Dash Crofts, of Seals & Crofts, Dies at 85

Dash Crofts, half of the singer-songwriter duo Seals & Crofts, known for their soft-rock hits “Summer Breeze,” “Diamond Girl,” and “Get Closer,” has died at the age of 85. The news was confirmed on social media by Louie Shelton, who produced the pair’s biggest hit singles and albums.

A Musical Partnership Forged Over Decades

“Sad to hear our dear brother and partner in music has passed away today,” Shelton wrote in a Facebook post. “Sending love and prayers to all his family and many fans. R.I.P. My brother.”

Born Darrell Crofts on August 14, 1940, in Cisco, Texas, he began his musical journey as a drummer before teaming with Jim Seals to form Seals & Crofts in 1969. The pair had met in local bands during the 1950s and both moved from Texas to Los Angeles to join the Champs in 1959, following the success of their instrumental hit “Tequila.”

By the mid-1960s, Seals, Crofts, and guitarist Glen Campbell, along with another bandmate, left the Champs to form the short-lived Glen Campbell and the GCs. After this group disbanded, Seals and Crofts returned to Texas before ultimately reuniting in Los Angeles and signing with Warner Bros. Records as Seals & Crofts.

The Rise of Soft Rock

Seals & Crofts achieved widespread success with the release of Summer Breeze in September 1972. The title track soared into the Top 10, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album’s follow-up single, “Hummingbird,” reached the Top 20, propelling the LP to No. 7 and Gold certification by Christmas, eventually selling over 2 million units in the U.S.

The duo continued their momentum the following year with Diamond Girl, which also peaked at No. 6 and achieved Gold status. Their eighth studio album, Get Closer, released in 1976, sent its title cut into the Top 10, again peaking at No. 6 and featuring vocals by Carolyn Willis.

Legacy and Influence

Seals & Crofts’ music has been featured in numerous films and television shows, including Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza, which included “Diamond Girl,” and Dazed and Confused, which featured “Summer Breeze.” A cover of “Summer Breeze” by Type O Negative was also used in the opening credits of 1997’s I Know What You Did Last Summer.

Jim Seals passed away in 2022. Together, Seals & Crofts amassed four Gold albums and two Platinum albums, leaving a lasting impact on the soft rock genre.