Entertainment
Melissa Etheridge pays tribute to friend and father of her children David Crosby after musician’s death aged 81-Robert Oliver-Entertainment – Metro
The singer died after a long illness earlier this week.
Melissa Etheridge has thanked the late David Crosby for giving her the gift of a family (Picture: SGranitz/WireImage)
Melissa Etheridge says she will always be grateful to David Crosby as she paid tribute to the late singer, who has died aged 81.
The news of Crosby’s death was confirmed by his current wife, Jan Dance, who he had been married to since they tied the knot in 1987.
Crosby is the biological father of fellow American musician Etheridge’s two children, Beckett and Bailey, who were conceived using artificial insemination.
Etheridge, whose career spans five decades, shares both children with former partner and film director Julie Cypher, who she split with in 2000.
Crosby died following a ‘long illness’, Dance, Crosby’s wife for 36 years, confirmed in a statement to US entertainment outlet Variety.
On Instagram, two-time Grammy-winner Etheridge wrote: ‘I am grieving the loss of my friend, and Bailey’s and Beckett’s biological father, David. He gave me the gift of family.’
Crosby was the biological father of Etheridge’s two children, via IVF treatment (Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty)
She continued: ‘I will forever be grateful to him, his son Django, and wife Jan. His music and legacy will inspire many generations to come. A true treasure.’
In May 2020, Etheridge’s son Beckett died at the age of 21 following a battle with drug addiction – the Etheridge Foundation was set up in his memory.
Also paying tribute to Crosby was Beach Boys’ singer-songwriter Brian Wilson and his former Byrds bandmate Chris Hillman, who played bass guitar.
Crosby achieved major hits on both sides of the Atlantic (Picture: Griffin/FilmMagic)
Wilson posted on Twitter, saying: ‘I don’t know what to say other than I’m heartbroken to hear about David Crosby. David was an unbelievable talent.’
He continued: ‘And a wonderful person. I just am at a loss for words. Love & Mercy to David’s family and friends. Love, Brian.’
The Byrds achieved great success on both sides of the Atlantic and are considered one of the most influential rock groups of the 1960s.
Stephen Stills and Graham Nash who worked with Crosby in influential rock band Crosby, Stills and Nash in the 1970s also released statements.
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While with the two musicians, he wrote several songs that charted on the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as achieving two top 10 albums in the UK.
Four-time Grammy winner Jason Isbell also wrote on Twitter: ‘Grateful for the time we had with David Crosby. We’ll miss him a lot.’
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MORE : Graham Nash leads tributes to David Crosby after death aged 81: ‘He leaves behind a tremendous void’
MORE : The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash musician David Crosby dies aged 81 after ‘long illness’
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