They had that unmistakable ’70s sound — so natural, beautiful, and uplifting.But now, the surviving half of the iconic soft-rock duo Seals & Crofts is also gone.Darrell “Dash” Crofts passed away on Wednesday, March 25, at the age of 85.Hits like “Summer Breeze,” “Diamond Girl,” and “Get Closer” remain timeless favorites for fans of Seals & Crofts — and for many other music lovers who cherish the songs of that era.Sadly, Dash Crofts, the surviving half of Seals & Crofts, has passed now away.He died from complications following heart surgery, according to TMZ.”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 shared in a heartfelt statement. ”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.”

Louie Shelton, longtime producer for Seals & Crofts, was among the first to publicly share the news. “Sad to hear our dear brother and partner in music has passed away today,” Shelton wrote on Facebook. “Sending love and prayers to all his family and many fans. R.I.P. my brother…..Dash Crofts.”Darrell George Crofts was born on August 14, 1940, in Cisco, Texas. He had a twin sister named Dorothy and earned the nickname “Dash” as a baby when his mother entered them in a “beautiful baby” contest, playfully suggesting they’d be even cuter as “Dot” and “Dash.”Crofts began his musical journey as a drummer before meeting saxophonist Jim Seals. The pair first played together in the rock band The Champs and later in the groups Glen Campbell and the GCs, as well as the Dawnbreakers, before forming Seals & Crofts.