Seals & Crofts musician dies at 85
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Seals & Crofts musician dies at 85

They had that unmistakable ’70s sound — so natural, beautiful, and uplifting.

But now, the surviving half of the iconic soft-rock duo Seals & Crofts is also gone.

Darrell “Dash” Crofts passed away on Wednesday, March 25, at the age of 85.

Hits like “Summer Breeze,” “Diamond Girl,” and “Get Closer” remain timeless favorites for fans of Seals & Crofts — and for many other music lovers who cherish the songs of that era.

Sadly, Dash Crofts, the surviving half of Seals & Crofts, has passed now away.

I built that restaurant with my own hands, but on opening night, my father looked me in the eye and said, ‘Stay in the kitchen. Your sister is entertaining the VIP investors tonight.’ So I walked out.
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I built that restaurant with my own hands, but on opening night, my father looked me in the eye and said, ‘Stay in the kitchen. Your sister is entertaining the VIP investors tonight.’ So I walked out.

He died from complications following heart surgery, according to TMZ.

”With sorrow and gratitude, we mourn a man whose loving-kindness, remarkable compassion, beautiful and tender voice has uplifted so many hearts across the globe,” the family shared in a heartfelt statement. ”We extend our gratitude and appreciation for the outpouring of love and support that we have received from around the world, and we celebrate and honor his legacy of service to mankind.”

Louie Shelton, longtime producer for Seals & Crofts, was among the first to publicly share the news. “Sad to hear our dear brother and partner in music has passed away today,” Shelton wrote on Facebook. “Sending love and prayers to all his family and many fans. R.I.P. my brother…..Dash Crofts.”

Nickname explanation
Darrell George Crofts was born on August 14, 1940, in Cisco, Texas. He had a twin sister named Dorothy and earned the nickname “Dash” as a baby when his mother entered them in a “beautiful baby” contest, playfully suggesting they’d be even cuter as “Dot” and “Dash.”

Crofts began his musical journey as a drummer before meeting saxophonist Jim Seals. The pair first played together in the rock band The Champs and later in the groups Glen Campbell and the GCs, as well as the Dawnbreakers, before forming Seals & Crofts.

Their debut album arrived in 1969, but it was 1972’s Summer Breeze that launched them into superstardom. The album went gold and eventually sold two million copies, with the title track reaching No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Their music became the soundtrack of the ’70s, with hits like Diamond Girl and Get Closer. While their songs often carried a light, soft-rock sound, Crofts and Seals infused them with the spiritual teachings of the Baháʼí Faith, which they had embraced during their time with the Dawnbreakers.

Their career wasn’t without controversy. Following the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, the duo released Unborn Child in 1974, voicing their anti-abortion stance—a move that sparked intense debate.

Even as trends shifted and the band eventually disbanded in the early ’80s, their music endured, with brief reunions in the late ’80s, early ’90s, and finally in 2004 for their last album, Traces.

Crofts’ contributions to music were immeasurable. “About the same time as people like Crosby, Stills and Nash, we realized that we had to get out of the money-making aspect of loud rock ’n’ roll into some music which we really believed in,” he once told Record Mirror.

Bandmate Jim Seals
Critic Robert Christgau called the results “classic folk-schlock,” but for millions of fans, the duo’s tender melodies and spiritual themes were timeless.

In addition to his musical legacy, Crofts returned to his native Texas later in life, dedicating his time to raising horses and reflecting on a career that had touched countless hearts.

His bandmate Jim Seals, who passed away in 2022, had described the soft-rock duo’s magic as a combination of friendship, shared vision, and unshakeable harmony — qualities that defined Crofts both on and off the stage.

“The Baha’i Faith teaches the unity of people of all races, creeds, religions, politics and truths. We’re not selling religion through our music, but the concepts of Baha’i do come out in it – like the concept of the oneness of mankind,” Crofts once said, a fitting reflection of the gentle, uplifting spirit that he carried through a life in music.

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