Joe Walsh and David Crosby will headline the May 4 50th Commemoration Benefit Concert, Kent State announced Wednesday.  

Walsh and Crosby will perform with members of their band at 7 p.m. Saturday May 2, in the M.A.C. Center during the May 4, 50th Commemoration.

According to a press release, both artists are Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members and have “strong musical connections to the events of May 4, 1970.”

Walsh, who was on campus on May 4, began his music career at Kent State in 1965 with his first band, The Measles, the press release stated. Walsh later joined the James Gang in 1968.

“In addition to being extremely popular on the local Kent and Northeast Ohio music scene,” the press release stated. “the James Gang began playing shows nationally opening for the likes of Fleetwood Mac, The Who and Led Zeppelin.”

Walsh continued his music career after leaving Kent State, the press release stated. 

“Following his time in Kent, Ohio, Walsh left The James Gang and formed Barnstorm,” it stated. “He also went on to a successful solo music career and eventually became a member of the iconic rock group The Eagles just in time to record their now 26 times certified platinum album, ‘Hotel California.’

Crosby led a six decade career that began when he founded the band The Byrds in the mid 1960s with songs that included ‘Eight Miles High’ and ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’” the press release stated. 

Crosby later formed Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSN&Y). According to the press release, “their 1969 self-titled debut album and 1970 release ‘Déjà Vu’ are considered two of the greatest albums in the history of rock ’n’ roll.”

The group performed an acoustic version of their top 20 single “Ohio” on the Commons at Kent State during the May 4 annual commemoration on May 4, 1997, the press release stated. 

The song “helped to [raise] international awareness of the tragic events at Kent State on May 4, 1970,” it stated.  

Proceeds from the concert will be used to fund the May 4 Legacy Scholarships — a new scholarship program that will provide four scholarships to students majoring in Peace and Conflict Studies, the press release stated. 

“Each scholarship will bear the name of one of the students killed – Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Schroeder – to serve as a lasting testament to their lives and presence at Kent State,” it stated. 

Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, Mar. 6. Ticket information and additional concert information can be found on the website, by calling 330-672-50TH (5084) or by emailing [email protected].

Contact Zaria Johnson at [email protected].