David Crosby looks forward to his yearly visits to the North Shore.
“Hanalei Bay is one of my favorite places on the planet.” he said. “I love getting up in the morning, drinking a cup of coffee, eating breakfast and laying in the sun until I get too hot.”
The two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer first visited Kauai in the 1960s. He’s been coming back ever since.
“It’s a beautiful, stunning place,” he said.
Crosby is returning to Kauai in July for a concert at the Kauai Beach Resort Jasmine Room.
“When I tour, I’m with my crew, so I don’t have time just to goof off,” he said. “So that’s why I make a point to come back.”
The California, native’s road to stardom began in 1960 when he moved from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. He soon established himself as a folksinger, and began singing in clubs and coffeehouses nationwide.
In 1963, Crosby formed The Byrds with Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, Gene Clark and Michael Clarke, winning widespread recognition for his songwriting and charismatic presence. Driven by hits including “Eight Miles High,” “Turn! Turn! Turn!,” and a cover of Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” The Byrds’ signature electric folk-rock influenced countless musicians to come.
In 1967, Crosby formed another group with Graham Nash and Stephen Stills. Famous for vocal harmonies, stellar musicianship and timeless songs, Crosby, Stills, & Nash have been called “the voice of a generation,” and won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1969.
Four years later, Crosby debuted as a solo artist.
His 2016 concert series, “An Evening with the Legendary David Crosby,” is taking Crosby to the Big Island, Oahu, Maui and Kauai.
Known as a social justice activist, Crosby believes it’s his duty as a performer to try to effect change.
“Our job is is to take people on a voyage with songs, and not preach to them. But sometimes you can be the town crier and say we’re about to elect Donald Trump as our next president,” he said.
He said he was inspired to stick up for his beliefs by people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Henry Belafonte.
“There’s a long tradition of people who stick up for what they believe in,” he said. “First it was anti-war, then Civil Rights, then human’s rights and woman’s rights. Now there’s anti-nuc stuff.”
Crosby is also the author of three books including “Stand and Be Counted: Making Music, Making History/The Dramatic Story of the Artists” and “Causes That Changed America,” which underscores his commitment to social activism, and belief that artists and musicians are potent agents for change. Crosby’s two autobiographical volumes are “Long Time Gone” and “Since Then: How I Survived Everything And Lived To Tell About It.”
Crosby said he’s just trying to make the world a better place.
“There are so many people out there who try to make it worse, and you’re trying to make it better,” he said.
Crosby will be performing on July 10. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $70, with Golden Circle $80.
Tickets can be purchased online at SimpleTix (http://ghostfingerproductions.simpletix.ca/EventDetails/26896/Time/60363/), or at Papayas Natural Foods in Kapaa and Hanalei Surf Company. There are a limited amount of Gold Circle tickets, which can only be bought online.
Crosby said he’s excited about returning to Kauai.
“Everyone in Hawaii loves music, and if you do it well, they notice,” he said. “I don’t think the crowd will be very big, but it’ll be happy.”
