David Crosby may not be the first name to come to mind when you think of rock music, but he is undoubtedly an incredibly talented and popular musician. While he was in several bands and created many solo albums, he is best known for his time in the wildly famous band Crosby, Stills, & Nash.
Before becoming a professional musician, David Crosby was born in Los Angeles, California, on August 14, 1941. David’s early life wasn’t all that exciting, he was not interested in academics, and although he attempted to star in his school’s musical, he was not allowed due to his poor grades.
While Crosby was trying to make it big in New York, his career didn’t really take off until he moved to Chicago and started the band Jet Set with Jim McGuinn and Gene Clark. The trio got their break when they recorded a rendition of Bob Dylan’s already famous Tamborine Man.
In 1965, their song made it to the top of the charts! The band renamed itself The Byrds, and they experienced some success throughout the next decade. However, internally, The Byrds were having a lot of issues. Creative and political differences (instigated mainly by Crosby) led to the band’s demise in 1973.
While the Byrds were falling apart, Crosby was already creating a new band that would genuinely make him famous: Crosby, Stills, & Nash. With Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, the trio had a fantastic sound.
Their intricate vocal harmonies and folk sound made them the perfect fit for the current scene, and when they played at Woodstock in 1969, they were an immediate success.
To top it all off, Neil Young joined the group shortly after, renaming the band Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. They had several hit songs over the next thirty years, and while each member of the band would take time to create solo albums and side projects, the band stayed together.
Even though they aren’t currently touring, they are still considered to be together, and it’s possible they will create more music!
Crosby has always been an incredible collaborator, and over the years, even his solo projects have cameos from some of the industry’s most impressive musicians.
David Crosby is a strong political activist and has had no problem telling the world exactly how he feels, which has sometimes gotten him into trouble. He is an advocate for legal cannabis, gun rights, and was extremely against the Vietnam War.
In 2021, Crosby released his newest solo album, For Free, and although it didn’t make it to the top of the charts, his long-time fans still love hearing new music from this folk legend. Hopefully, he will keep sharing his incredible gift and make it back on stage soon!
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