Happy 73rd birthday to Stephen Stills, a founding member of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Between those two iconic bands and his own successful solo career, Stills has sold more than 35 million records worldwide. He was the first musician to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice as a member of two different groups.
Stills was born in Dallas to a military family, resulting in his traveling as a youth. This gave him exposure to a variety of musical styles, especially Latin music. Stills graduated from high school in Costa Rica. After dropping out of LSU, Stills began playing in bands, meeting future Eagle Don Henley in one of those groups. In 1966 Stills co founded Buffalo Springfield and after the band disintegrated, he went on to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. In those groups he played at three of the most iconic festivals of the 60s – the Monterey Pop Festival, Altamont and Woodstock.
After CSNY’s best selling albums in the late 60s, all four members launched solo careers. Stills was most successful in the early 70s. His self-titled album was initially the most successful of the four and he used part of the proceeds to buy the castle previously owned by Ringo Starr.
Six months later he released the followup record and the following tour marked the peak of his solo career, selling out Madison Square Garden, the LA Forum, Boston Garden and the Philadelphia Spectrum. A reunion of Crosby Stills and Nash brought more success in the late 70s and a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young reunion on the 2000s also returned the artist to the spotlight.
Most recently Stephen Stills recorded an album with Judy Collins. It was a celebration of their 50-year relationship and during the extensive tour that followed Stills mentioned during the show that the secret to the longevity of their relationship is that they never married each other.
