David Crosby, the legendary singer-songwriter and member of influential folk-rock bands including the Byrds and Crosby Stills & Nash, has died at age 81. His family issued the following statement:

It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django. Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music. Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly. At this time, we respectfully and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve and try to deal with our profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers.

Crosby was born in Los Angeles in 1941. His father was the Oscar-winning cinematographer Floyd Crosby. He starred in stage musicals in high school and briefly studied drama in college before dropping out to pursue a music career. He formed a folk duo with Terry Callier, performing in Chicago and New York’s fabled Greenwich Village scene. It was through Callier that Crosby met Roger McGuinn, who invited him to return to LA and join the band that became the Byrds with Gene Clark, Michael Clarke, and Chris Hillman.

With the Byrds, Crosby helped carve out a radical new folk-rock sound, jangly and psychedelic and laced with harmony. The band became sensations in Hollywood and quickly became pop stars, hitting #1 with their covers of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” and Pete Seeger’s “Turn! Turn! Turn!” As their influence spread throughout the mainstream, the Byrds pivoted toward more experimental forms of psych and country. As the ’60s rolled on, a growing conflict between Crosby and his bandmates came to a head when he subbed for Neil Young at a Buffalo Springfield show in 1967, leading to his dismissal.

From there, Crosby formed Crosby, Stills & Nash with Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield and Graham Nash of the Hollies. Sometimes Neil Young joined in, expanding the group to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. CSN and CSNY’s softer and more expansive spin on folk-rock proved to be just as profoundly influential as Crosby’s music with the Byrds, spawning countless imitators, a #1 album in 1969’s Déjà Vu, and an iconic protest song in 1971’s “Ohio.” The CSN era saw Crosby falling into significant drug abuse issues that continued for decades.

Meanwhile, at the dawn of the ’70s, Crosby began a lengthy and prolific solo career. In addition, he kept recording and performing with Nash as Crosby & Nash. Over the years he also collaborated with members of the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane, Phil Collins (who paid for Crosby’s 1994 liver transplant), David Gilmour, and others. Crosby fathered six children, including two for whom he acted as sperm donor to Melissa Etheridge and her partner.

In 2014, he returned from a 20-year break between albums with Croz, sparking a late-career renaissance. In addition to staying busy musically into his eighties, he could always be counted on for a cantankerous interview quote and a full-throated endorsement of the musicians he liked. He was a true original until the end.

Crosby’s final public performance was singing CSN&Y’s “Ohio” with Jason Isbell and Shawn Colvin in February of 2022.

Graham Nash has paid tribute with this statement:

It is with a deep and profound sadness that I learned that my friend David Crosby has passed. 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.

Stephen Stills released this statement:

“I read a quote in this morning’s paper attributed to composer Gustav Mahler that stopped me for a moment:

‘Death has, on placid cat’s paws, entered the room.’

I shoulda known something was up.

David and I butted heads a lot over time, but they were mostly glancing blows, yet still left us numb skulls.

I was happy to be at peace with him.

He was without question a giant of a musician, and his harmonic sensibilities were nothing short of genius.
The glue that held us together as our vocals soared, like Icarus, towards the sun.

I am deeply saddened at his passing and shall miss him beyond measure.

Neil Young writes:

David is gone, but his music lives on. The soul of CSNY, David’s voice and energy were at the heart of our band. His great songs stood for what we believed in and it was always fun and exciting when we got to play together. ‘Almost Cut My Hair’ ‘Dejavu’, and so many other great songs he wrote were wonderful to jam on and Stills and I had a blast as he kept us going on and on. His singing with Graham was so memorable, their duo spot a highlight of so many of our shows.

We had so many great times, especially in the early years. Crosby was a very supportive friend in my early life, as we bit off big pieces of our experience together. David was the catalyst of many things.

My heart goes out to Jan and Django, his wife and son. Lots of love to you. Thanks David for your spirit and songs, Love you man. I remember the best times!

Chris Hillman released this statement:

I lost my friend, David, today. Whose beautiful voice softened life’s blows, and brought so much joy to us all.

He was my mentor, my big brother, my friend. The many miles we traveled together will always hold a special place in my heart.

Singing with David was a blessing beyond words.

I pray God grants him peace, and peace to his wife Jan, and his song Django.

‘Then the dust returns to the earth,
And the spirit returns to God who gave it’
( Ecclesiastes 12: 7)

“Rest in peace old friend,” Roger McGuinn also tweeted. “We sure made some beautiful music together! Our prayers are with your family.”