Title: Interview: Graham Nash talks about the moment the trademark harmonies of Crosby, Stills & Nash were born

Source: Weekend Edition Sunday (NPR), 10/27/2002

Author(s): LIANE HANSEN

1:00-2:00 PM , In the late '60s and early '70s, a fresh sound emerged from the voices of three men, Crosby, Stills & Nash.

(Soundbite of song)

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH: (Singing) It's getting to the point where I don't want anymore.

HANSEN: Stephen Stills from Buffalo Springfield, David Crosby from The Byrds and Graham Nash from The Hollies created stunning harmonies when they sang together. Nash, who is called Willy by close friends, says he, Crosby and Stills disagree about the moment when the voices locked together. Was it the night they were hanging out with Mama Cass Elliot or the time over at Joni Mitchell's place?

Mr. GRAHAM NASH (Crosby, Stills & Nash): Stephen maintains it was Cassie's kitchen. Could very well have been. Because there was a lot of dope being smoked and who the hell can really truly remember what was where, you know? David and I are certain that it was Joni's living room, and I think we're right here. But what happens specifically was that the Springfield were no longer in existence and David had been thrown out of The Byrds. David and Stephen were kind of hanging in Laurel Canyon, trying to figure out what to do next--you know, what kind of music to make, you know, who can we play with that, that kind of stuff. So we were there and David looks at Stephen, he goes, `Hey, play Willy that song that we just worked out.' And so they start to play "You Don't Have To Cry," two-part. Sounds pretty good. Great song. Nice harmonies. Cool. Play it again. OK. They play it again. I said, `OK, indulge me here, one more time.' They sang it again. I had my harmony down. We started to sing together as three-part harmony--it was so good. I mean, you know, I'm being a little immodest here, but the very first time that Crosby, Stills & Nash's voices ever blended was an amazing moment.

(Soundbite of "You Don't Have To Cry")

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH: (Singing) You don't have to cry. In the morning when you rise, do you think of me and how you left me crying? Are you thinking of telephones...

Mr. NASH: We're all harmony freaks. And when we heard this blend--I mean, you got to understand, nobody has copyright over any notes. Anyone can sing the notes that we sing. You know something? Nobody sounds like me and David and Stephen when we sing, and that was very evident from that very first moment.

(Soundbite of "You Don't Have To Cry")

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH: (Singing) I don't have to cry. I said cry, my baby.

HANSEN: More from Graham Nash who performs in the NPR studio coming up on WEEKEND EDITION.

(Soundbite of "You Don't Have To Cry")

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH: (Singing) You don't have to cry.

HANSEN: It's 22 minutes before the hour.