Texas Musicians: Stephen Stills / myLot

United States

July 15, 2024 11:04am CST

To paraphrase the Mamas and the Papas, Muggy Monday, so bad to me. We’re supposed to get relief with rain by Wednesday. As for the countdown, the next three days will make your head spin in terms of the diversity of musicians that have come from Texas. Let’s get started with the rock side. Stephen Stills In the comments you’ll probably see NJ Chic telling you what an awful voice Stephen Stills had when she saw him. See, if Neil Young’s voice has deteriorated we’d never know.

(Just kidding, I love Neil, and his “warble” is part of his “sound.” And Scar’s Hoomin will tell you what a great concert he did in 1983!) Happens to the best of them. Most people know Stills as one-third of one of the best harmony acts in rock and roll, Crosby, Stills, and Nash. But did you know he is the only act in history to date that was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice ON THE SAME NIGHT?!? In 1997, both Crosby, Stills, and Nash and Buffalo Springfield were inducted. (Don’t feel bad for Young being omitted from the CSN induction: he’s in twice as well, as a solo artist and with Buffalo Springfield.) Stills also had a big “solo” hit, “Love the One You’re With.” There was also the critically-acclaimed but commercial failure act Manassas. The FM rock landscape has Stephen Stills all over it, from his ode to onetime girlfriend Judy Collins (“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”) to the Buffalo Springfield’s anthem “For What It’s Worth.” He might be able to sing well anymore, but he sure could when it mattered most! Stephen Stills Born Stephen Arthur Stills January 3, 1945, Dallas (age 79) HALLS OF FAME: Rock and Roll (Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, and Nash); Vocal Group From my 100 favorite songs list, Stephen on lead vocals with the CSN song “Southern Cross”:

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8 people like this

6 responses

Dena Miller

@Dena91 (17039)

• United States

16 Jul 24

Always liked him and his music.

1 person likes this

Four Walls

@FourWalls (86713)

• United States

16 Jul 24

I commend you for your outstanding taste.

1 person likes this

Dena Miller

@Dena91 (17039)

• United States

16 Jul 24

@FourWalls

1 person likes this

@dgobucks226 (37621)

•

3 Aug 24

Stills doesn't get near enough credit for his songwriting and production skills in CSN in my view. In my opinion, of the three in CSN, he was the driving force in the studio, playing many of the instruments on their first LP and the one with CSNY to get those projects done. Then you have the songs. Some of the best tracks to listen to our Stills compositions on their initial album and the CSN one you have pictured. Southern Cross was another example of Still's songwriting at its best. "For What It's Worth" the Manassas album had a sound which was something very different from his Buffalo Springfield, solo, and his work with Crosby, Nash and (Young.) His lead guitar playing is terrific on Manassas and very distinctive. Fun fact: Stephen was tutored on lead guitar by none other than Jimi Hendrix himself who played on his 1st solo effort. Then you have the group of musicians he assembled for Manassas, Chris Hillman, Joe Lala, Paul Harris and Al Perkins, wow! David Crosby rated "So Begins the Task" as his favorite Stills song. I would go with "It Doesn't Matter" but both are great. My only regret on the Manassas LP was that Stephen should not have released that as a double album, all that material at once was overwhelming for the listener when it came out. I think it would have helped sales. Anyway, saw those talented guys in concert at Ohio State and they played side 1 of that Manassas album which blew me away... I know I'm "Carrying On" but voice aside even the Stones bassist Bill Wyman who played on one of the Manassas tracks wished he was in that band. According to Neil Young, "Stephen is a genius". I concur!

P.S.- Never knew he was from Texas. Texas sure has some great talent. As they say everything is big in Texas!!!

1 person likes this

Four Walls

@FourWalls (86713)

• United States

3 Aug 24

Sorry you don’t care much for him.