David Crosby from the Sony Pictures Classics documentary ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name.’
Singer/songwriter and famed guitarist David Crosby, who additionally made his mark on the world of flicks, has died. He was 81.
And his ties to Hollywood started from the beginning of his life, even when he largely selected music over movie. Crosby was born in Los Angeles on August 14, 1941, the son of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Floyd Crosby. He dropped out of drama college to pursue a profession in music, touring the folks membership circuit and recording as a member of the Les Baxter Balladeers. Crosby minimize his first solo session in late 1963; early the next yr he shaped the Jet Set with Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark, and with the additions of bassist Chris Hillman and drummer Michael Clarke, the group was rechristened The Byrds.
Although McGuinn mainly pioneered the Byrds’ trademark 12-string guitar sound, Crosby’s curiosity in jazz and Indian music additionally influenced their subsequent excursions into psychedelia. But he left the group after inventive variations.
After a stint as a solo artists, Crosby began jamming with ex-Buffalo Springfield singer/guitarist Stephen Stills. They had been joined by ex-Hollies member Graham Nash; and Crosby, Stills & Nash’s 1969 debut LP pushed all three to better fame. The addition of Stills’ former Buffalo Springfield bandmate Neil Young expanded the group to a four-piece, and in August of 1969 Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY) made simply their second stay look up to now on the Woodstock Festival.
They loved enormous success with their numerous albums, however Crosby additionally struggled with drug dependancy (and was unfairly tagged as one of many poster youngsters for extra and narcotics). He ended up in jail after fleeing rehab however finally beat his demons and reconnected along with his bandmates for normal excursions whereas working with different musicians and dealing on solo initiatives. He additionally famously fathered a toddler for fellow musician Melissa Etheridge and her companion Julie Cypher and penned two memoirs.
David Crosby from the Sony Pictures Classics documentary ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name.’
On the film entrance, he was the topic of a documentary, ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name’, produced by Cameron Crowe and directed by AJ Eaton.
Crosby’s music has graced many a film soundtrack, however he additionally appeared in entrance of the digicam a couple of instances, together with as a ‘70s hippie in ‘Backdraft’ and as Tickles in ‘Hook’.
“It is with a deep and profound sadness that I learned that my friend David Crosby has passed,” Graham Nash wrote. “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 is survived by his spouse Jan Dance, their son Django, son James Raymond, and two daughters, Erika and Donovan, from earlier relationships.
David Crosby with The Byrds from the Sony Pictures Classics documentary ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name.’
