Almanac Music: Vale David Crosby – ‘Almost Cut My Hair!’
Another music giant in David Crosby has passed away today at 81.
David Crosby is one of the all time music greats and was a member of three of the most influential bands in music history – The Byrds, Crosby Stills & Nash, and of course Crosby Stills Nash & Young.
Crosby’s unique harmony vocals and beautiful songs were instrumental to the sounds of all his bands, and his influence cannot be under estimated in the music world.
I was fortunate to see Crosby perform in CS&N a couple of times. The clarity of sound, the musicianship at all times were outstanding, and it was a privilege to see these icons perform at the top of their game.
I’m certain there will be many tributes forthcoming that will do justice to the amazing career of David Crosby than I can ever offer. Here are some links to excellent tributes already placed.
The Guardian pays tribute to David Crosby Here.
The ABC offers a wonderful tribute to David Crosby Here.
A solo David Crosby playlist
The Byrds playlist.
A CS&N playlist
A CSN&Y playlist
More from Col Ritchie can be read Here
Read more stories from Almanac Music HERE
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About Colin Ritchie
Retired teacher who enjoys following the Bombers, listening to music especially Bob Dylan, reading, and swimming.
It’s the old question with Crosby. Did the drugs help or did they diminish what he might have done? He was a ripper, though. Worked with Isbell near the end.
How’d you go in the swim? I beat my wife by a minute, which means peace is a possibility over the next year.
The ‘Almost cut my hair’ clip is as good a tribute as any.
A talent and a half, that’s for sure, Col. A voice that harmonised with anyone. But a difficult character to work with, it seems.
Loved the 60s stuff with the Byrds, then with Stills and Nash (what a great self-titled album!!!), then into the 70s with with Stills Nash and Young (especially Deja Vu), and also duet work with Nash. (To be fair, there were a few clunkers along the way, as there are bound to be in such a long and troubled career – ‘Arrows’ for example.)
I was fortunate to see CSN in the early 90s in Brisbane – beguiling with their harmonies.
A sad day.
Thanks ajc and Greg. Crosby was a ripper, but importantly he was a one part of a whole (Byrds, CSN etc) that helped to make those groups what they became.
P2P ajc 23:20m (53/116 in Legends 70 -79) Here’s the report I wrote of the swim.
https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/almanac-swimming-pier-to-pub-2023-postscript/
Late to this discussion – I never saw Crosby sing, yet saw CSN once, in 2012 at the Palais. He had a throat infection, or laryngitis, or some such. Stills came out and explained the situation, essentially:
– David can’t sing, but can still play. We’ll go ahead anyway and try to cover his vocals with help from the band. If you want your money back, that’s OK.
Only a handful of people walked out. They missed a great night of musicianship, improvisation and humour occasioned by the situation. Stills and Nash must have stretched their own voices: at one point Stills half-seriously complained, “Is this one me AGAIN?”
Crosby did, I think, speak a few self-deprecating words. The whole experience was quite uplifting, The trio seemed to be on friendly terms for once – if not, they disguised it well.
It always seemed to me that Crosby was at the heart of CSN(Y), despite Stills having the numbers on the album-songwriting front. Young’s “Ohio” was an instant, brave classic of distilled anger, but Crosby’s wailing last words added something other-worldly, making the fade-out stick in the memory.