Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Darrell George Crofts, known professionally as Dash Crofts, died last week at age 87. He was one half of the musical duo, Seals & Crofts, formed in 1969. The peak of their success took place in the 1970’s with three Top Ten hits.

He and Jim Seals-who died at age 80 in 2022-were both Texas natives who met in the 1950’s through local bands. They were also both multi-instramentalists who played guitar & mandolin, with Seals also adept on the volin and sax while Crofts played drums. They released their self-titled debut album in 1969. Their fourth record proved to be their breakthrough, with the title track reaching #6 in 1972. After a decade of success, the duo broke up in 1981 & reunited in 2004 for their final album, Traces.

As soon as I heard Crofts died, I did what so many of us do these days-I went to YouTube to reclaim the part of my childhood that had just been taken away. Once I heard the familiar opening notes of “Summer Breeze”, I was instantly transported back to my wonder years when I went to sleep with the radio on, reliving the feeling of unbelievable comfort I had from the song’s soothing melody and the beautiful harmonies that would follow. I also remember finding the 45″ of “Get Closer” in my cousins’ record collection because their dad loved that song so much. To this day, I think of my uncle whenever I hear that song. Despite that deep nostalgia, Seals & Crofts still ended up on my periphery. I don’t know why and that is my loss.

Those evocative memories aside, I was today years old when I found out that Seals & Crofts are considered a soft rock sound. I totally get it & see it from my grown up perspective now, but at the time I thought of them more as a sophisticated pop duo that I thoroughly enjoyed. Whatever category you place them in, they earned their place in the sountrack of this thing we call life.

Darrell George “Dash” Crofts: August 14, 1938 – March 25, 2026 

Dash Crofts (L) and Jim Seals (R) circa 1978. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

At the end of 2025 I rediscovered a song I loved that was released as a single in 2000. The very first time I heard it then, I thought it was by Celine Dion. But the more I listened, the more I second guessed myself. Eventually I discovered the singer was Lara Fabian.

Lara Fabian’s self-titled 1999 album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

What I did not know then was that the co-writer of the song was David Allen Loggins (November 10, 1947 – July 10, 2024). Yes, he is related to Kenny Loggins (they are cousins) and Dave is best known for his own song, “Please Come To Boston”, which peaked at #5 in August 1974. The track earned him a place in the singer-songwriter genre which was immensely popular in that decade.

Dave Loggins on The Midnight Special in July 1974. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Dave wrote several tunes for country artists and two reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart-one in October 1985 by Juice Newton (“You Make Me Want to Make You Mine”) and the second 40 years ago in January 1986 by Kenny Rogers (“Morning Desire”). Dave sang on a country song in 1984-a duet with Anne Murray-that reached the #1 spot on the country chart in December of that year. That track helped the two singers win the Vocal Duo of the Year prize at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards in 1985. (Fun fact: That same year the song appeared on Whitney Houston’s self-titled debut album as a duet with Jermaine Jackson).

Another fun fact: Murray (who turned 80 in 2025, born June 20, 1945 in Nova Scotia, Canada) had two hit songs in the 1970’s that were written by Dave’s cousin, Kenny Loggins: “Danny’s Song” (a Top 10 hit in April 1973) and “A Love Song” (a Top 20 hit in 1974). Those three artists are connected in another great example of musical symmetry.

Dave Loggins (L) and Anne Murray (R) circa 1984. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Seals & Crofts: “Summer Breeze” (1972, written by Dash Crofts and James Seals).

Seals & Crofts: “We May Never Pass This Way Again” (1973, written by Dash Crofts and James Seals).

Seals & Crofts featuring Carolyn Willis: “Get Closer” (1976, written by Dash Crofts and James Seals).

Dave Loggins: “Please Come To Boston” (Performed on “The Midnight Special” TV show broadcast on July 19, 1974. Written by Dave Loggins).

Anne Murray with Dave Loggins: “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do” (1984, written by James Dunne and Pamela Phillips).

Lara Fabian: “Love By Grace” (1999, written by Dave Loggins and Wayne Tester).

Stay safe & well.