Raised in a military family which caused him to have a nomadic upbringing, Stephen Stills dropped out of the University of Florida to pursue his dream of becoming a professional musician. Gravitating to New York he played in various unsuccessful bands (including The Continentals and Au Go Go Singers) and sang solo in the thriving coffee bar circuit in Greenwich Village before forming folk-rock band The Company. When The Company split, Stills moved to California where he was joined by Neil Young and Richie Furay and they formed the band Buffalo Springfield, mixing folk, blues and rock. They made three albums with one hit single - 'For What It's Worth' - before they too split and, exploring an unconventional guitar style, Stills joined ex-Byrd David Crosby and ex-Hollies Graham Nash to form Crosby, Stills and Nash (CSN). Incorporating rock, blues, folk and country, CSN released their debut album 'So Far' in 1974, with Neil Young joining them as CSNY for their second album 'Déjà Vu'. Various incarnations of CSNY went on to grace the world's stages and record over the next three decades, while Stills released his self-titled debut solo album in 1970. It included one of his most famous songs 'Love the One You're With' and reached number three in the US Album Charts with one track featuring his great friend Jimi Hendrix. Stills formed new band Manassas in 1972, continued to release occasional solo albums, and in 2005 collaborated with Herbie Hancock, Nash and Young on the 'Man Alive!' album. After a cancer diagnosis in 2007 Stills refused to be beaten and he conquered the disease, and later in 2008 embarked on his first ever solo tour. He released an album of brand new material titled 'Can't Get Enough' as his new venture with Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Barry Goldberg, The Rides.
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