US rock legend David Crosby dies a day after his quirky Twitter post

The towering rock musician David Crosby who just loved ‘making music’ died at age 81, his publicist said on Thursday.

The founding member of two enormously influential ’60s rock units, the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash, Crosby leaves behind a trail-blazing gamut of songs.

The singer's wife Jan Dance previously told Variety magazine that Crosby died of a long illness.

Crosby, who is the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, introduced alternative guitar tunings, lush harmonies and abstract lyrics, remained a prolific artist throughout his life, according to AFP.

Known as much for his singing as for his composing skills, Crosby was at the forefront of counterculture rock, and penned heart-felt ballads during his six decades in music industry.

Many of his fans will remember his immaculate vocal skills and signature walrus moustache.

Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys, tweeted that he is heartbroken to hear about the musician’s death.

Crosby emerged in rock music scene as a member of the band, the Byrds, before capturing attention with their cover of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man".

The band went on delivering classic hits including "Turn! Turn! Turn!"

Crosby, who had a liver transplant, struggled with drug addiction for decades before eventually keeping only “his penchant for weed”, according to the report.

The death of the musician was a shock to his legions of followers on Twitter where the singer delighted fans with humorous replies to their questions.

One of Crosby’s final tweets the day before he died was a typically jocular comment about heaven: “I heard the place is overrated… cloudy.”