▲After the breakup of Buffalo Springfield in 1968, Young went solo before forming Crazy Horse, named after the iconic Native American warrior. A reunion with Stephen Stills in 1969 led to an invitation to join folk rock supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash (pictured with Young in 1970).

▲Pictured: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young performing in August 1974 during an outdoor stadium tour at Foreman Field, Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

▲Young was nominated for an Oscar in 1994 for his song 'Philadelphia.' While Bruce Springsteen won the Academy Award for his 'Streets of Philadelphia,' during his acceptance speech, 'The Boss' said that both musicians should be sharing the accolade.

▲As a Canadian, Neil Young has been presented with several Junos, awarded annually to Canadian musical artists and bands. He's seen here on the red carpet at the 2011 Juno Awards.

▲

One of the world's greatest guitarists, Young is a collector of second-hand guitars. He tends to use the same instruments for recording and live performances. These include an electric 1953 Les Paul Goldtop and a Martin D-45 steel-string acoustic guitar.

▲Pictured: Young accepts the Best Rock Song award during the Grammys in 2011.

▲Pictured: Neil Young and Crazy Horse (Billy Talbot, Ralph Molina, and Frank Sampedro) headline British Summer Time in Hyde Park in London, this in July 2014.

▲When he's not in the studio or touring, the musician likes to play golf. Here he watches his tee shot on the fifth hole at the Pebble Beach Golf Links during the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, California.

▲Young first came to prominence in 1966, as a member of Canadian-American rock band Buffalo Springfield. It was a lineup that included Stephen Stills.

▲Pictured: The musician signs autographs at the 'CSNY Deja Vu' premiere as part of the 58th Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin, Germany. The documentary focuses on the career of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

▲A committed environmentalist and outspoken advocate for the welfare of small farmers, in 1985 Young co-founded the benefit concert Farm Aid with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp. The annual concerts have raised millions for US family farmers.

▲Neil Young married Pegi Morton, his second wife, in 1978. The couple were musical collaborators and co-founded the Bridge School for children with severe speech and physical impairments in 1986. They divorced in 2014. Pegi Young died of cancer in January 2019.

▲Pictured: The musician playing his restored Estey reed organ, which dates back to 1885, at the Farm Aid 25 Growing Hope for America concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

▲Pictured: Young performing with James Taylor at a Bridge School benefit concert in California. Funds are raised annually for the school, which is a world leader in assisting children with severe verbal and physical impairments.

▲One of the most influential singer-songwriters and guitarists of his generation, Neil Young has been performing since 1965. Over 50 years later, he is still recording music and touring.

▲Pictured: Neil Young performing on the Pyramid Stage at the famed Glastonbury Festival in England, this in 2009.

▲Young made headlines in 2018 when it was revealed his home in Malibu, California was burned to the ground in the Woolsey Fire. However, he owns, or has owned, several properties, including a luxury oceanfront estate on the Big Island of Hawaii (pictured).

▲Touring and recording throughout the 1970s with backing band The Stray Gators, and reunited with Crosby, Stills & Nash, Young was later included in the Martin Scorsese concert movie 'The Last Waltz,' released in 1978 (but filmed in 1976).

▲Neil Young has been the subject of several acclaimed documentaries. 'Neil Young: Heart of Gold' is a documentary/concert film by Jonathan Demme. The film had a limited release to the general public, but is regarded as one of the best movies about the musician.

▲Having dated actress Daryl Hannah since 2014, Young announced their marriage by calling Hannah his wife in an official live video released in October 2018.

▲

While he still performs regularly with Crazy Horse, Young has also occasionally gotten together with Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and David Crosby for old time's sake.

▲Pictured: Paul McCartney shares the mic with Neil Young at the 2016 Desert Trip music festival in Indio, California.

▲Not an easy guy to get along with, Young often clashed with Stills, which created discord within the band. At the same time in late 1970, Young released his third solo album, 'After the Gold Rush,' which featured Crazy Horse members Danny Whitten, Nils Lofgren (pictured with Young), Billy Talbot, and Ralph Molina. Stephen Stills shared vocal duties.

▲

The concert featured the final appearance by Bob Dylan's backing band, The Band. Young (pictured here with Joni Mitchell) performed on stage with Dylan, Van Morrison, Ronnie Wood, Neil Diamond, and Eric Clapton, among other special guests.

▲

The 1979 live album 'Rust Never Sleeps' captured Young out on the road with Crazy Horse. The album is half acoustic, half electric, and ranks #351 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

▲

The singer-songwriter describes the 1980s as his experimental decade. "The '80s were like, artistically, very strong for me, because I knew no boundaries and was experimenting with everything that I could come across," he told the BBC.

▲

Neil Percival Young was born in Toronto, Canada, on November 12, 1945. He has lived in California since the '60s, but retains Canadian citizenship.

▲

In 1972, Young released 'Harvest,' which includes 'Heart of Gold,' his only number one hit to date. The album also features 'The Needle and the Damage Done,' a lament to great artists who had been addicted to heroin, including Crazy Horse bandmate Danny Whitten, who eventually succumbed to his substance abuse.

▲

The music legend turned 79 on November 12

▲

Canadian musician Neil Young is one of the most respected singer-songwriters in the business. His beautifully melodic guitar work, deeply personal lyrics, and haunting singing voice define his long and illustrious career. Now in his seventies and celebrated as much for his environmentalism and charitable causes as his music, Young continues to perform around the world and remains a vocal political and social activist.

Intrigued by the man? Then browse this gallery for an appreciation of this venerated and influential performer.