Rocker Stills has prostate cancer

Crosby, Stills and Nash are known for their Woodstock-era hits

Musician Stephen Stills - of folk-rock trio Crosby, Stills and Nash - has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

His bandmate Graham Nash told US TV talk show host Larry King that Stills will undergo an operation on 3 January.

Nash said an early diagnosis of the disease had potentially saved the 62-year-old's life.

The trio postponed an Austrialian tour earlier this year after the band's third member, David Crosby, was taken ill with an undisclosed condition.

Crosby, who had a liver transplant in 1995, had earlier postponed a month-long US tour with Nash.

'Early stage'

The news of Still's diagnosis came days after 1970s musician Dan Fogelberg died at the age of 56 - three years after he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.

Upon learning that he had the disease, Fogelberg urged men over age 50 to get tested.

Nash told CNN's Larry King Live show: "Unlike Danny [Fogelberg], who left it too long to be seriously checked, Stephen found his at an early stage."

Crosby, Stills and Nash comprised one of rock's biggest acts and embodied Woodstock-era folk-rock sensibilities of peace, love and music.

They were known for hits including Teach Your Children, Woodstock, and Marrakesh Express.