Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)

19 Jan 23 - 06:31 PM (#4163002)
Subject: Obit: David Crosby 1941-2023
From: Stilly River Sage

Yes, a rock musician, but it's David Crosby.

David Crosby, Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash Co-Founder, Dies at 81

Singer-songwriter-guitarist David Crosby, a founding member of two popular and enormously influential ’60s rock units, the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (later Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), has died, his representative says. He was 81 years old. A cause of death has not been revealed.

The death came as a surprise to those who followed his very active Twitter account, which he’d kept tweeting on as recently as Wednesday. One of Crosby’s final tweets the day before he died was to make a typically jocular comment about heaven: “I heard the place is overrated… cloudy.”

Former CSNY partner Graham Nash, who had been estranged from Crosby in recent years as their group went its separate ways, paid tribute on his social media. “It is with a deep and profound sadness that I learned that my friend David Crosby has passed,” 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,” Nash continued. “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.”

Eight months ago, Crosby made headlines when he said he was done performing live, declaring, “I’m too old to do it anymore. I don’t have the stamina; I don’t have the strength.” But he said he was recording as busily as possible: “I’ve been making records at a startling rate. … Now I’m 80 years old so I’m gonna die fairly soon. That’s how that works. And so I’m trying really hard to crank out as much music as I possibly can, as long as it’s really good… I have another one already in the can waiting.” Crosby subsequently backtracked about doing concerts, saying recently that he’d changed his mind and expected to be out playing live again.

The rest at the Variety link.

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19 Jan 23 - 06:44 PM (#4163003)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby 1941-2023
From: GUEST,keberoxu

Yes, I just saw the Variety obit.
He had been unwell for some time, of course.
Sad for us, and for those he leaves behind;
Heaven, however, just got a little livelier.


I remember the last CSNY reunion and an interview done with the four,
in the "green room" with stuff for the musicians to eat.
And David Crosby was hollering at Steven Stills:
"I HATE the way you eat!!!"

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19 Jan 23 - 09:44 PM (#4163014)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: Stilly River Sage

https://youtu.be/uq4pe0cKQc0 Times They Are A Changin'. Shared from the FB page.

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20 Jan 23 - 02:46 AM (#4163026)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: Bonzo3legs

Very sad

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20 Jan 23 - 12:41 PM (#4163031)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: gillymor

I'll remember him mostly as a great harmony singer who added so much warmth and color to songs by the Byrds and early CSN but he also wrote some beautiful songs like Guinivere and The Lee Shore and his first solo LP, while lacking any great songs, was just wonderful to listen to with all it's lush vocals and textures.

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20 Jan 23 - 02:13 PM (#4163045)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: GUEST,Sean O'Shea

I can't understand how news of this man's death attracts a mere six contributions to the thread.
A giant of a man and as part of the Byrds and CSNY started many a young musician on the acoustic road, later called acoustic folk(a misnomer).
BYRDS and CSNY were immense singers, particularly the Byrds who opened up a path to folk rocklike a Narnian wardrobe.GIVE THE MAN HIS DUE.

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20 Jan 23 - 03:06 PM (#4163050)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: Stilly River Sage

Given time there should be more remarks, and I hope some links to favorite performances.

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20 Jan 23 - 03:12 PM (#4163052)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: GUEST,henryp

Friday 20 January BBC4 TV

21:00 Crosby and Nash; In Concert 1970

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20 Jan 23 - 03:30 PM (#4163054)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: GUEST,henryp

BBC Sounds Radio 4 Mastertapes 2018

David Crosby A-side Double inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, David Crosby takes John Wilson back to the making of his debut solo album, If I Could Only Remember My Name.

David Crosby B-side David Crosby responds to questions from the audience and performs live versions of some the tracks from that debut solo album and from his as yet unreleased solo album, "Croz"

Complete versions of the songs performed in the programme (and others) can be heard on the 'Mastertapes' pages on the Radio 4 website, where the programmes can also be downloaded and other musical goodies accessed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03hvn6z David Crosby

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20 Jan 23 - 03:46 PM (#4163056)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: Jeri

I'm a harmony freak, and part of the reason is David Crosby. I swear, he found notes that had never existed before. He just was a wizard who pulled harmonies out of some alternate musical universe. This was always my favorite: Find the Cost of Freedom

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20 Jan 23 - 03:49 PM (#4163057)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: fat B****rd

Beautiful harmonies and an amazing career. RIP David

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20 Jan 23 - 07:50 PM (#4163078)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: GUEST

I knew Dave from the Troubador days.

He was at the "hoots" every Monday night there.

We played opposite each other
at the New Balladeer (became a laundry). John Kay of the Steppenwolf
was making hamburgers in the back.

Dave was talented, from
Santa Barbara, got his chops in local musical theater.

One night at the Balladeer, the Byrds came down and just signed
that night with Columbia Records.

They had synergy and influence in the music industry which is an
understatement.

Story goes when they did a T.V. shot one time the producer said to
the Byrds, "Which one of you guys is Crosby?" Dave had a bad boy rep.

He was unique and didn't take any s---t.

I always admired him. Had good time and could swing.

Great contibutor to popular music.

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22 Jan 23 - 12:09 PM (#4163188)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: voyager

The Troubador was destroyed by drugs.

In our day ... (late 60s, early 70s) Troubador acts included
   James Taylor ('68) on his 1st US tour (for Apple records)
   Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Laura Nyro, Tim Buckley stand out

As for David Crosby -
    We were punky kids in '65 and hung out at the 4th of July party
    thrown in Malibu, CA by Henry & Jane Fonda. The Byrds were the
    house band.

Here's a highlight of CSNY at Big Sur festival -
Crosby jamming in this 'Spanish Language' Big Sur Festival footage. He's at his best here (IMHO) https://youtu.be/K5E_TGIr7S4

Fair winds Mr. Crosby and thanks for your life in music
voyager

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22 Jan 23 - 12:38 PM (#4163192)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: Tony Rees

Thanks guest ("I knew Dave from the Troubador days..." for the reminiscence/s - from those too young to have been there (also on the wrong continent!)

I only saw Crosby once - with CSNY at Wembley Stadium, last night(?) of the huge 1974 "doom tour" after which they broke up, for a while at least (Joni Mitchell and the Band were support). My memories of CSNY that night are hazy, but fortunately there was a "pro shoot" video that has never been officially released - although I have a copy on a "grey" DVD that is around, also you can see it here: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young September 14th 1974 Wembley Stadium, London, England

Many highlights as per the track list provided, try e.g. "The Lee Shore" at https://youtu.be/KKAhLp-NLl8?t=2984

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22 Jan 23 - 01:35 PM (#4163200)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: Rex

I just needed some time to think on this. As a child I was hearing songs on the radio with dazzling harmonies and even then was wondering who are these guys? Crosby at times seemed to get trapped in the same mistakes and problems and yet his music stayed creative and even evolving, wonderfully so. I am sorry to see him come to an end but he was a sound board for a long stretch of his times and his legacy will stand.

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25 Feb 23 - 01:50 PM (#4166132)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: Stilly River Sage

YouTube always suggests new videos alongside the one you're watching, and this one turned up today.

Joni Mitchell breaks up with David Crosby in the most brutal way

David Crosby discovered Canadian Joni Mitchell, brought her to California, helped her get a record deal and produced her first album. While also falling in love with the singer/songwriter. But when it was time to break up with him, she found a unique way to let him know. This video talks about that experience and how Crosby dealt with those circumstances.

That Song About the Midway (the lyrics are under the video in the comments).

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25 Feb 23 - 02:12 PM (#4166134)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: Reinhard

Why do we have to gossip about other peoples' relationships? It's their life, not ours, and we should leave them in peace.

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25 Feb 23 - 09:32 PM (#4166157)
Subject: RE: Obit: David Crosby (1941-2023)
From: Stilly River Sage

Relax.

Gossip? This is an interesting song that is "out there," based upon a fruitful but relatively short relationship between two really talented artists. Warts (or addiction) and all. There is a synergy to examine.

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