Music

David Crosby of Crosby Stills Nash and Young Dead at Age 81

Published

1 year ago

2023-01-20

David Crosby, the brash rock musician who evolved from a baby-faced harmony singer with the Byrds to a mustachioed hippie superstar and an ongoing troubadour in Crosby, Stills, Nash & (sometimes) Young, died Thursday at the age of 81, according to several media outlets.

According to the New York Times, the musician died Wednesday night, citing a text message from Crosby’s sister-in-law. Several media outlets, citing anonymous sources, reported Crosby’s death; The Associated Press could not reach Crosby’s representatives or his widow.

Crosby received a liver transplant in 1994 after decades of drug use, and he lived through diabetes, hepatitis C, and heart surgery in his 70s.

While he only wrote a few well-known songs, Crosby was at the forefront of the cultural revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, whether triumphing on stage with Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young at Woodstock, testifying on behalf of a hirsute generation in his anthem “Almost Cut My Hair,” or mourning the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in “Long Time Gone.”

He was a founding member and focal point of the Los Angeles rock music community, which produced artists such as the Eagles and Jackson Browne. He inspired Dennis Hopper’s long-haired stoner in “Easy Rider,” a twinkly-eyed hippie patriarch. He was an unrepentant loudmouth who engaged in personal warfare and admitted that many musicians he worked with no longer spoke to him.

“Crosby was a colorful and unpredictable character who wore a Mandrake the Magician cape, didn’t get along with too many people, and had a beautiful voice — and architect of harmony,” Bob Dylan wrote in his memoir, “Chronicles: Volume One,” published in 2004.

David Crosby’s drug use

Crosby’s drug use left him bloated, bankrupt, and estranged. He overcame his addiction during a year in prison in Texas on drug and weapons charges in 1985 and 1986. The conviction was eventually reversed.

“I’ve always said that I picked up the guitar as a shortcut to sex, and after my first joint, I was convinced that if everyone smoked dope, the war would end,” Crosby said in his 1988 autobiography, “Long Time Gone,” co-written with Carl Gottlieb. “I was correct on the sex. When it came to drugs, I was completely wrong.”

He lived years longer than expected and experienced a creative renaissance in his 70s, releasing several solo albums while collaborating with others, including his son James Raymond, who became a favorite songwriting partner.

“Most guys my age would have done a covers record or duets on old material,” he told Rolling Stone shortly before the release of “Croz” in 2013. “This isn’t going to be a big hit. It’ll most likely sell nineteen copies. I don’t think kids will like it, but I’m not going to make it for them. I’m doing it for myself. “I have some things I need to get off my chest.”

Crosby was featured in Cameron Crowe’s documentary “David Crosby: Remember My Name” in 2019.

While his solo career flourished, his seemingly lifelong bond with Nash frayed, Crosby was enraged by Nash’s 2013 memoir “Wild Tales” (which he called “whiny and dishonest”), and their relationship devolved into an ugly public feud, with Nash and Crosby agreeing on one thing: Crosby, Stills, and Nash were done.

Crosby’s rise in the music world

Crosby did express interest in a Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young protest tour following Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States, but his former bandmates did not respond.

Crosby rose to prominence in the mid-1960s as a member of the seminal folk-rock band The Byrds, whose hits included “Turn! Turn! Turn!” and “Mr. Tambourine Man.” At the time, he was clean-cut and baby-faced, and he contributed harmonies that were an important part of the band’s innovative blend of The Beatles and Dylan. Crosby was one of the first American celebrities to become close to The Beatles and was instrumental in introducing George Harrison to Eastern music.

Crosby left The Byrds and formed a new band due to strained relationships with his bandmates. Crosby, Stills, and Nash’s first meeting is legendary: Stills and Crosby were working on the ballad “You Don’t Have to Cry” at Joni Mitchell’s house in 1968 (Stills would argue they were at Mama Cass’) when Nash suggested they start over. Nash’s high harmony added a magical layer to Stills’ rough bottom and Crosby’s mellow middle, forming a supergroup.

Their self-titled debut album was an instant success, helping to redefine commercial music. The songs were longer and more personal than their previous releases, but they were easily relatable to an audience embracing a more open lifestyle.

Their vibrant harmonies and themes of peace and love became synonymous with the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock” served as the theme for a documentary about the 1969 rock concert at which the group made only its second live appearance. Crosby had produced Mitchell’s first album, “Song to a Seagull,” in 1968 and had been her boyfriend at the time (as was Nash).

Harmony and rhythm guitar

Crosby, now sporting the drooping, bushy mustache that would define him for the rest of his life, provided harmony and rhythm guitar, and his songs reflected his volatile personality. They ranged from “Guinevere’s” misty-eyed romanticism to “Deja Vu’s” spirituality to “Almost Cut My Hair’s” operatic paranoia.

Some criticized the group for being soft-headed and self-indulgent.

“If you’re into living-room rock, fireplace harmonies, and a hint of good old social consciousness, this is your band,” said Rolling Stone, who never missed an opportunity to write about the band.

But CSN, as they were soon known, won a Grammy for best new artist and became a global touring act and brand name decades later.

The first album was a lighthearted, upbeat recording, but the mood darkened during the second, “Deja Vu.” Neil Young joined the band, having feuded with Stills while both were in Buffalo Springfield and continuing to do so.

Everyone in the band was in turmoil: Nash and Mitchell had split up, as had Stills and singer Judy Collins. Meanwhile, Crosby was so devastated by the death of his girlfriend, Christine Hinton, in a car accident that he would sob on the studio floor.

Solo artists, duos, trios

The album featured a rougher, less unified sound, was released in 1970 and was another commercial success. Within two years, the quartet had disbanded, destined to reunite and splinter for the rest of their lives.

They worked as solo artists, duos, trios, and, on rare occasions, all four simultaneously. They performed in stadiums and clubs. They were present at the Berlin Wall as the Cold War ended in 1989 and in New York for the Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011.

Crosby has toured frequently in recent years and has answered questions on Twitter with affection and exasperation, whether commenting on rock star peers or assessing the quality of a fan’s marijuana joint. He loved sailing, and aside from hard drugs, his greatest regret was selling his 74-foot boat due to financial difficulties. Among the songs completed on the boat was the classic “Wooden Ships,” co-written with Stills and Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane.

Crosby was born David Van Cortlandt Crosby in Los Angeles on August 14, 1941. Floyd Crosby, the Oscar-winning cinematographer behind “High Noon,” was his father. His mother, Aliph, and brother, Floyd Jr., later relocated to Santa Barbara.

Crosby grew up listening to classical, folk, and jazz music. Crosby stated in his autobiography that as a child, he used to harmonize while his mother sang, his father played mandolin, and his brother played guitar.

“I wasn’t into it when rock ‘n’ roll came in during that era, and the Age of Elvis possessed America,” he recalled.

The Beatles inspired Crosby.

His brother taught him to play the guitar, and he began performing in Santa Barbara clubs while still in his teens. In 1960, he moved to Los Angeles to study acting but dropped out and became a folk singer, touring the country before joining The Byrds. Like many other folk performers, Crosby was inspired by the Beatles’ 1964 film “A Hard Day’s Night” and decided to pursue a career as a rock star.

In 1987, Crosby married his longtime girlfriend, Jan Dance. Django, the couple’s son, was born in 1995. Crosby and Debbie Donovan had a daughter, Donovan. Crosby was reunited with Raymond, who had been placed for adoption in 1961, shortly after undergoing the liver transplant. Raymond, Crosby, and Jeff Pevar later formed a band called CPR.

“I regretted losing him many times,” Crosby said of Raymond in 1998 to the Associated Press. “I was too immature and irresponsible to parent anyone.”

Melissa Etheridge revealed in 2000 that Crosby was the father of her two children with then-partner Julie Cypher. Etheridge told Rolling Stone that Cypher carried the children Crosby fathered through artificial insemination. Beckett, one of the sons, died in 2020.

David Crosby did not assist in raising the children but stated, “If, you know, in time, at a distance, they’re proud of who their genetic father is, that’s great.”

Source: AP

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Geoff Thomas

Geoff Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

Celebrity

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Files Motion To Dismiss Some Claims In A Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Published

2 days ago

2024-04-27

Kiara Grace

AP - VOR News Image

Los Angeles – In response to a complaint from a woman accusing Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual assault, his attorneys have responded. They have submitted a petition to dismiss some claims that were not legally applicable at the time of the claimed incident.

The application submitted in a New York court asserts that Diddy is immune from being sued due to the absence of specific legislation when Joi Dickerson-Deal brought the accusations against him in 1991.

Hollywood Reporter – VOR News Image

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Files Motion To Dismiss Some Claims In A Sexual Assault Lawsuit

The attorneys representing the music entrepreneur are seeking the dismissal of specific allegations made by Dickerson-Deal, including revenge porn and human trafficking, with prejudice.

In a previous legal submission, she alleged that Diddy deliberately administered drugs to her, subsequently took her to her residence, and engaged in sexual assault during a date in Harlem during her time as a 19-year-old university student.

The lawsuit claims that Combs surreptitiously recorded the attack and subsequently distributed it to multiple acquaintances inside the music industry, all without the victim’s awareness. He refuted the accusations, asserting that she was attempting to take advantage of the New York law that temporarily prolonged the period in which legal action could be taken.

Dickerson-Deal’s assertion was made almost thirty years after the supposed wrongdoing, and the New York State Revenge Porn Law was not officially established until 2019, according to Combs’ legal team.

In addition, his legal representatives highlighted several additional laws, such as the New York Services for Victims of Human Trafficking Law, enacted in 2007.

Page Six – VOR News Image

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Files Motion To Dismiss Some Claims In A Sexual Assault Lawsuit

The standard practice of the Associated Press is to refrain from disclosing the identities of those who claim to have experienced sexual abuse unless they choose to make their allegations public, as Dickerson has done.

Recently, federal police conducted raids on Combs’ houses in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex trafficking investigation. The criminal probe represents a significant increase in the examination of Combs, who has faced multiple recent lawsuits regarding sexual assault.

Combs resolved a case the day after it was filed in November, in which his former protege and girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, accused him of sexual abuse, including rape, over several years. The lawsuit alleges that he coerced her into engaging in sexual acts with male escorts as he recorded the encounters.

In February, a music producer initiated legal proceedings claiming that Combs exerted undue influence on him to engage in the act of soliciting prostitutes and coerced him into engaging in sexual activities with them.

The Mirror – VOR News Image

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Files Motion To Dismiss Some Claims In A Sexual Assault Lawsuit

One of the individuals who accused Combs was a lady who alleged that he sexually assaulted her twenty years ago when she was seventeen.

Combs and his legal representatives have refuted all the accusations made in the cases.

SOURCE – (AP)

Music

Master Music Theory: Unlock Your Musical Potential with Music Theory Net

Published

2 days ago

2024-04-27

Arsi Mughal

Master Music Theory Unlock Your Musical Potential with Music Theory Net

As a universal language, music connects people from all walks of life and transcends boundaries. Whether you’re an aspiring musician, a seasoned performer, or just someone who appreciates the magic of melodies, understanding the language of music is crucial to unlocking your full potential, regardless of your skill level.

In this article, we will explore how Music Theory Net can help you master music theory’s intricate art, empowering you to express yourself creatively and fluently.

Introduction to Music Theory Net

We at Music Theory Net strive to provide comprehensive resources for learning music theory through our online platform. As a music theory student or an experienced musician looking to deepen your understanding, Music Theory Net has a variety of courses and tools that can cater to your particular needs, whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced musician looking to deepen your understanding. We cover everything you need to know about notes, scales, and harmonic structures at Music Theory Net.

Why Music Theory Matters

Understanding the Language of Music

Learning the principles of music theory will give you insight into the inner workings of music, allowing you to analyze and interpret musical pieces with greater depth and appreciation. It will also allow you to be more precise in your interpretations of musical pieces.

Enhancing Musical Creativity

Understanding music theory opens up new avenues for creative expression. With a solid understanding of scales, chords, and harmonies, you can experiment with a wide range of musical ideas and concepts, pushing the boundaries of your own imagination and resulting in truly unique compositions.

Key Concepts in Music Theory

Notes and Scales

Notes and scales are fundamental concepts of music theory. They lie at the heart of melody and harmony. Understanding how notes and scales interact allows musicians to create coherent and compelling musical compositions that captivate an audience.

Chords and Harmony

If you master the various types of chords and their relationships, you will be able to develop rich, harmonious textures that add depth and complexity to your music.

Rhythm and Meter

The rhythm and meter are two vital components of music, providing a sense of flow and structure. By understanding rhythmic patterns and time signatures, you can create a piece of music that is engaging and dynamic and will capture the attention of everyone listening to it.

Benefits of Learning Music Theory

Improved Musical Skills

Having a solid understanding of music theory enhances your overall musical skills and provides you with greater proficiency in playing instruments, sight-reading music more effectively, and improvising with greater ease.

Enhanced Compositional Abilities

Music theory can help you compose music with greater clarity and intentionality. By understanding the principles of music theory, you can craft melodies and harmony that resonate with emotions and meaning.

Better Musical Communication

Music theory provides a common language for communicating and collaborating effectively with musicians. Whether you perform in a band, record in a studio, or compose for an ensemble, you need a solid understanding of music theory to communicate and collaborate effectively with your peers.

How Music Theory Net Helps

There is a wide range of resources and tools available on Music Theory Net that can assist you in learning the language of music:

Comprehensive Online Courses: Music Theory Net’s online courses can be accessed worldwide, from anywhere at any time, and cover everything from the basics of music theory to advanced concepts and techniques in music theory.
Interactive Learning Tools: Through various interactive quizzes, exercises, and tutorials, you can reinforce your understanding of key musical concepts and improve your knowledge of them through interactive exercises and quizzes.
Experienced Instructors: You will be taught by experienced instructors passionate about music and committed to helping you reach your musical goals.

Testimonials from Students

“Musically Theory Net has been a game-changer for me. With their courses, I have gained a deeper understanding of the theory of music, which has allowed me to take my compositions to a whole new level.” – Sarah, musician

“I never thought I would be able to comprehend the principles of music theory, but Music Theory Net made it so easy for me to comprehend and understand the concepts. I would highly recommend Music Theory Net to anyone who is interested in improving his or her musical skills!” – John, Guitarist

Getting Started with Music Theory Net

Getting Started with Music Theory Net

Choosing the Right Course

Music Theory Net’s course offerings have been designed to meet the needs of both beginners and advanced musicians. You can choose a course according to your skill level and learning objectives, regardless of whether you want to learn the basics or deepen your understanding of this subject.

Setting Learning Goals

Specific, achievable learning goals can guide your progress and keep you motivated. Having clear goals in mind is important to stay focused and committed to your musical journey, whether you want to master a particular instrument or compose your own original pieces.

Consistent Practice

The key to mastering music theory is consistency. With regular practice and effort, you will gradually be able to build upon your knowledge and skills, steadily progressing toward your goal of mastering the subject. Invest the time in practicing and reviewing the material covered in your course every day.

Conclusion

With Music Theory Net, you have the tools and resources that will help you master the language of music, which is the key to unlocking your musical potential. You can explore the depths of music theory and unleash your creative potential regardless of whether you are a beginner or a professional musician. Music Theory Net empowers you to learn about music theory and unlock your creative potential as a musician.

Music

Police Say There Was No Foul Play in Mandisa’s Death

Published

3 days ago

2024-04-26

Geoff Thomas

The Franklin police department in Tennessee has provided an update on the death of Christian singer and former “American Idol” contestant Mandisa, who died last week.

Mandisa, whose full name is Mandisa Hundley, was discovered dead in her Nashville home on April 18, according to a statement on the artist’s official Facebook page. She was 47.

According to a post on X, the program formerly known as Twitter, the Franklin police department stated that there is currently no evidence that Mandisa’s death was the result of suspicious or criminal conduct.

“The Franklin Police Department sends its condolences to Hundley’s family, friends, and fans,” the department said on X.

Mandisa rose to notoriety

K-Love, a Christian music station, was the first to announce the artist’s death. Mandisa rose to notoriety after standing firm in the face of criticism from “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell during season five, according to K-Love.

After finishing in the Top 10 on “American Idol,” she released her debut album, “True Beauty,” in 2007.

She began her singing career with the Fisk Jubilee Singers, an African American vocal group, while attending Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, according to K-Love. After her stint on “American Idol,” she collaborated with various musicians, including TobyMac, Matthew West, Michael W. Smith, and Kirk Franklin.

According to her website, She had published five full-length albums throughout the course of her two-decade career, including one Christmas album. Her hit album “Overcomer” won her a Grammy in 2014 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album.

K-Love said that she has great relationships with her fellow singers, including TobyMac.

“Since the first day I met Mandisa, she has been nothing but original and courageous,” Toby told K-Love in a statement. “My touring family benefits from her presence. She sincerely encourages each performer on stage and every crew member behind the scenes. In a single word, I would describe her as one of the most authentic persons I have ever met. Her passion desires to help others.”