Stephen Stills

Stephen Stills (born Stephen Arthur Stills on January 3, 1945 in Dallas, Texas) is an American musician, singer‑songwriter and record producer whose career spans more than six decades. Raised in a military family, he moved frequently, absorbing blues, folk and Latin influences while attending schools in Florida, Costa Rica and Louisiana, and despite a childhood diagnosis of partial hearing loss he learned to play guitar, bass, keyboards and percussion with extraordinary proficiency. In 1966 he co‑founded Buffalo Springfield, delivering the protest anthem "For What It’s Worth" and establishing his reputation as a prolific composer. After the group dissolved, Stills joined Crosby, Stills & Nash, writing classics such as "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" and providing the majority of the instrumental work on their debut, which earned a Grammy for Best New Artist and sold over four million copies. He later expanded the lineup to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, contributing to the landmark Déjà Vu album, which reached No. 1 and went 7× platinum, and participating in historic festivals including Woodstock, Altamont and the 1974 CSNY stadium tour. As a solo artist Stills released a gold‑certed debut album featuring the hit "Love the One You’re With", and formed the band Manassas with Chris Hillman, producing a double‑album that blended rock, country, blues and Latin rhythms. His later work includes collaborations with Joni Mitchell, the super‑group The Rides, and a 2017 joint album with Judy Collins, Everybody Knows, demonstrating his relentless creative vitality. Inducted twice in a single night into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1970 with Buffalo Springfield and 1997 with CSN), Stills has sold over 35 million records, earned multiple Grammy nominations, and remains a pivotal figure in the evolution of American popular music.