Dallas Taylor - Legendary Rock 'n' Roll drummer Dallas Taylor - best remembered for his work on the classic Crosby, Stills & Nash debut album by the same name - has died.
Reports indicate that Dallas Taylor, a native of Denver, Colorado died on Sunday Jan. 18, at the age of 66 in Los Angeles.
The news of his passing was announced by his wife Patti McGovern-Taylor via her Facebook account. "This morning at 2:30 am I lost the love of my life Dallas W. Taylor," she wrote. "He came into my life almost 18 years ago and saved me as much as I may have saved him."
"To me, he was just a good man, a good friend, a good grandfather or Pop Pop, a great drummer and much beloved my many.
"He will be missed beyond words. It is so very hard to imagine my life without him by my side, but I feel his live even as I write these words."
Dallas Taylor's skill on the drums was evident for all who could hear when he performed with Crosby, Still & Nash in the 1960s. After the legendary rock group's 1970 album déjà vu, he was forced out of the group because of his struggle with an out-of-control drug addiction.
After he was fired, Dallas Taylor continued to work with Stephen Hills until he eventually lost gigs because of his addiction, which spiraled into him being broke, homeless and suicidal.
In 1984, Dallas Taylor tried take his own life with a butcher's knife with which he stabbed his stomach. "My wife came in, and I remember her looking at me like she was just plain fed up," the drummer recalled. "I said,' Listen, if I'm still alive in the morning, take me to the hospital."
However, he survived because the knife narrowly missed his vital organs.
Following his failed suicide attempt, Taylor entered a rehab and began living a drug free life. In 1959, at 42, he was diagnosed with a terminal liver disease and was unable to pay for his treatment.
His former band mates came together for a benefit concert to raise the money needed for his liver transplant surgery, which was successful.
After the surgery, Dallas Taylor had a new look on life and became an alcohol and drug interventionist in LA as he grew older. He remained clean and helped many young people battling addiction to stay clean.
"Dallas Taylor died, but his legendary drummer status lives on, as do 1000's of recovering addicts he saved, [including] me," Comedian Richard Lewis said via Twitter.
Dallas Taylor is survived by his two children and five grandchildren.
