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Few artists have enjoyed the durable popularity and long-lasting influence of Neil Young. Young's career began in Winnipeg, where he formed his first band The Jades, going on to work the Winnipeg folk club scene before moving to Los Angeles. It was there he joined Buffalo Springfield (with Stephen Stills, Bruce Palmer, Richie Furay and Dewey Martin), securing an album deal through his growing reputation as a guitarist and songwriter. Young signed a solo deal with Reprise Records and released his self-titled debut album in 1969. His backing band, Crazy Horse (Dan Whitten, Billy Talbot and Ralph Molina), were formed and recorded their first album with Young, 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere' in 1969.
Later in '69, Young reconnected with Stills, and along with Graham Nash and David Crosby they formed a new foursome: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Their 1970 album 'Déjà Vu' achieved international acclaim and they found themselves being called the American Beatles. Missing his solo days however, Young retreated from the group and recorded 'After the Gold Rush' which broke into the top ten and featured some of his biggest hits including 'Southern Man', 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart' and 'Tell Me Why'. He followed this up with 'Harvest' which gave him his only number one single 'Heart of Gold'.
After a difficult start to the 1970s - with his son being born with cerebral palsy and his friend and Crazy Horse bandmate Dan Whitten dying of an overdose - he introduced guitarist Frank Sampedro to the Crazy Horse line-up and put out 'Zuma' in 1975. The album was very personal to Young and had an underlying theme of failed relationships. 'Long May You Run' by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young was released the following year and he continued a pattern of producing a solo album and a collaborative album most years throughout the '70s and into the '80s.
In 1988 'This Note's for You' marked a move to more blues-R&B, with 'Freedom' coming the year after featuring 'Rockin' in the Free World' which earned him a number two. More records with Crazy Horse came throughout the '90s and he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 for his album 'Mirror Ball'. With the new millennium came a new album, 'Silver & Gold', which was followed by the single 'Let's Roll' released as a tribute to the victims of the 9/11 attack in New York. His work slowed when, in 2005, he suffered an aneurysm which required him to undergo emergency brain surgery. He continued to think up new material even while recovering however, and in 2006 he released an anti-war protest album called 'Living With War'.
Into his later years, Young still performs regularly, with the Hope for Haiti charity concert and the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games being included in his appearances. He continues to record solo as well as with Crazy Horse, and in 2016 he announced his 37th studio album 'Peace Trail'.
Artist biography compiled by BDS/West 10. All rights reserved
