David Crosby—whom Rolling Stone called “…the golden years of rock's unlikeliest survivor”—turns 75 this Sunday, August 14. For this Throwback Thursday, let’s take a look back at his lengthy career.
While he spent his younger years playing in a folk duo in the Los Angeles area with his brother Ethan, it wasn’t until Crosby wound up in New York City that his career took off. In 1964, Crosby became a founding member of The Byrds, whose first single, Mr. Tambourine Man, and subsequent hits pioneered the folk rock sound.
After being kicked out of The Byrds in 1968, Crosby aligned himself with Buffalo Springfield's Graham Nash and Stephen Stills to form Crosby, Stills and Nash, which later became CSNY when Neil Young joined as an occasional fourth member. Their collective catalog is legendary, with "Marrakesh Express," "Teach Your Children," "Almost Cut My Hair" and my own personal favorite, "Wooden Ships" on albums Crosby, Stills and Nash and Déjà Vu,
The mustachioed rock star is infamous for more than his music. There’s also the David Crosby with substance abuse problems, who alienated and deserted friends and lovers, and did time in a Texas prison on gun and drug charges, much of which is recounted in his autobiographies, Long Time Gone and Since Then, as well as Nash’s Wild Tales: A Rock and Roll Life.
Crosby left prison in 1986, and has been more or less sober ever since, having repaired relationships with friends and family (Nash not included). With Lighthouse set to be released this October—his second solo album following a 20-year hiatus—and a North American tour starting August 18 (including a performance August 31 at Pilsen’s Thalia Hall), Croz doesn’t show signs of stopping.
What's your favorite song by the soon-to-be 75-year-old rocker?
Add a comment to: #TBT: Happy Birthday, David Crosby!