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

David Crosby was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist best known as a founding member of the Byrds and of Crosby, Stills & Nash. Born David Van Cortlandt Crosby on August 14, 1941, in Los Angeles, he helped shape the sound of folk rock and the harmonies of the counterculture era.

Crosby co-founded the Byrds in 1964, and the group reached No. 1 in 1965 with "Mr. Tambourine Man." He formed Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1968, which won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1969, and released his solo debut If I Could Only Remember My Name in 1971. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, with the Byrds and with Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Crosby received a liver transplant in 1994, famously paid for by Phil Collins, and he later released a string of acclaimed late-career albums. He married Jan Dance in 1987 and had six children, including his collaborator James Raymond. His family said he died on January 18, 2023, in Santa Ynez, California, at age 81, after a long illness. Remembered for his distinctive harmonies, he left a lasting mark on American music.

Achievements: Co-founded the Byrds (1964), No. 1 hit "Mr. Tambourine Man" (1965), won the Grammy for Best New Artist with Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969), released If I Could Only Remember My Name (1971).

Birth: August 14, 1941 - Los Angeles, California.

Profession: Singer-songwriter and guitarist.

Interesting Facts: He appeared as a pirate in the 1991 film Hook. His father, Floyd Crosby, won an Academy Award for cinematography.