David Crosby, a legend of rock music known for being the co-founder of The Byrds and Crosby Bill & Nash died on Thursday. He was suffering from a long illness, according to his representatives, who broke the news of his death to the media. Crosby was 81. 

Also read: David Crosby family: All about wife Jan Dance and son Django Crosby

David Crosby comes from a creative family. Floyd Crosby, his and Ethan Crosby‘s father, worked in Wall Street for a while before letting it all go and stepping into Hollywood to start a career in cinematography. Not only was he successful but also he managed to bag the highest honor in cinema- the Academy Awards in 1931.

Also read: Who was Beckett Cypher, David Crosby’s son with Melissa Etheridge who died at 21 of addiction?

In his long and illustrious career, Floyd did the cinematography of more than 100 full-length films. The Academy Award that he won was for the 1930 film Tabu: A Story of the South Seas.

During World War II, Crosby worked as a cinematographer for the U.S. Army Air Corps film wing and produced movies about flight instruction. In 1946, he quit the Air Corps.

Also read: Who was Ethan Crosby, David Crosby’s brother who committed suicide aged 60?

He was the son of Julia Floyd (formerly Delafield) and Frederick Van Schoonhoven Crosby. He was born and spent his early years in West Philadelphia before moving to Los Angeles later in life. He was a member of the illustrious Van Rensselaer clan through his maternal grandmother.

Also read: What is MIGHTY CROZ? Cannabis brand David Crosby developed with Steven Sponder

Details about the life of David Crosby’s mother are not known. All that is known is that she was a salesperson at Macy’s. Floyd later divorced her in 1960 and married Betty Cormack Andrews.

Floyd Crosby died aged 85 in Ojai, California, on September 30, 1985.