David Crosby was born on August 14 1941 in Los Angeles. His father was cinematographer Floyd Crosby, who had worked on such films as High Noon (1952) and House of Usher (1960). David Crosby briefly attended Santa Barbara City College before he left the school to pursue a career in music. For a brief time he performed as part of a duo with soul, folk, and jazz performer Terry Callier in both Chicago and New York City. Around 1962 he performed with the folk group Les Baxter's Balladeers.
It was in 1964 that David Crosby met folksingers Jim McGuinn (later taking the name "Roger") and Gene Clark. Mr. McGuinn had worked with The Limelighters and The Chad Mitchell Trio. Gene Clark had worked with The New Christy Minstrels. The three formed under the name The Jet Set and had their first recording sessions under that name. Bassist Chris Hillman and drummer Michael Clarke joined the group later in the year. As The Beefeaters they recorded the song "Please Let Me Love You" on Elektra Records. The single flopped.
The Jet Set singed a recording contract with Columbia Records in November 1964. It was shortly thereafter that they renamed themselves "The Byrds." Their first single, a cover of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man," went to no. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK singles chart. Their first album, Mr. Tambourine Man, went to no. 6 on the Billboard album chart. The Byrds proved to be very successful, with such hit songs as "Turn! Turn! Turn!," "Eight Miles High," and "Mr. Spaceman." Unfortunately, David Crosby and the other Byrds did not always get along. Tension between David Crosby and the other Byrds came to a head while recording The Notorious Byrd Brothers, and it was in October 1967 that he was fired from the band.
It was about the time that David Crosby was fired from The Byrds that he met Stephen Stills, the former guitarist of Buffalo Springfield. The two began playing together. They were eventually joined by Graham Nash, who had decided to leave The Hollies. The trio formed Crosby, Stills & Nash and were soon recording for Atlantic Records. Their self-titled debut album was released in May 1969 and produced the hits "Marakesh Express" and "Suite Judy Blue Eyes." They would be joined by Neil Young, another former member of Buffalo Springfield, and released their first album as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Déjà Vu in March 1970. It produced the hits "Woodstock", "Teach Your Children", and "Our House."
Following Déjà Vu, releases from Crosby, Stills & Nash could be years apart. CSN would not be released until 1977. Daylight Again would not come out until 1982. Neil Young rejoined the band for Crosby, Stills & Nash's 1988 album American Dream. Ultimately, they released eight albums in total.
In between David Crosby and Graham Nash recorded as a duo, releasing the albums Graham Nash David Crosby in 1972, Wind on the Water in 1975, Whistling Down the Wire in 1976, and Crosby & Nash in 2004. David Crosby also released his own solo albums, the first being If Only I Could Remember My Name in 1972. It was followed by seven more solo albums. His last studio solo album was For Free, released in 2021.
He also recorded with the band CPR, also known as s Crosby, Pevar & Raymond, a jazz rock fusion band formed with session guitarist Jeff Pevar and David Crosby's son keyboardist James Raymond. They released four albums from 1998 to 2001.
David Crosby also had an acting career. He guest starred on such shows as Shannon's Deal, Roseanne, Flying Bird, The Simpsons, The John Laroquette Show, Ellen, and Chicago Hope. He appeared in the movies Backdraft (1991), Hook (1991), To Cross the Rubicon (1991), and Thunderheart (1992).
David Crosby was an exceptional singer and there can be no doubt that his voice was responsible in part for the success of both The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash. His voice had a fairly good range, and it was well suited to the harmonies for which The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash were known. At the same time he was a very good stylist, able to change his voice to suit the song. David Crosby was a rock legend with good reason.
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