Stephen Stills

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Stills began his professional journey with Buffalo Springfield, contributing hits like "Sit Down, I Think I Love You," "Bluebird," and "Rock & Roll Woman." The band's twin lead guitars from Stills and Neil Young provided a hard edge to their folk-country-psychedelic mix. After the group disbanded in May 1968 due to management distrust and bassist Bruce Palmer's deportation, Stills played on half of Al Kooper's "Super Session" album, featuring a heavy radio play cover of Donovan's "Season of the Witch." His first solo album, "Stephen Stills," earned a gold record and remains the only album to feature both Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. Its single "Love the One You're With" became his biggest solo hit, peaking at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In Their Own Story

In late 1968, Stills formed Crosby, Stills & Nash with David Crosby and Graham Nash. Their debut album sold over four million copies, outselling anything from their prior bands: The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and The Hollies. It won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Stills dominated the recording, playing all bass, organ, lead guitar, and acoustic guitar parts on his own songs. When they invited Neil Young to join for a tour and second album, the group became Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY). They quarreled frequently during sessions, particularly Stills and Young fighting for control. In May 1970, following the Kent State massacre on May 4, CSN&Y recorded "Ohio," with Stills contributing the B-side "Find the Cost of Freedom." The resulting album "Déjà Vu" reached number one, selling over 8 million copies.

Reader's Guide

Stills' career includes forming Manassas in 1972 with Chris Hillman. In summer 1974, Neil Young reunited with CSN after a four-year hiatus for the massive CSNY 1974 tour, one of the first stadium tours and the largest the band has done to date, recorded and released in 2014. The trio reunited again in 1977 for their best-selling record "CSN." Throughout the 1980s, CSN and CSNY continued to achieve platinum albums. As a session musician between 1968 and 1972, Stills played on Joni Mitchell's albums including "Song to a Seagull," "Clouds," "Ladies of the Canyon," "Blue," and "For the Roses." His aggressive rhythmic style influenced her dulcimer sound, heard on "Carey" and the 1970 album "Blue."

Did You Know?

• Stills is the only album artist to feature both Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.
• He was diagnosed with partial hearing loss in one ear at age nine, which increased as he got older.
• Stills was rejected from The Monkees because producers felt he was not photogenic enough, though they accepted his recommendation for Peter Tork.
• His hit "For What It's Worth" reached No. 7 on the US charts shortly after Buffalo Springfield's formation in 1966.
• During a CSN&Y set at Altamont Free Concert, Stills was repeatedly stabbed in the leg by a Hells Angel with a sharpened bicycle spoke.