David Crosby is as busy as ever, and he’s coming to Costa Mesa
During his more than 50 years in music, David Crosby has been a founding member of three bands and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, once for his work with The Byrds and again for Crosby, Stills & Nash.
His third band is CPR, or Crosby, Pevar & Raymond. Raymond is James Raymond, Crosby’s son.
Crosby also authored three books and is a political activist, a family man and a Grammy Award-winner who just completed two new albums.
It’s a prolific time for Crosby, who will kick off his North American solo acoustic tour March 5 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. The night before the 2016 Grammy Awards, he revealed that he had finished one of two follow-up albums to his 2014 solo album, “Croz,” a collaboration with Raymond.
“I’m a very happy guy,” Crosby said in a phone interview. “I’m having so much fun with my music.”
Crosby will play 15 shows over the month in towns like Portland, Seattle and Berkeley. He also has a concert in Victoria, British Columbia, and will wrap up his tour March 27 with a performance in Santa Fe, N.M.
He says the simplicity of voice and guitar only will bring an intimacy to his show, which will showcase songs from “Croz” and his 1971 solo debut, “If I Could Only Remember My Name,” as well as selections from The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
The 74-year-old talked candidly about his relationship with his six children, his music and his willingness to dive into political conflict when he feels he just can’t stay silent. For instance, on his personal Twitter account, he called Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump “a walking intelligence-free zone.”
“It’s hard to be a grown-up,” he said with a laugh. “I do get in trouble — sometimes. But I have a lot of fun with it.”
These days, life is about family and writing songs, he said.
Raymond was born in 1962 and put up for adoption, but three decades later father and son reunited. In 2014, the two released “Croz,” a collection of original material that became Crosby’s first studio album in 20 years.
Guitarist Mark Knopfler joined in on the song “What’s Broken,” and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis can be heard on “Holding On To Nothing.”
Crosby collaborates on his upcoming solo album with Michael League of the music group Snarky Puppy. Crosby has been a supporter of Snarky Puppy over the last few years, having performed “Somebody Home,” a song he wrote, with the group.
He said he prefers to write songs with fellow musicians, like League and Michael McDonald, formerly of The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan.
“I do like writing with other people because they always widen the scope and help you go further,” Crosby said. “To me, having decent songs is essential in making music that can mean something to someone. I pick up my guitar and it’s like opening a door or window, where the music just comes in.”
Crosby grew up in Santa Barbara, the son of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Floyd Crosby (“High Noon”). He attended Santa Barbara City College as a drama student but dropped out and pursued music.
During his early career as a folk singer, Crosby’s success was often overshadowed by his drug use.
In 1982, as he battled drugs and alcohol, Crosby was arrested for possession of heroin and cocaine and weapon offenses. During his nine-month incarceration in a Texas state prison, he underwent an intense detoxification and rehabilitation program.
A decade later, he learned that his liver was severely deteriorated. He received a liver transplant and says he is now leading a healthy life.
“I got sober in prison,” the singer said. “The 12-step meetings helped a great deal, and I highly recommend it.”
In 1987, he married his longtime girlfriend, Jan Dance. In 2000, singer Melissa Etheridge announced that Crosby was the biological father of her two children by means of artificial insemination. He said he sees the children as often as he can.
“My life today is boiled down to family and music, and I like going to the beach, diving and sailing,” Crosby said. “I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the past. I think of the future.”
Like a reunion with Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young?
“Certainly,” he said.
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IF YOU GO
What: David Crosby in concert
When: 8 p.m. March 5
Where: Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: Tickets start at $39
Information: (714) 556-2787 or visit scfta.org
