Happy 80th birthday to David Crosby, the folk-rock legend who co-founded The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, while also establishing a thriving solo career.
Among the classic songs Crosby wrote or co-wrote: The Byrds' "Eight Miles High" and "Renaissance Fair," CSN's "Wooden Ships," "Guinnevere" and "Long Time Gone," and CSNY's "Almost Cut My Hair" and "Déjà Vu."
The singer/songwriter also infamously struggled with drug abuse during the 1970s and '80s, and spent nine months in jail in 1982 and '83 after being convicted on drug and gun-possession charges. In 1994, he underwent a liver transplant; he's also has experienced various other health issues in recent years.
Crosby was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: with The Byrds in 1991 and CSN in 1997.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, Crosby continued to tour and occasionally record with CSN and CSNY. He also played and recorded with the band CPR, which included his son James Raymond on keyboards and guitarist Jeff Pevar.
Up until 2016, David's main musical focus had been touring with CSN and working as a duo with Graham Nash, but a rift with Nash resulted in the trio going on indefinite hiatus, leading Crosby to concentrate on solo projects.
Crosby's latest solo album, For Free, hit stores on July 23. It features major contributions from Raymond, plus a collaboration with Michael McDonald and a song co-written with Donald Fagen of Crosby's favorite band, Steely Dan.
In 2019, a documentary focusing on Crosby's life called David Crosby: Remember My Name premiered, featuring segments on his late-career creative resurgence and his rifts with Nash, Neil Young and Byrds frontman Roger McGuinn.
On Twitter today, Crosby revealed he's working on songs for another new solo project.