Dash Crofts, the surviving half of the 1970s soft rock duo Seals and Crofts, has died. The news was confirmed by Louie Shelton, who produced several of the group’s albums.
“Sad to hear our dear brother and partner in music has passed away today,” Shelton said in a social media post. “Sending love and prayers to all his family and many fans.”
Crofts, born Darrell Crofts in Cisco, Texas, was a pianist and drummer in his youth. He met Jim Seals while playing in Dean Beard and the Crew Cats, and both later joined the Champs following the group’s hit “Tequila.”
Seals and Crofts moved to California to pursue music, though Crofts temporarily left to serve in the military. The duo reunited in 1969 and helped pioneer the soft rock genre in the early 1970s. With Shelton as producer, their third album, “Year of Sunday,” was released in 1971, followed by a string of hits including the title tracks from the double-platinum “Summer Breeze” (1972), “Diamond Girl” (1973), and the gold-selling “Get Closer” (1976), all of which reached the Top 10 on the charts.
Crofts and Seals shared songwriting duties and vocals, with Crofts also playing guitar and mandolin. Their other notable songs include “Hummingbird,” “I’ll Play for You,” and “You’re the Love,” each reaching the Top 20, while “We May Never Pass This Way (Again)” peaked at No. 21. Their 1974 album, “Unborn Child,” reached No. 14, and their mid-1970s “Greatest Hits” album achieved double-platinum status.
The duo was known for incorporating spiritual themes into their music after converting to the Baha’i Faith. “The Baha’i Faith teaches the unity of people of all races, creeds, religions, politics and truths,” Crofts told Stereo Review. “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.”
Seals and Crofts disbanded in the early 1980s but briefly reunited in the 1990s and 2000s. Crofts returned to Texas later in life, where he raised horses. He released a solo album, “Today,” in 1998, featuring updated Seals and Crofts material. Jim Seals, the older brother of Danny “England Dan” Seals, died in 2022.
Information about survivors and funeral arrangements was not immediately available.