Rock Legends Live!
DAVID CROSBY – A CELEBRATION
(August 14, 1941 – January 18, 2023)
Thursday, March 23rd at 7:30 PM
Members $10 | Public $15
Join us for a one-night-only celebration of the legendary
singer-songwriter David Crosby,
featuring numerous rare performance clips.
David Crosby was a crucial part of two iconic 1960s bands, The Byrds (1964-1967), and Crosby Stills Nash & Young (1969
onward). His open tuning guitar style and love of vocal harmonies were
essential to the legendary sounds of both groups. With The Byrds, his unique
guitar work blended perfectly with Roger
McGuinn’s 12 string jangly electric folk guitar sound. Their recording of Pete Seeger’s “Turn Turn Turn” and Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man”
established The Byrds as America’s answer to The Beatles. Among Crosby’s hits
with them were “Eight Miles High” (which is considered the first psychedelic
song and incorporated an Indian drone sound, thanks to Crosby), “Bells
Of Rhymney,” “Mr. Spaceman,” “So You Want To Be A Rock And Roll
Star?,” “Chimes Of Freedom,” “My Back Pages,” and more.
Ultimately, Crosby’s creative need for artistic control, along with having
written great songs and having them relinquished to b-sides of 45rpm records,
led to his parting with the group.
While spending some time with members of Jefferson Airplane, he discovered a
kinship with the group. They recorded an early version of “Wooden Ships,” bringing
Crosby’s musical songwriting skills further success.
However, it was at a dinner party in 1968 at Cass Eliot’s
home, that David met Graham Nash, Steven Stills and Neil Young as well as Joni
Mitchell. The musicians listened to Stills play his new composition, “You
Don’t Have To Cry,” and the others joined in with guitars and harmonies and the
results were pure magic. They formed the group Crosby Stills Nash and Young, or more commonly known as CSN&Y. The groups first album,
minus Young, was a tremendous success, and got them invited on numerous
television shows as well as the original 1969 Woodstock concert. More albums
and hit songs, many written by David Crosby continued, such as the
anti-establishment anthem “Almost Cut My Hair,” “Long
Time Gone,” “Déjà vu,” “Guinneverre,” among
others.
CSN&Y’s constant on again, off again relationship led
to Crosby’s solo career, as well as a musical partnership with his close friend
Graham Nash. He continued writing and recording albums, as well as giving live
performances, right up to his last days as a creative genius. David Crosby is a
two-time member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Graham Nash, wrote of his longtime friend, “David was fearless, he spoke his mind, his
heart, and his passion through his beautiful music.”
Presented by Shelley Archives Inc.
Guest lecturer: Bill Shelley
Approx: 100 min.