David Crosby’s cause of death revealed: Music icon, 81, died in his sleep from COVID just hours after rehearsing for show, Graham Nash says: ‘It was a shock’
- Crosby was a singer and guitarist for The Byrds from 1964-1967
- The band had notable hits such as Turn! Turn! Turn! and Mr. Tambourine Man
- He later formed Crosby, Stills & Nash, whose 1969 debut went multi-platinum
David Crosby died in his sleep after contracting COVID-19 for the second time, bandmate Graham Nash has revealed.
The iconic musician died aged 81 on January 19 2023 with his wife Jan Dance saying he passed after a ‘long illness’ – with Nash, 81, detailing that Crosby’s shock death had come just hours after he rehearsed for a show in Los Angeles.
He told the Kyle Meredith With… podcast: ‘He was rehearsing for a show to do in Los Angeles with a full band. After three days of rehearsals, he felt a little sick.
‘And he’d already had COVID and he had COVID again. And so he went home and decided that he would take a nap, and he never woke up. But he died in his bed and that is fantastic.
Opening up about the grieving process, Nash continued: ‘I mean, the fact that he made it to 81 was astonishing. But [his death] was a shock. It was kind of like an earthquake, you know?
RIP: David Crosby died in his sleep after contracting COVID-19 for the second time, bandmate Graham Nash has revealed (pictured 2019)
You get the initial shock and then you figure out that you survived. But these aftershocks kept coming up, and they’re diminishing in size as I go along.’
The member of the bands the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash had notably battled with ill-health for many years, being diagnosed with hepatitis C in the early 1990s and undergoing a liver transplant in 1994.
In a statement announcing his death in January, Crosby’s wife Jan said: ‘It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away.
‘He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django. Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us.’
She continued: ‘His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music. Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly.
‘At this time, we respectfully and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve and try to deal with our profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers.’
Crosby was a singer and guitarist for The Byrds from 1964-1967, along with Gene Clark, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke. The folk rock group, based out of Los Angeles, had notable hits such as Turn! Turn! Turn! and Mr. Tambourine Man.
He later formed the musical trio Crosby, Stills & Nash with the Hollies’ Graham Nash and Buffalo Springfield’s Stephen Stills, with the group’s 1969 debut album going multi-platinum. The album had notable hits such as Suite: Judy Blue Eyes and Marrakesh Express.
Bond: The iconic musician died aged 81 on January 19 2023 with his wife Jan Dance saying he passed after a ‘long illness’ – with Nash, 81, detailing that Crosby’s shock death had come just hours after he rehearsed for a show in Los Angeles (Crosby and Nash pictured 2011)
The group eventually added legendary musical artist Neil Young into the fold, and were called Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, before a series of partings and reunions in the 1970s.
The quartet had a trio of number one albums: 1970’s Déjà Vu – which includes the hits Teach Your Children, Ohio and Woodstock – as well as 1971’s 4-Way Street and the 1974 compilation So Far.
Crosby also released a solo album titled If Only I Could Remember My Name in 1971, also releasing a series of albums with Nash in 1972, 1975 and 1976.
Crosby, Stills & Nash got back together for the 1977 album CSN, which featured the single Just a Song Before I Go.
The group also put out albums including 1981’s Replay and 1982’s Daylight Again, the latter of which included the singles Wasted on the Way and Southern Cross. The group also released the 1983 album Allies.
Crosby ran into significant legal troubles in the mid-1980s, as he was convicted in connection with drug and weapons charges, leading to a nine-month 1985 stint in Texas state prison.
He made a comeback in 1988 with the album American Dream with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, as the album spawned the hit single Got It Made.
Crosby, Stills & Nash released a trio of albums between the years 1990 and 1998, with Young rejoining the ensemble for the 1999 album Looking Forward.
In 2006, the quartet toured the country on the Freedom of Speech concert tour following the release of Young’s album Living with War. The tour had a political message amid the midterm elections that year.
The musician was seen at his home in Sherman Oaks with his wife Jan in June of 1991
The beloved entertainer was pictured in concert in Los Angeles in October of 2012
Crosby was a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with The Byrds in 1991, and with Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1997.
Crosby also dabbled in acting, appearing in films such as Hook and Thunderheart; TV shows such as Roseanne and The John Larroquette Show; and voicing two roles on The Simpsons.
He penned a pair of memoirs with Carl Gottlieb, including 1988’s Long Time Gone and 2007’s Since Then: How I Survived Everything and Lived to Tell About It, as well as the historical 2000 book Stand and Be Counted with David Bender.
Crosby is survived by his wife Jan Dance, son Django, son James Raymond, and a pair of daughters, Erika and Donovan, from past relationships.
The influential musical artist was pictured at the Grammys in LA in February of 2016
Crosby was the sperm donor father of lesbian singer Melissa Etheridge’s two children, one of whom ended up dying of a drug overdose in May of 2020.
Etheridge and former partner, Julie Cypher, used the musician’s sperm donation via an artificial insemination in conceiving daughter Bailey and son Beckett, who died at 21 from a drug overdose.
‘Today I joined the hundreds of thousands of families who have lost loved ones to opioid addiction,’ Etheridge said in a statement on Twitter at the time. ‘My son Beckett, who was just 21, struggled to overcome his addiction and finally succumbed to it today. He will be missed by those who loved him, his family and friends.’
Etheridge told the Today show in 2016 that she and Cypher had also considered using a sperm donation from her friend Brad Pitt, but circumstances prevented it, as Pitt was hoping to have a child at the time, and the then-couple were not interested in a third party parenting their kids.
‘It’s one of the reasons why David Crosby and his wife are so perfect – because they already had children,’ Etheridge said. ‘They were looking to do this as a gift.’
Etheridge was among the notable names to take to social media with memorial messages for Crosby, sharing a picture of them together.
‘I am grieving the loss of my friend and Bailey’s biological father, David,’ Etheridge said. ‘He gave me the gift of family. I will forever be grateful to him, Django, and Jan. His music and legacy will inspire many generations to come. A true treasure.’
Crosby was the sperm donor father of singer Melissa Etheridge’s two children, one of whom ended up dying of a drug overdose in May of 2020. She was pictured in 2018
Etheridge called Crosby ‘a true treasure’ and said she would be ‘forever grateful to him’
Crobsy’s longtime musical collaborator Graham Nash took to Facebook with a comprehensive statement reflecting on their music and friendship.
‘It is with a deep and profound sadness that I learned that my friend David Crosby has passed,’ Nash said. ‘I know people tend to focus on how volatile our relationship has been at times, but what has always mattered to David and me more than anything was the pure joy of the music we created together, the sound we discovered with one another, and the deep friendship we shared over all these many long years.’
Nash said that Crosby ‘was fearless in life and in music’ and ‘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. My heart is truly with his wife, Jan, his son, Django, and all of the people he has touched in this world.’
Crosby’s longtime musical collaborator Graham Nash called him ‘fearless in life and music’
Crosby was lauded by luminaries such as the Beach Boys Brian Wilson, the E Street Band’s Steven Van Zandt and Roseanne Cash, as well as the official accounts for the late Tom Petty and The Doors
Also chiming in was Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson, who wrote, ‘I don’t know what to say other than I’m heartbroken to hear about David Crosby. David was an unbelievable talent – such a great singer and songwriter. And a wonderful person. I just am at a loss for words. Love & Mercy to David’s family and friends. Love, Brian.’
Said Rosanne Cash: ‘I can’t begin to say how influential Crosby, Stills and Nash were for me. I’m grateful David Crosby lived, and so very sad he’s gone.’
Steven Van Zandt said, ‘RIP David Crosby. As a member of The Byrds, 1 of the historically essential Artists that created the Artform of Rock.
‘The Byrds, Bob Dylan, Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Who, Beach Boys & Yardbirds, showed future generations like us what was possible. We owe him, and them, everything.’
The official account for the late Tom Petty issued a statement that said ‘Tom counted David Crosby as a friend and a hero.
‘He visited often at his house in the valley. He was funny, provocative and electric with talent. His contribution to music will never be forgotten. Our thoughts and love to his family, bandmates and fans.’
Other notable memorials came from entertainers such as Billy Corgan, the group Hanson, comic Richard Lewis and actress Christina Applegate
The official account for The Doors called Crosby ‘another ethereal fixture of the ’60s peace and love movement; a legend within his own right, and every group he was a part of.
‘Coming up in the same era as The Doors, David Crosby had the voice and song writing abilities that made him completely unique…’
Other notable memorials came from entertainers such as Billy Corgan, the group Hanson, comic Richard Lewis and actress Christina Applegate.
‘Tonight at 7pm PST my friends and neighborhood will howl and then blast CSN to honor this beautiful soul and legend,’ said Applegate. ‘If you do this, please send me videos RIP David Crosby!! We love you.’
Comedian Richard Lewis wrote, ‘RIP David. It feels lately that death is becoming tragically predictable.’
Crosby had posted to social media a number of sentiments acknowledging his own mortality in recent days
Crosby on Wednesday said 1966’s Eleanor Rigby was the best song for a rainy day
In reply to a post featuring a photo of Republican representatives Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, Crosby said the phrase that came to his mind was ‘rampant self interest’
Crosby had posted to social media a number of sentiments acknowledging his own mortality in recent days.
On Wednesday, he responded to a user’s post about heaven, writing, ‘I heard the place is overrated….cloudy.’
He also retweeted a tweet naming the 1987 Belinda Carlisle hit Heaven Is A Place On Earth.
He also replied to a post requesting the best Beatles songs to play on rainy days, replying Rigby, in reference to the 1966 song Eleanor Rigby.
In reply to a post featuring a photo of congressional Republicans Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, Crosby said the phrase that came to his mind was ‘rampant self interest.’
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