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David Crosby Passes Away at 81

Video: Musician's 2017 Tour of May 4 Visitors Center Brought Out Deep Memories of May 4, 1970

Singer-songwriter David Crosby, who performed the iconic "Ohio" with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young following the events at Kent State of May 4, 1970, passed away at the age of 81. 

The song grew quickly across the globe after the Ohio National Guard opened fire on Kent State students, killing four and wounding nine, during an anti-war protest on the Kent Campus. 

Singer David Crosby points at a photo of the May 4, 1970, shootings that killed four Kent State students.
Singer David Crosby points at a photo of the May 4, 1970, shootings that killed four Kent State students.

Crosby was scheduled to perform in Kent as part of the 50th Commemoration of May 4, but the pandemic canceled all of the planned events.

Crosby visited Kent State in 2017 and toured the May 4 Visitors Center saying in an interview with Kent State Today that the center hit him like a bucket of cold water. 

from on .

Crosby鈥檚 unparalleled six-decade career has left an indelible mark upon many generations of listeners. A two-time inductee to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Crosby began his professional musical career as a founding member of The Byrds in the mid-鈥60s, performing on such classics as 鈥淓ight Miles High鈥 and 鈥淢r. Tambourine Man.鈥

Crosby then formed Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSN&Y) in the late 鈥60s, performing their second show at the famous Woodstock concert in 1969. Their 1969 self-titled debut album and 1970 release 鈥淒茅j脿 Vu鈥 are considered two of the greatest albums in the history of rock 鈥檔鈥 roll. The group鈥檚 top 20 single 鈥淥hio鈥 was released in the summer of 1970 and helped to raise international awareness of the tragic events at Kent State on May 4, 1970.

The group Crosby, Stills & Nash performed an acoustic version of the song on the Commons at Kent State during the May 4 annual commemoration on May 4, 1997. More than 50 years after it was first released, the song 鈥淥hio鈥 continues to resonate strongly with audiences and other musicians and remained a highlight of Crosby鈥檚 performances.

Crosby was also inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009 and had continued to devote his time and songwriting to issues of social conscience. He had visited Kent State鈥檚 May 4 Visitors Center and performed in Kent many times over the years. His towering influence and brilliant ability to capture the spirit of our times in his music remains undiminished.

POSTED: Thursday, January 19, 2023 07:15 PM
Updated: Tuesday, April 23, 2024 02:32 PM

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