Photo by Jorma Kaukonen
Indeed, it is that time of life when I find my contemporaries shuffling off the mortal coil at an alarming rate. I don’t like it a bit, but to be completely selfish, it beats the alternatives.
David and I had been friends since the early 60’s when we were just a bunch of young folkies. Kantner met him when he moved from San Jose to Venice Beach with David Friberg. When the boys came back from Venice David came up and played the Offstage which is where I met him. This was pre-Byrds by a couple of years but David had already played the Ash Grove and the Troubadour in LA and the Ice House in Pasadena to name a few of the biggies. He was already a seasoned pro getting ready for the Big Dance which come along with the Byrds shortly.
I saw the Byrds open for the Rolling Stones at the San Jose Civic on May 21, 1965. McGuinn was playing his Rickenbacker 12 String, of course. David and the boys killed it, of course!
I remember when If Only I Could Remember My Name was being recorded, the Airplane, members of the Dead, Santana and who knows who else were all hanging out at Wally Heiders working on projects and as a result when David invited us to play on that project it was an easy ‘yes.’ Fast forward to the final mix which David brought by my house on Yerba Buena in St. Francis Wood.
I heard a car drive up and yes, it was David in a Dino Ferrari with an electric window stuck half open. . Anyway, I had a MacIntosh stereo I had gotten from Owsley and we put the test pressing on the turntable. David always had The Weed Of The Gods and he broke a joint that made the average fattie look anorexic. I listened to IOICRMN through the lens of a wall bending total ego loss THC fantasy… and it was awesome!
David broke out another torpedo. ‘Let’s listen to it again.’ Seemed like a good idea plus I was in no condition to say ‘No’ to David Crosby.
The process was repeated two more times.
David was getting ready to go for round five as I was coming in for a landing. I reeled him in and we had a good laugh. That said, it was a beautiful project and it was an honor for me to be a small part of it. It was worth listening to four times and would have been just as good without the pot but hey… it was the 70’s.
That was David then and if he were still with us, it would be David now. There was never any gainsaying him.
He was an amazing human. His artistry never abandoned him and he continued to gift us with magnificent projects. He could be acerbic and self-centered… he could also be embracing in his own Crosby-like way. He’s going to give G_d a run for his money.
We were friends for over half a century and even though our paths would rarely cross, when they did it was as if no time had elapsed.
I shall selfishly miss his occasional presence in my life. As always, fair winds and following seas brother… fair winds and following seas. Wooden ships were always your friend!
Dear Jorma, it is lovely to read this remembrance of David Crosby. I just came across a video of Airplane, David, Joni, Stills on youtube, the day after Woodstock. Priceless recording of all of you. I am also enjoying listening to your autobiography, and will try to catch you in Nashville or Missouri. Peace and thanks for all the fantastic decades of music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzq8LZKdilQ
His fingerpicking style started coming out in Renaissance Fair and Mind Gardens on Younger Than Yesterday. This preceded his discovery of Joni Mitchell by a few months, I think. Clearly, her alternative tuning fingerstyle influenced him by the time he helped form CSN (Guinnevere). His playing on the title track Deja Vu (CSNY’s Deja Vu) and Orleans (If I Could Only Remember My Name) demonstrate him blasting off further into that style. What a distinct impression he made. Both you and Croz helped me rethink my acoustic guitar playing to a great extent.
Looking forward to seeing you in Charlottesville with my wife on Friday.
from france…WE SAID MERCI DAVID FOR WHAT YOU WHERE…
Jorma, je pleure aussi la disparition de Crosby que j’ai eu la chance de voir en France avec ses potes (CSN). C’était une référence depuis mon adolescence (j’ai 70 ans), comme toi avec le Jefferson puis Hot Tuna. J’écoute souvent vos disques et la vie devient magnifiquement légère ! Merci à vous tous…
DANIEL FROM FRANCE
Great singing on “Blows Against the Empire”.
@Richard K – Roosevelt Stadium was a fairly decrepid minor league baseball stadium, that hosted some big acts in the mid 70’s. Allman’s, Dead, Yes, Pink Floyd were among the bands I think I saw there 😉
Entering the 4th year of my apprenticeship as an adventurer in SF in 1970 it was really a blast to have all you heavyweights recording together on multiple projects. Crosby’s and Kantner’s “solo” titles are iconic and beautiful and have stood the test of a half century plus damn well. Crosby was a real force of nature; incredible musicianship that severely defined that time. Characters like you and Casady, Garcia, Lesh-everybody-contributed mightily and I thank my lucky starts I was around to experience it all.m Much gras.
Yeah Don… In an era when it took a record deal to be able to work in a real studio all of us old cats (yourself included) were blessed to be in the same place at the same time. Life is just life, not some ‘long strange trip’ and if one is lucky enough to be able to take advantage of whatever situation life deals you, well… amazing things can happen. Thanks for weighing in brother!
Highway song is one of the most perfect songs I’ve ever listened to. Everybody’s contribution fit like a glove. Crosbby’s vocals with you were the capstone of that song..indeed we continue to “roll on down the higway…”
@john o
I’m so old they were the Patriots when I attended, Wolfstock is on my bucket list. I can’t imagine a stadium where there was just a field. Sadly the Bridge to Nowhere is gone, making a left turn at the library into the Fine Arts plaza. Great logo the Seawolf. My first Tuna show was Spring 75, worked stage crew (I still enjoy the tinnitus from it)
@JB
I stand corrected..Sorry for the confusion..Forgot about that place.I think I saw the Dead there in the late 70s or early 80s..
@ Richard K- CSNY played at Roosevelt STADIUM in Jersey City on 8/8/74. I promise 😉 They ALSO played at Roosevelt RACEWAY on 9/8/74,
The show was at Roosevelt STADIUM in Jersey City on 8/8/74. I promise 🙂
@Dan Nigro
I’ve lived in Stony Brook for the last 30 years and still use it as my winter home. I go to some Seawolf games in their new stadium. It’s still a quiet little hamlet. I went to New Paltz upstate and was on the Concert Committee and had Hot Tuna there twice in 1975 and 1976. It was nuts-everybody was tripping and were sold out! Kids were crawling in through the basement windows to get in!
@Richard K
Was this the show that CSN cut short their acoustic part of the show because of rowdy fans near the stage? After a short break they came back to do electric
@Dan Nigro
I don know why, but way back when at Texas Longhorn football games during halftime when major college scores around the country were announced Stony Brook was always one of the games they had the score to. The crowd always crowed when they heard, especially if Stony Brook was leading.
The only time I saw Crosby was with CSNYin the early 90’s at the Houston Coliseum. Good show, but Cros was the only one who could still reach the high notes.
@Dan Nigro
I don know why, but way back when at Texas Longhorn football games during halftime when major college scores around the country were announced Stony Brook was always one of the games they had the score to. The crowd always crowed when they heard, especially if Stony Brook was leading.
Sunday_1_22____
https://www.c-span.org/video/?156704-1/stand-counted
and this__
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrfrAiydrhU
AH DAN THOSE WERE THE DAYS G
Ahhh, Roosevelt Raceway. The pot brownies were overcooked (We baked in the sun too) Disappointed with the Beach Boys, except for the girls behind us who took their shirts off. Blown away by Tom Scott and the LA express and then Joni Mitchell. Made it up to the Grandstand to cool off and watch CSNY and Joni joined them for Woodstock. Oddly don’t remember leaving, just waking up back at Stony Brook
@JB
The show at Roosevelt Raceway was 9/8/74 not 8/8/74 FYI…Went with my friends brother because I was 16 and to young to drive . His brother made us leave halfway between CSNY set because he had to work next day. So instead we spent 2 hours in the parking lot looking for his car. After all these years it still pisses me off!!!
Dad told their managers to just keep the rockers the hell away from him when he flew acts as part of his ’77 -’78 contract, save for the CSN guys, who he took a liking to. Their pleasant sounds when practicing apparently soothed a big, high strung man. He got to know them a bit and shared their political views, especially Crosby, who he said was pretty sharp and well informed. Dad will be gone soon. He’d be fine with my saying he was a SOB (often times), but he taught me a lot. Or as one brother said with respect,”He had a pair”. The late Mr. Crosby might be OK with some remembering him thus. I don’t know. Hearing Stills belt out Southern Cross 15 or 20 years ago, from 5th row in front of him, I leaned back, smiled a big easy smile, turned and caught David looking at me doing same. I knew Steven had sobriety. Heard same in your voice, Mr. Kaukonen, first post 80’s show I caught. Thanks, guys.
Date_1_20____21st_Century__A comment about Dave. re: his most recent ‘Art’..myself I was partial to his tune Rodriguez for a Night off his last album. Dave working with the talented Donald Fagen..and the album from that Beautiful Artwork done by the InFamous under-rated Joan Baez. The song is a real treat, if your not familiar w/it. __ N.E. way, sigh. What can be said? I know..Death don’t have no mercy..but what’s the expression? When it rains, it pours. Just another skull-fucker of a week..Lisa Marie, That producer Capp out of Memphis..put down like a dog. Little Nickolas from Eight is Enough. __ The takeaway? It’s the 21st Century__It’s Iggy’s Century..Not ol’ Drug Store Cowboys like Dave. Iggy knows the deal, like almost all young adults in the U.S.__ It’s Kyle Rittenhouse Lock-n-load. Casualties by the knife? ‘Just means you have a friend in Pensylvania. __ Read the news if you can..But whos to blame if you learn something? A last thought..Jorma might know something about this..is’nt Finland & Sweden supposed to join N.A.T.O? How does one go about finding the status of this supposed line of defense?
The only time I saw David live was at the Bread and Roses festival at the Greek Theater in Berkeley in 79. David closed out a great day of music. Solo acoustic he held that place in the palm of his hand. What a beautiful voice. IICORMN was recorded at Wally Heider’s studio in SF at the same time as the Dead’s American Beauty and Jefferson Starship’s Blows Against the Empire- the PERRO days. Jorma and Jack were a big part. Crosby helped Kantner write Have You Seen the Stars Tonight-what a song! Garcia on pedal steel and Grace singing and playing piano beautifully. I have been playing it a lot these past few days. Thanks Jorma
@Brian Doyle
Well said, Brian.
Thank you for sharing, Jorma. Let us all remember to share our love.
🎶🎶And it’s a fair wind
Blowin’ warm out of the south over my shoulder
Guess I’ll set a course and go🎶🎶
As you referenced ,many have recently left us. As a music lover this one hit me harder. Just today ,as I contemplated the recent loss of the musicians that molded my life through their music, I reminded myself that he and the others really just changed their residence and some day we will all meet in the same town and enjoy the music all over again. ✌️
Crosby had a heavy gravity connected to the era that he was able to translate in to ethereal harmonies and lyrics…I would imagine that would be the ultimate gratification to an artist to be able to play with it like that to such profound ends…
RIP. Was fortunate to see CSNY on 8/8/74 at Roosevelt Stadium. They announced Nixon resigned and broke into (I think) Carry On!
It’s been a long time comin’…
What a beautiful tribute.
I feel you Jorma ..God bless you & keep on making everyday count .You are a truly good man & that’s all any one needs said about them imho .Peace & open roads always
What a fitting tribute to Crosby, Jorma. I love that you and Vanessa had special friendships with him during his life; condolences to you both (and indeed to us all who’ve lost a great beacon of musical hope). I love the story Vanessa posted of Izze getting the Girl Scout cookie boost of 600 boxes bought from “Uncle David”…she also has a story to tell her kids and grandkids! Be well, Jorma.
Thanx for a fitting tribute. I’m sorry for your and our loss. David’s passion and talent served us well. He shall be missed but never forgotten. He will be with us always.
Such a beautiful story, Jorma. David was a one of a kind guy. Love him, hate him, there was always that gorgeous voice, a real passion for what he did and the love of a good buzz! The world is a little bit sadder without his ornery, beautiful presence. RIP David, you sweet voice and crafter of beautiful music.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. His talent and energy seemed boundless. I saw the Crosby/Nash show in Athens at the Convo back in the early 70’s. After a few songs, David announced that they just might have to stop the show…if they needed to announce…the resignation of [then] President Richard Nixon! The place went nuts.
with sympathy, m
Jorma,
Thank you for your wisdom, your openness, and for providing us this space to talk about things.
I sense the demographic here has seen more days than there are to come, and as we all approach the Great Perhaps there’s a real comfort in making the journey with this crew.
Back around 1995 or so my bandmate Paull Ruben and I worked in a natural food store in Santa Barbara. We had already closed for the night, and who was at the door with his wife and child but David Crosby.
Of course we let him and family in. While Jan did the shopping, we basically held David hostage, talked music (we played a lot of Hot Tuna stuff,) and particularly you and Jack. He kept emphasizing what great guys you are. He wasn’t impatient in the least. A gentleman. I’ll always be grateful for his time with us.
I am sorry for your loss of Cros as a friend, Jorma, and for all of us in the loss of a wonderful artist whose music (in *multiple* bands/incarnations) was hugely influential. His music – both from back in the day *and* more recent – will undoubtedly stand the test of time, however – and for that we can all be most thankful!
Jorma,
Such sad news! Death don’t have no mercy in our land!!
My first concert I ever attended was CSN at the Nassau Coliseum, my condolences to you in the loss of your friend . May he Rock In Peace
So sorry Jorma, I know he was your good friend and sure made a lot of music that we all love and grew up listening to – See you on the road – Jim
Sorry for your loss.
Your story helps explain why Izzy was always great at selling Girl Scout Cookies.
Peace✌🏻️❤️Love All Ways🔥🚲🌹🙏🏻🖖🏼
“You, who are on the road…”
Are the best words I can think of
RIP
Thanks for your insight Jorma, as another of your friends moves on
Was backstage at Jones Beach Theater in NY a while back for a CSN show, I knew the stagehands. My stagehand friend my wife Bea and I smoked a joint and then listened to a few songs from backstage. Told my friend going to sit in the 12th row seats we had. Well Bea not knowing her way and walking in front of me towards the stairs to the audience almost walked in front of the stage, would have been Crosby,Stills, Nash and BEA!!! Grabbed her before it would have been embarrassing..
May David RIP…
I hope his skies are clear with a warm following wind .
A wonderful tribute, Jorma.
This is a great lost to those who knew the man personally and to those of us that knew him only through his music–and knowing any musician through his music is like knowing the musician himself because music comes from such a unique and personal place. It’s like a fingerprint and Crosby’s has left a permanent imprint on the millions that love his music.
Peace.
That’s as good as it gets for a remembrance of a friend. It’s not quite oral history, but that’s as close to the bone as you can get. I could almost smell the grass burning. Your memories can be just as intoxicating as well. Thank you for sharing such intimate moments of your past, which are part of the fabric of our lives. You got a helluva memory for an old man!😉
Saying we used to toss around in the 70s crosby steals hash & runs g
It is with a heavy heart that I see the passing of another one of the musical greats. I always enjoyed hearing David’s voice in the mix along with his voice and his propensity to use the “Special” Guitar tunings to get the sound that he was looking for. I wish I had had the chance to smoke a “Fatty” with David back in the old days, before I succumbed to the regulation of the 2020’s Fair Winds and following seas you old Hippy 🙂 until we meet…again?
David’s was the voice of and for a generation. Great story, beautiful thoughts. Thanks Captain
The minute I heard about David’s passing I came to Cracks in the Finish and sure enough . . . beautiful Jorma. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be part of that scene in San Francisco back then but it must have been quite a journey! thank you . . . keep on keepin’ on brother!