David Crosby | 7/14/1941 | 80

David Crosby’s soaring vocals were the backbone of two of the decade’s most popular and influential bands. He was a pioneering figure in forming folk-rock and the West Coast rock scene, which dominated American pop and rock-n-roll in the 1970s.

In 1964, he formed his band The Byrds, and their 1965 performance of Mr. Tambourine Man was a huge hit. Despite their popularity and success, the Byrds disbanded in 1967. He then formed Crosby, Stills & Nash and quickly became one of the most iconic torchbearers of major musical significance. They took a hiatus from touring to focus on their solo ventures. Crosby has had massive success as a solo performer and session musician since then. After Crosby turned 70, he experienced an unexpected late-career rebirth, resulting in a succession of new solo albums that many admirers regarded as his best. While Crosby’s music continued to inspire generations of folk-rock performers, it was his story of survival and redemption that cemented his degree in music history.