Celebrating the life of: David Crosby

Emma Gardner Music Editor

On the 19th January, it was announced that rock and roll legend David Crosby had passed away, after a long illness. I remember finding out from my Dad, who sent me a link to the news story, leaving me feeling like I had just lost an old friend. When I was 16 years old, I was facing a really difficult time. The usual teenage pressures were getting the better of me - academics, teenage angst, bullying. I felt alone and often turned to music for comfort. I remember hearing David Crosby’s voice for the first time, on the ethereal Crosby, Stills & Nash track ‘Guinevere’, from their quintessential self-titled album. I remember listening to that song and album for the first time as a profound, other-worldly experience. When speaking to Rolling Stone Magazine, Crosby himself described it as “ a very unusual song, it’s in a very strange tuning with strange time signatures. It’s about three women that I loved.” Similarly, the CSNY classic ‘Our

House’ is a significant contribution to Crosby´s musical arsenal, summed up perfectly by Cashbox Magazine: “a jewellike ballad that spotlights the quartet’s vocal quality by nearly absenting rhythmic impetus.”

His voice and music are timeless, traversing the years from those who were there for the Laurel Canyon days, and those like myself in the age of streaming and vinyl revival, who have stumbled upon his music and entered a new realm. Crosby´s vocal harmonies sync effortlessly with the voices of Graham Nash and Stephen Stills, creating a faultless melange of dreamy, sentimental lyrics and bold acoustic guitar melodies, seen in other classic CSNY tracks like ´SuiteJudy Blue Eyes´ and ´Helplessly Hoping.´ The band formed in 1969, with the jamming sessions of Crosby and the recently unemployed Stills culminating at the seminal Woodstock festival of the same year, having only once previously performed live. They were joined by former Hollies bandmate Nash, and later by rock legend Neil Young, to ultimately form the supergroup that charac- terised the Laurel Canyon sound of the 70s. It is perhaps lesser well known to those who are not avid Crosby fans, that he was a founding member of the prominent 60s rock band The Byrds. Crosby originally found fame honing his craft as a talented and prolific songwriter, penning hits such as ‘Éight Miles High.’ This was where Crosby really started to weave in his quintessential vocal harmonies to a different style of music, preferring to remain on the periphery, singing backing vocals to complement lead singer Roger McGuinn.

Despite the success of CSNY and The Byrds, Crosby showed musical flair throughout a distinguished, albeit late, solo career. He released his first solo album in 1971, If Only I Could Remember My Name, to much acclaim. Crosby also moonlighted as a session musician, providing his archetypal vocal harmonies to contemporaries like Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and Carole King. In the early 2000s, he continued to collaborate with rock legends like David Gilmour and Phil Collins in the 1990s. Yet it was Crosby’s albums in 2016 and

2017 that really proved his ability to continuously hone his craft and produce excellent songs, clearly developing in maturity as he went along. Crosby also worked on various side projects, such as the band CPR, with his son James.

Crosby’s life has undoubtedly not been free from controversy, with Graham Nash describing their relationship as “volatile.” He suffered long-term health complications, culminating in a liver transplant in 1994 and diabetes. His life was sadly often marred by substance abuse, coming to a head in 1985 when Crosby spent nine months in prison for drug possession charges, which was later followed by arrests for drunk driving. Yet, Crosby had integrity and vigour seen both in his musical career and outspoken nature. He was politically vocal throughout his long standing career, being a well known pacifist and opponent of U.S involvement in the Vietnam War. In more recent years, he was particularly vocal about his dislike of Donald Trump.

Tributes from various fellow musicians flooded in, with for- mer bandmate Nash penning one that was particularly heartfelt: “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.”

He leaves behind his wife, Jan, and four children. Along with many others, Crosby’s music has been a glimmer of hope, positivity and beauty in the world when I could find none. I often felt that his music comforted me in some of the darkest times, almost as if he were sitting in the room with me, acoustic guitar in tow. The world would certainly be a lot darker without Crosby’s shining light. Yet, his exquisite, comforting harmonies will remain a consolation for many, forever.