Singer/songwriter David Crosby, who was a founding member of pioneering rock/folk bands The Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, died Wednesday at age 81. Celebrities, friends, and collaborators across music genres mourned him, posting their reactions to social media.
"It is with a deep and profound sadness that I learned that my friend David Crosby has passed," Nash posted to his Facebook account. "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.
"David was fearless in life and in music. He 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."
In a statement he provided to Billboard, Stephen Stills said: "I read a quote in this morning's paper attributed to compose Gustav Mahler that stopped me for a moment: 'Death has, on placid cat's paws, entered the room.' I shoulda known something was up. David and I butted heads a lot over time, but they were mostly glancing blows, yet still left us numb skulls.
"I was happy to be at peace with him. He was without question a giant of a musician, and his harmonic sensibilities were nothing short of genius. The glue that held us together as our vocals soared, like Icarus, towards the sun. I am deeply saddened at his passing and shall miss him beyond measure."Rocker Melissa Etheridge and Crosby were close enough that she asked him to be her sperm donor in the '90s. He was the biological father of her two children, Bailey and Beckett. Beckett died of an opioid overdose in 2020.
"I am grieving the loss of my friend [and] Beckett and Bailey's biological father, David," Etheridge shared via her Instagram account. "He gave me the gift of family. I will forever be grateful to him, [son] Django, and [wife] Jan. His music and legacy will inspire many generations to come. A true treasure."
Country musician Roseanne Cash said she was grateful for his life.
R&B/soul singer Lalah Hathaway, daughter of soul icon Donny Hathaway, said she "loved" Crosby.
Rap icon Chuck D said he appreciated Crosby's candor.
Actress Christina Applegate shared how she would pay tribute to the folk rocker.
Singer/songwriter James Taylor said, "Missing you already" and shared pics with Crosby.
