The son of cinematographer Floyd Crosby, he dropped out of drama school to pursue a career in music, as a member of the 'Les Baxter Balladeers'.

Early in 1964 he formed the 'Jet Set' with Jim McGuinn and Gene Clark, and with the additions of bassist Chris Hillman and drummer Michael Clarke, the group was rechristened the 'Byrds'. However, creative differences plagued the group, and in 1967 Crosby left.

Crosby cut a handful of solo recordings, and began jamming with ex-Buffalo Springfield guitarist, Stephen Stills. The duo were joined by ex-Hollies member Graham Nash. Crosby, Stills & Nash's 1969 debut LP launched all three members to greater fame than any of their previous projects, and they emerged as generational torch-bearers of enormous musical and cultural influence.

Following a sell-out tour, the group went on hiatus, and Crosby resumed work on his solo debut, releasing 'If I Could Only Remember My Name' in 1971. The following year, he and Nash issued the first of several duo efforts, and he also took part in a short-lived 'Byrds' reunion.

However, Crosby's longstanding drug problem continued to worsen, he eventually fell out with both Stills and Nash, and a planned second solo album was rejected by Capitol. A series of arrests for cocaine possession and illegal weapons charges followed.

In 1985 Crosby was sent to prison, after fleeing the drug rehabilitation clinic he'd entered in lieu of serving a jail term; upon his release he'd finally conquered his demons. But soon he was severely injured in a motorcycle accident, and then diagnosed with Hepatitis C, undergoing a successful organ transplant in 1995.

That year, Crosby met James Raymond, the son he'd given up for adoption three decades earlier. Also a musician, the two soon began writing songs together and, with guitarist Jeff Pevar, they formed CPR, releasing a series of albums and touring.

Credit: thebiographychannel.co.uk