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Bruce Berry | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bruce Anthony Berry (1950-08-03)August 3, 1950 Los Angeles,California, United States |
| Died | June 4, 1973(1973-06-04) (aged 22) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Occupation | Roadie |
| Employer | Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young |
Bruce Anthony Berry (August 3, 1950 – June 4, 1973) was a professionalroadie for the members ofCrosby, Stills, Nash & Young, both as a group and individually.
His brother was Jan Berry of the musical duoJan and Dean. His father William Berry was an aeronautical engineer, who worked withHoward Hughes on theSpruce Goose.
He got his start by working at his brother Ken's storeStudio Instrument Rentals (S.I.R.) which brought him steady gigs. His happy, charismatic personality endeared him to the group and he was often on the road with them. He used to load all of his instruments into his trademark whiteFord Econoline van, until he moved toEngland to work withStephen Stills.
When he returned to the United States, he was a completely different person.Danny Whitten ofCrazy Horse had introduced him toheroin and it now controlled his life. Berry died of anoverdose of heroin andcocaine[1] on June 4, 1973, just a few months after Whitten met the same fate. Berry's story was later used as the theme of the lyrics of thetitle track fromTonight's the Night byNeil Young.[2]