Dash Crofts, one half of the soft-rock duo Seals & Crofts known for hits like 'Summer Breeze' and 'Diamond Girl', has died at the age of 87. The news was confirmed on social media by Louie Shelton, who produced the pair's biggest singles. No other details were provided.
Born Darrell Crofts on August 14, 1938, in Cisco, Texas, he met Jim Seals in the 1950s while playing in local bands. Both moved to Los Angeles in 1959 to join the Champs, the group behind the instrumental hit 'Tequila'. After stints with Glen Campbell and other projects, Seals and Crofts formed their duo in 1969 and signed with Warner Bros. Records.
Their breakthrough came in 1972 with 'Summer Breeze', which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album went gold and sold over two million copies in the US. The following year, 'Diamond Girl' also reached No. 6, and the album became their second gold disc. Other hits included 'Hummingbird' and 'We May Never Pass This Way Again'.
The duo continued to tour and record through the mid-1970s, with their Greatest Hits album reaching No. 11 in 1975 and later going platinum. Their final Top 10 hit was the title track of 'Get Closer' in 1976, which also peaked at No. 6. After three more albums, they were dropped by Warner Bros. in 1980 and took a long hiatus, reuniting briefly in the early 1990s.
Seals & Crofts' songs have been featured in numerous films and TV shows, including 'Dazed and Confused' and 'Licorice Pizza'. Jim Seals died in 2022. Crofts is survived by his family and fans who remember the duo's gentle harmonies and timeless music.
