Dash Crofts, one half of the soft‑rock duo Seals & Crofts, died of heart failure on Wednesday, March 25, his family confirmed. He was 87.
Family statement and cause of death
In a statement provided to USA TODAY, Crofts’ family confirmed he died of heart failure. “With sorrow and gratitude, we mourn a man whose loving‑kindness, remarkable compassion, beautiful and tender voice has uplifted so many hearts across the globe,” the family wrote. They added: “We extend our gratitude and appreciation for the outpouring of love and support that we have received from around the world, and we celebrate and honor his legacy of service to mankind.”
Career and notable work
Crofts began his musical career as a drummer before meeting saxophonist Jim Seals. The two played together in The Champs and in groups that included Glen Campbell and the GCs and the Dawnbreakers, later forming the duo Seals & Crofts.
Seals & Crofts debuted in 1969 and released a string of albums through the 1970s. Their biggest hits included “Summer Breeze,” “Diamond Girl” and “Get Closer.” The 1972 album Summer Breeze marked a commercial breakthrough, was certified gold and later sold 2 million copies; the title track reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was covered by the Isley Brothers in 1974.
The duo followed with Diamond Girl (1973) and Unborn Child (1974), both of which sold roughly half a million copies. The title track of Unborn Child drew controversy for expressing Crofts and Seals’ anti‑abortion stance in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade. The pair also contributed vocals to the 1977 soundtrack for the sports drama One on One.
Seals & Crofts disbanded in 1981; they briefly reunited from 1989 to 1992 and reformed again in 2004 to release their final album, Traces.
Reaction and tributes
Louie Shelton, a frequent producer for Seals & Crofts, mourned Crofts in a Facebook post, writing: “Sad to hear our dear brother and partner in music has passed away today. Sending love and prayers to all his family and many fans. R.I.P. my brother…..Dash Crofts.” The post included a black‑and‑white photo of Crofts. (Shelton’s post is available on Facebook.)
Crofts and his bandmate Jim Seals were adherents of the Baháʼí Faith, a religion Crofts was introduced to during his time with the Dawnbreakers; they incorporated references to Baháʼí scripture into some of their songwriting and discussed their faith with fans after performances.
Jim Seals, Crofts’ longtime bandmate, died in 2022 of a chronic illness.
This story has been updated to correct a typo and add new photos and information.
Image Referance: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2026/03/26/dash-crofts-death-seals-and-crofts/89329595007/