Folk-rock legend David Crosby dies aged 81

Audio 04:50

David Crosby (2nd from left) with Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young on stage in Oakland in 1974 with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

© Redferns - Gijsbert Hanekroot/Getty

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2 mins

He was one of the voices of the 1960s-70s with the Byrds before marking American music within the group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, then solo.

Rocker, author, composer and performer David Crosby has inspired many prestigious names in the world of music, now orphans.

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With his mustache, his long hair, but above all his clear voice to the end, David Crosby marked American music for almost sixty years.

Blues, jazz, French medieval music, rock, folk... David Crosby brilliantly mixed many musical genres.

With the Byrds, a group from Los Angeles which he co-founded in the 1960s, he contributed to the emergence of an entirely new style mixing rock from England and traditional American folk.

Considered the American counterparts of the Beatles, the Byrds notably introduced Dylan's songs to a new, more pop audience.

And it was after hearing their version of 

 that Bob Dylan turned to rock.

Not less. 

The title

marks this period.

A historic piece since it was banned from radio broadcasting in the United States, because of the lyrics that evoked drug use.

David Crosby was also known for his excesses and flirted for a long time with drugs of all kinds.

David Crosby, the eternal hippie

But David Crosby's hour of glory took place within the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young group, a concentration of talents with his friends Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young with a key moment, August 17, 1969, at the mythical Woodstock festival.

It was their second concert. 

For many years, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were true superstars.

Their pieces will never cease to occupy the American FM band, standing out from pieces by Jimi Hendrix, the Doors or the Rolling Stones with a softer sound inspired by folk music, with acoustic guitars.

Since 2014, he had produced five albums in collaboration with his son James Raymond.

A critically acclaimed revival.

He continued, on social networks, to exchange regularly with his public.

He defended in particular ecology and the environment.

Brilliant author-composer, excellent guitarist and good singer, there are many who, today, salute his work, which may nevertheless be too little known.

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