60s rock legend David Crosby dies at 81

American rocker David Crosby, co-founder of the Byrds before joining the supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, has died at the age of 81, specialized American media announced on Thursday.

The newspaper Variety was the first to give the death of the musician so influential for rock and folk of the 1960s-70s, citing a press release from his wife Jan Dance, who spoke of a “long illness”.

Rolling Stone magazine confirmed the news on the strength of a source close to the artist.

According to his wife’s statement cited by Variety, Crosby died surrounded by his wife and son Django, but it is not known exactly on what date.

“Although he is no longer with us, his humanity and good soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music.

As noted by Variety, the announcement of the death of David Crosby is rather a surprise because his Twitter account was still active on Wednesday.

Crosby was born in California on August 14, 1941, to parents descended from prominent New York families, with a stay-at-home mother and a father in the cinema, crowned with an Oscar for best cinematography.

Before his 25th birthday, he was one of the founders of The Byrds, a group mixing rock from England with traditional American folk.

“I don’t know what else to say: I’m heartbroken,” wrote Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys on Twitter.