Stephen Stills American rock musician, guitarist Date of Birth: 03.01.1945 Country: USA

Biography of Stephen Stills

Stephen Arthur Stills, an American rock musician and guitarist, was born in 1945 in Dallas, Texas, United States. Growing up in a military family, Stills developed an early interest in blues, folk, and Latin American music. He moved frequently during his childhood, living in various places such as Tampa, Florida, Louisiana, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal Zone, and El Salvador. He completed his high school education in El Salvador and then enrolled in the Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida, to study maritime affairs.

Stills later attended Louisiana State University, but his passion for rock music overshadowed his academic pursuits. In the early 1960s, during the rise of American rock, Stills immersed himself in the genre. After playing in several bands, he met Neil Young and Richie Furay. They toured North America together and eventually formed a new band called "Buffalo Springfield" in Los Angeles, along with other musicians, including Van Dyke Parks.

"Buffalo Springfield" gained a growing fan base and released their self-titled album, which featured Stills' song "For What It's Worth." The song reached number seven on the American charts in March 1967. However, the band faced internal conflicts, and they disbanded in May 1968. But this was not a tragedy for Stills, as he was about to embark on a truly grand project - the folk-rock supergroup "Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young," or simply "Crosby."

Formed by David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash, the group later added Neil Young. They released their first album, "Crosby, Stills & Nash," in 1969. The popularity of the band needs no introduction, as their lineup alone spoke for itself. Their discography includes albums such as "Déjà Vu" (1970), "CSN" (1977), "Daylight Again" (1982), "American Dream" (1988), "Live It Up" (1990), "After the Storm" (1994), and "Looking Forward" (1999). Despite having a relatively small number of albums, the band became an icon in the rock music scene.

During the band's success, all four members also pursued solo careers. Stills released his self-titled album in 1970, which reached number three on the Billboard charts and achieved gold status. His second solo album, "Stephen Stills 2," was released the following year and also achieved gold status, reaching the eighth position on the chart. In the 1970s, Stills released five more albums, with each one slightly less popular than the previous. He continued to release albums throughout the years, including "Right By You" (1984), "Stills Alone" (1991), "Turnin' Back The Pages" (2003), "Man Alive!" (2005), and "Just Roll Tape" (2007). In 2009, Stills delighted his fans with the album "Live at Shepherd's Bush."

In his personal life, Stills has been married three times. He met his first wife, singer Véronique Sanson, during a concert tour in France. In 1997, his 26-year-old son, Justin Stills, suffered serious injuries while snowboarding. Another one of his sons, Henry, was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism. Stills' other children, Chris and Jennifer, also pursued careers in music. His youngest son, Oliver Ragland, was born in 2004.

Like other members of "Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young," Stills has been actively involved in politics. However, his fans primarily appreciate him for his musical talents. Stills is known for his proficiency in playing the piano, organ, guitar, bass guitar, banjo, and drums.