Dash Crofts, the surviving half of Seals and Crofts, has reportedly died. His passing was confirmed by Louie Shelton, who produced the ’70s hitmakers.
“Sad to hear our dear brother and partner in music has passed away today,” Shelton mentioned in a social media post. “Sending love and prayers to all his family and many fans.”
Shelton arrived as producer for the third Seals and Crofts album, 1971’s Year of Sunday, and their profession took flight. The title tracks from 1972’s double-platinum Summer Breeze, 1973’s gold-certified Diamond Girl and 1976’s gold-selling Get Closer every soared into the Top 10.
Seals and Crofts Help Define the Soft Rock Genre
Born in Cisco, Texas, Darrell “Dash” Crofts was a youthful pianist. He performed drums with an embryonic band known as Dean Beard and the Crew Cats, the place he met fellow Texan (and then-saxophonist) Jim Seals. They each had been additionally within the Champs, although after the group hit with “Tequila.”
Seals and Crofts moved to California within the hopes of constructing a musical future, however then Crofts was drafted and served for a pair of years. By 1969, the duo was able to strive once more. They helped develop a brand new sound that might be described (sometimes derisively) as tender rock.
Listen to Seals and Crofts’ ‘Summer Breeze’
“About the identical time as individuals like Crosby Stills and Nash,” Crofts informed the Record Mirror, “we realized that we had to get out of the money-making aspect of loud rock ‘n’ roll into some music which we really believed in.” Critic Robert Christgau described the outcomes as “classic folk-schlock.”
They transformed to a new religion alongside the best way, and integrated some of these themes into their music. “The Baha’i Faith teaches the unity of people of all races, creeds, religions, politics and truths,” Crofts informed Stereo Review. “We’re not selling religion through our music, but the concepts of Baha’i do come out in it – like the concept of the oneness of mankind.”
Seals and Crofts carry out on the BBC’s ‘Old Grey Whistle Test.’ (YouTube)
Why Did Seals and Crofts Break Up?
They sometimes shared songwriting credit and vocals. Crofts performed guitar and, later, mandolin. He memorably sang the second verse of “Diamond Girl,” whereas taking on lead vocals for “King of Nothing” and “Goodbye Old Buddies,” amongst others.
“Hummingbird,” “I’ll Play for You” and “You’re the Love” reached the Top 20, whereas “We May Never Pass This Way (Again)” simply missed at No. 21. Seals and Crofts hit No. 14 on the album charts with 1974’s gold-selling Unborn Child and cracked the Top 40 once more with 1975’s I’ll Play for You. Their mid-’70s Greatest Hits album was a twice-platinum smash, too.
READ MORE: Top 10 Seals and Crofts Songs
Seals and Crofts cut up within the early ’80s, earlier than briefly reuniting within the ’90s and ’00s. “Around 1980, we were still drawing 10,000 to 12,000 people at concerts” Seals later informed the Los Angeles Times, “but we could see, with this change coming where everybody wanted dance music, that those days were numbered.”
Dash Crofts finally returned to his native Texas, the place he raised horses late in life. His lone solo album, 1998’s Today, included some updated Seals and Crofts materials. Jim Seals, the older brother of Danny “England Dan” Seals, died in 2022.
Listen to Seals and Crofts’ ‘We May Never Pass This Way (Again)’
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