together in their various constellations and solo) all the time. Teach your children indeed.
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posted by fregoli at 7:42 AM on January 20, 2023 [7 favorites]
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posted by fregoli at 7:42 AM on January 20, 2023 [7 favorites]
Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace.
posted by ob1quixote at 7:49 AM on January 20, 2023
posted by ob1quixote at 7:49 AM on January 20, 2023
If Only I could Remember My Name is one of the greatest West Coast stoned albums of all time. What a character he was. RIP.
posted by Liquidwolf at 7:50 AM on January 20, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Liquidwolf at 7:50 AM on January 20, 2023 [3 favorites]
But I feel like I would probably have recognized Crosby if I had ever come across him - his look was consistent and distinctive.
That of an affable but bemused walrus.
Like a lot of us, I grew up in a home where his music (especially with Stills and Nash) was a constant presence, as their first burst of prominence came along when I was a toddler. I recall one of my much younger siblings at age three or so being just enchanted with “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” which he referred to as “The Doo-Doo-Doo Song.”
Safe home.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:51 AM on January 20, 2023 [8 favorites]
That of an affable but bemused walrus.
Like a lot of us, I grew up in a home where his music (especially with Stills and Nash) was a constant presence, as their first burst of prominence came along when I was a toddler. I recall one of my much younger siblings at age three or so being just enchanted with “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” which he referred to as “The Doo-Doo-Doo Song.”
Safe home.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:51 AM on January 20, 2023 [8 favorites]
I enjoyed his contributions to Snarky Puppy Family Dinner recently-ish as well as his older stuff.
posted by Iteki at 7:58 AM on January 20, 2023
posted by Iteki at 7:58 AM on January 20, 2023
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I know very little about David Crosby beyond his presence in CSNY and being Melissa Etheridge's partner's sperm donor, but I heard a live version "Cowboy Movie" on Radio Paradise years ago and it sticks with me, so the guy clearly had it.
posted by suetanvil at 8:10 AM on January 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
I know very little about David Crosby beyond his presence in CSNY and being Melissa Etheridge's partner's sperm donor, but I heard a live version "Cowboy Movie" on Radio Paradise years ago and it sticks with me, so the guy clearly had it.
posted by suetanvil at 8:10 AM on January 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
If Only I could Remember My Name, Garcia’s first solo record, and Kantner’s Blows Against the Empire were the hippie trilogy. Recorded at more or less the same time and in the same place.
Thanks, David.
posted by aiq at 8:31 AM on January 20, 2023 [3 favorites]
Thanks, David.
posted by aiq at 8:31 AM on January 20, 2023 [3 favorites]
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This is the soundtrack of my youth. Lyrical music, harmony, songs with narrative, political weight, songs that reflected and defined the times. It was the soundtrack for people fighting in Viet Nam, and the people protesting. I'm grateful to have this as my generation's music. So long, David.
posted by theora55 at 8:37 AM on January 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
This is the soundtrack of my youth. Lyrical music, harmony, songs with narrative, political weight, songs that reflected and defined the times. It was the soundtrack for people fighting in Viet Nam, and the people protesting. I'm grateful to have this as my generation's music. So long, David.
posted by theora55 at 8:37 AM on January 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
Those harmonies still ring out so bright and fresh, they sounds brand new.
RIP, you old hippie.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:37 AM on January 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
RIP, you old hippie.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:37 AM on January 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
Oh no. Another icon gone. Thanks for all the great music, DC!
posted by Lynsey at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2023
posted by Lynsey at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2023
Somehow we made it through this thread without his best song, Guinnevere, and his equally amazing 1968 demo version.
posted by mykescipark at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by mykescipark at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2023 [6 favorites]
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posted by Halloween Jack at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2023
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2023
We're finally on our own.
posted by kjh at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by kjh at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
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posted by mygothlaundry at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2023
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2023
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posted by BigHeartedGuy at 9:49 AM on January 20, 2023
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 9:49 AM on January 20, 2023
I grew up with his music. My parents are old hippies (met on a commune) and the Byrds and CSN(Y) were on heavy rotation.
I always enjoyed his wonderful cameo mocking Peter Pan's kids in the movie Hook. "Save me Daddy!"
RIP
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posted by schyler523 at 10:40 AM on January 20, 2023
I always enjoyed his wonderful cameo mocking Peter Pan's kids in the movie Hook. "Save me Daddy!"
RIP
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posted by schyler523 at 10:40 AM on January 20, 2023
End of an era.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:51 AM on January 20, 2023
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:51 AM on January 20, 2023
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posted by May Kasahara at 11:03 AM on January 20, 2023
posted by May Kasahara at 11:03 AM on January 20, 2023
He was super nice and friendly to a group I worked with who had him at a festival a few years ago. Everyone was just in awe of how approachable he was and how he would just play for hours if you let him, or talk for hours about his amazing history. I felt really lucky to get to see him, and now even luckier.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 12:04 PM on January 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 12:04 PM on January 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
Larry Hagman received a gift from Crosby, "It took away my fear of death" speaking about his LSD experience.
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posted by hortense at 12:24 PM on January 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by hortense at 12:24 PM on January 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
WaPost: News organizations were sure David Crosby was dead. Then they weren’t.
posted by pjenks at 12:27 PM on January 20, 2023
As of Friday afternoon, it was still not clear that any news organization had reached Crosby’s wife to confirm his death.The article is not clear at all about whether anyone with firsthand knowledge has confirmed the death (the Times cites the sister of his wife; the Post cites a "former publicist" who cites "family members"), instead focusing mostly on the delays and confusion in publishing the story yesterday.
posted by pjenks at 12:27 PM on January 20, 2023
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posted by gentlyepigrams at 1:43 PM on January 20, 2023
posted by gentlyepigrams at 1:43 PM on January 20, 2023
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Rejoice, rejoice.
We have no choice.
posted by mule98J at 4:28 PM on January 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
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posted by socialjusticeworrier at 10:04 PM on January 20, 2023
posted by socialjusticeworrier at 10:04 PM on January 20, 2023
he sang to me sweetly on my darkest day and then it was better. Thanks old friend, I carry you in my heart always
posted by a humble nudibranch at 12:48 AM on January 21, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by a humble nudibranch at 12:48 AM on January 21, 2023 [4 favorites]
Triad, performed by Sally Kellerman. Yes, that Sally Kellerman.
posted by morspin at 11:45 AM on January 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by morspin at 11:45 AM on January 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
Graham Nash on David Crosby: He Tore the Heart Out of CSNY Graham Nash had some hard feelings. Via nickyskye.
posted by y2karl at 7:39 AM on January 30, 2023
posted by y2karl at 7:39 AM on January 30, 2023
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