Dave Marsh, the music critic and author who chronicled the ascent of Bruce Springsteen in his influential 1979 book “Born to Run,” has died at the age of 76. Marsh passed away on Friday at his home in Connecticut, according to statements confirmed by his friend Jeffrey St. Clair and fellow broadcaster Jim Rotolo. Throughout a career spanning some 25 titles, Marsh established himself as a voice in rock journalism through his work with Creem and Rolling Stone magazines.
Bruce Springsteen shared a tribute on Instagram, stating that the band was “heartbroken” over the passing of his longtime friend.
“My great friend Dave, with his straight out of Detroit attitude, was a true Rock ‘n’ Roll lifer. He was soulful, intelligent, heartfelt, opinionated, bruising and often fantastically argumentative,” Springsteen wrote in his tribute. “He deeply believed in what I was trying to accomplish and his lifetime of support meant the world to me.”
Guitarist Steven Van Zandt also posted a remembrance on Instagram, describing Marsh as “fearless, relentless, arrogant, everything you’d want in a RocknRoll troublemaker. And by the way, a tremendous writer.”
Roots in Detroit and the Rise of Rock Criticism
Born in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1950, Marsh immersed himself in the music scene of the American Midwest. In 1969, he dropped out of Wayne State University in Detroit to write for the rock magazine Creem, where Lester Bangs was among his friends and mentors. His writing made him a voice in publishing.
Marsh became an early champion of Springsteen, writing about the artist for Creem and authoring Springsteen’s first Rolling Stone cover story in 1978. In 1979, he published “Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story,” an extensive biography that captured the musician’s journey from local New Jersey rocker to budding global phenomenon. According to industry lore, Marsh was responsible for getting Springsteen’s longtime manager and record producer, Jon Landau, to his first Springsteen concert.
Following the success of “Born to Run,” Marsh penned a 1986 follow-up titled “Glory Days: Bruce Springsteen in the 1980s.” Beyond his writing on Springsteen, his bibliography included texts on major acts such as The Who, Sly & the Family Stone, The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Black Sabbath, and a book about The Kingsmen’s hit “Louie Louie.” He also wrote “The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made.”
Radio Pioneering and Personal Legacy
In addition to print journalism, Marsh worked in music broadcasting. In 2004, he launched the “Kick Out the Jams” radio program, which he hosted for almost two decades. He was also one of the creators of E Street Radio on SiriusXM, maintaining a frequent presence as a co-host and guest on the channel in recent years.
Marsh’s life was intertwined with the Springsteen inner circle beyond his professional work. In 1979, he married Barbara Carr, who would go on to be Springsteen’s co-manager alongside Jon Landau for decades, with the musician attending their wedding ceremony.
Marsh and Carr dedicated portions of their lives to philanthropy. In 1993, their 21-year-old daughter, Kristen Ann Carr, passed away from sarcoma, a rare form of cancer affecting bone and muscle tissue. In her honor, the couple founded The Kristen Ann Carr Fund to help families of cancer patients and advance research for sarcoma treatment. Later that year, Springsteen hosted a benefit concert at Madison Square Garden that raised $1.5 million for the charity. Marsh’s family faced further heartbreak in 2024 with the passing of his stepdaughter Sasha, a clinical psychologist, at age 55. Marsh is survived by his wife, Barbara Carr.
