Feeling the TIMH spirit to start the week, and want to post happy 76th birthday wishes to singer-songwriter David Crosby. A two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with the Byrds and CSN, Crosby is one of the great artists to have emerged from the counter culture music scene of the 1960's.
Crosby was born in Los Angeles, spent much of his childhood in southern California developing an early talent for music. He traveled east to NYC and the blossoming Greenwich Village scene early in his adulthood, but returned home to briefly attend college before dropping out to focus on pursuing music full time.
Working the folk music coffee house circuit, Crosby met with fellow singer-songwriters Jim (later Roger) McGuinn and Gene Clark in early 1964. Under the guidance of prodcuer Jim Dickson, the group became known as the Jet Set and quickly added drummer Michael Clarke and began session work. By fall of that year, the group changed their name to The Byrds and added bassist Chris Hillman.
Crosby spent nearly three tumultuous years with the Byrds, as the group's sound progressed from folk music to psychedelia during this time. Despite his own growth as a songwriter and performer, tensions among the band rose over direction and creative friction. Coupled by increasing drug use, led to Crosby departing the Byrds in the fall of 1967. Staying active musically and socially, Crosby soon crossed paths with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash and formed Crosby, Stills, and Nash in 1968. The trio released their self-titled debut album in spring of the following year, and prepared for live performing - their performance at Woodstock was only their second ever.
From CSN:
The band became known as CSNY the following year with the addition of Neil Young, and have continued off and on for nearly 50 years in various configurations. Over this time, Crosby remained mostly active artistically despite personal troubles stemming from drug use and legal issues - most notably his 1982 conviction for drug and weapons charges of which he spent nine months in prison. He had a highly publicized liver transplant in 1994, after struggling with continued drug abuse and problems contracted through Hepatitis C. Through it all, Crosby has persevered - staying active professionally through music and some minor acting, as well as personally through his relationships and a love of sailing.
I either missed or was too young to appreciate his artistic prime, but I'm so happy to have discovered (thanks, mom) the beauty of a song gone by. Looking past the controversy that has often followed him through his career, David Crosby has given much to the world of music.
