In 1963, David Crosby thought he’d found his ticket to stardom. Instead, he signed up for a “pathetic horror show”
In 1963, David Crosby joined Les Baxter’s Balladers, hoping the group would help him break into music and give him a chance to tour the United States. He later called the experience a “horror show”, saying the band’s staged lounge-act image was far removed from the folk music and honest songwriting he admired.
Crosby performed with his brother and musicians Bob Ingram and Mike Clough, but felt the group imitated the Christy Minstrels and sounded outdated. The performers wore black pegged trousers and red bellboy jackets, which Crosby resented. The experience helped him recognise what kind of artist he did not want to be and encouraged him to begin writing his own songs.
In short
- Crosby joined Les Baxter’s Balladers in 1963 seeking a music break.
- He disliked the group’s imitation folk and staged lounge-act image.
- The experience helped push him towards writing his own songs.
Explained simply
David Crosby was an American singer and songwriter who came of age during the folk music revival of the early 1960s. Folk performers often used acoustic instruments and wrote songs about personal experience and social issues, a style Crosby admired.
Les Baxter’s Balladers was a vocal group led by bandleader Les Baxter. In the group, Crosby performed with his brother and musicians Bob Ingram and Mike Clough; its polished lounge-act style differed from the folk music he valued.
The experience formed part of Crosby’s early path into music and helped shape his ideas about the artist he wanted to become. He went on to write his own songs and later became known for his work with folk-rock groups.
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